NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 32

NEWS IN BRIEF

It was stated at the last meeting of the Napier City Council that insurances had been obtained from two companies on the Napier Municipal Theatre for an amount of £IO,OOO. This policy covers the building and contents against fire and earthquake risks, Grandism (3524): Whisky. Gin, Brandy and Rum do not improve m the bottle. Grand Hotel spirits, are so much better, being aged-iri’-the-w00d... It is very seldom that the result of a Rugby match played •in New Zealand is first heard by a Dominion football fan from another part of the world. This was the experience of a Napier wireless enthusiast last Saturday. Missing the result of the North-South Island match,• he was agreeably surprised. When listening-in at 6.45 o’clock on the evening, to hear the result announced in a short-wave broadcast from Daventry.' . ' A As the barrier' was released for the start of the Campbell Hurdles at the Ellerslie racecourse last week a seagull swooped over the horses’ heads and the -bird was struck by the strands of the barrier and killed. It is not .unknown for a bird to fly into the field during a race, but this incident probably has no parallel. visitors to Dunedin will find accommodation at Hotel Central 100 Princes street to their liking.. “ What exactly js a baloptican?" This question' was asked at the monthly meeting of the Hawke’s! Bay Hospital Board when the board was considering a report from its Medical Committee' recommending the purchase of one of these machines. “ The present one is obsolete and thoroughly out-of-date ” said the chairman (Mr C. Lassen). “They’re very necessary,” remarked the medical superintendent (Dr J. Foley), in explaining their use at lectures for nurses. Members stated that they preferred*the use of the term “ magic lantern.” to describe the machine, • •■■■'. . , . Mobs of cattle which are being taken overland from Wairoa and other East Coast districts to Hawke’s Bay are being driven over a ford in the Mohaka River below the site of the traffic bridge, which was carried away during the recent floods. Although the mobs as a rule got over safely, there were several instances of losses by drowning.. Men’s Overcoats In smart finish and Siod quality materials are the right ing for this cold winter weather. Buy at Gray’s Big Store, Milton... An unusual aspect of the distressed circumstances of some New Zealanders has been revealed by the Mayor of Hastings (Mr G. A. Maddison). Apparently many persons expected to find work, some of them for the first time for months, r* a result of the havoc caused by the recent Hawke’s Bay floods. During the last two or three weehs,, Mr Maddison has been obliged to listen to tales from n number of men who have failed to find work after travelling all the way from Wellington, Nelson, Wanganui and other towns in both the North and South, Islands, Mr Maddison has invariably been asked to pay their return fares to the towns they left. “ There have been all sorts of stupid statements that the Government is going to confiscate, socialise, nationalise , and revolutionise everything in the country, but it is not golfig to do anything of the kind,” declared the Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple), when replying to a welcome extended to him by the Mayor (Mr Jordan), at Masterton. “ The Government is not. going to interfere with the private in . terests of the people of New Zealand except where vested -interests conflict with - the general welfare of the nation." 1 ‘ Ex Doric Star, the first of our pew season’s " Jamaica’’—the world’s finest coffee. Only from A. Durie and Go., coffee There were recently two Mr and Mrs E. McDuff's at the Pacific Hotel, Hastings. The cduples were not related: yet they had a number of things in common. One Mi - E. McDuff was well known as-the proprietor of the Pacific Hotel, while the other came from Wellington to spend a holiday in Hawke’s Bav. The couples had. been, married the same length of time, both had ore child aged 11 years, and both men had mothers whose Christian , name was Ellen. Both Mrs McDuffS were the same age, were born in the same month and had Christian names beginning with E. To' mark the,occasion Mr and. Mrs E. McDuff (Wellington! presented Mr McDuff (Hastings) With a McDuff tartan tie,- while Mr ]and Mrs E. McDuff (Hastings) in turn presented Mr McDuff (Wellington) with a McDuff tartan scarf. , The welcome given at Crossan s Waterloo Hotel. Gaversham, to all'visitors offers sufficient inducement to return again and again... “Overseas people come to New Zealand and want to see works of art. and we show them Greek art, Gothic art, and Doric art—everything but the art that belongs to the country, said Sir Apirana Ngata. M.P., in the course of a speech made at the Waiomatatim pa during the reception* to the Minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) and party. Sir Apirana advocated measures to keep alive the Maori arts and crafts in this country. The deep interest taken by the Maori people in their tribal meeting houses .or maraes was indicated by the result of a collection taken up recently amongst the. Natives at the, opening of the Porourangi meeting at Waiomatatini pa; No less than £2411 was' subscribed. Sir Apirana Ngata said that this would cover the cost of building the Mangahanea meeting house and the reconstruction of the Porourangi meeting house and als tie cost of entertaining the visitors at the • huis. A dance realised £42, and the takings at the football maten played the same afternoon exceeded £l2O. Special showing of Autumn Goods. Call and see our attractive window and interior displays.—A. F. Cheyne and Co., the Mosgiel warehouse... Traffic inspectors we& busy in Christchurch recently inspecting bicycle? parked in the city streets. Their object was to see if the machines conformed with the regulations, both mechanical and parking. If the machines or their owners erred a neatlyprinted sticker was stuck to the seat informing all who cared to look in what direction the bicycle infringed. During the past financial year extensions to the Auckland city water supply system necessitated the laying ol an additional 1U miles of new mams, ranging from 4 inches to 24. inches. This has brought the total length ol the mains owned by the city to 439 miles 24 chains. The large.mains from the dams in the Waitakere Ranges to the city have an aggregate length ol 52 miles. The reticulation system within the -city boundaries accounts for 346 miles of mains, and the remainder of the total length is outside the city and serves contiguous local bodies and industrial plants which, buy water from- the City Council.

We make arid repair met articles pi every description, also set and sharpen lawn mowers, shears, saws scissors, etc.— Dickinson’s Ltd. , 44J Princes street, Dunedin.

A certain jovial citizen of the middle north who is as deep a reader as he is a drinker prides himself justifiably on his wide grasp of languages—dead or alive. The other afternoon (observes the Northern Advocate) his propensities in this direction caused him to be served with a diluted drink. Ho asked for a glass of gin. “ What will vou have with it?” the barman asked". “Aqua pura,” the erudite one replied. When the measure came along, infused with lemonade, he expressed annoyance. “ Well,” the man behind the glasses retorted, “if you want water, why don’t you ask for it?” ■;

The midnight express came thundering In, And pulled up at Milton station; Sleepy passengers lifted.their headi. Saying, “This is where Hilchpn cures bacon.”..