NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23945, 21 October 1939, Page 20

NEWS IN BRIEF

“ I will not ask you about your financial position in public,” said Mr R. G, Sampson, Timaru Placement Officer, at a meeting of Seadown farmers recently. “It might prove embarrassing.” he added. “Too right it would be embarrassing,” interjected a voice. A good story was told by Mr David Ewen, District Governor of Rotary in New Zealand, when addressing the Wellington Rotary Club recently. “ I believe some of the American children complain that they get their parents so late in life that they can't do much with them,” he said amidst laughter. Said McTavish to McNab: "Aye, I’ll hae a double o’ Crossan’s whisky just tae start.”.. Mention was recently made of several men in New Plymouth wearing beards. Since then juniors in. an Auckland office have been cultivating moustaches with disappointing results. The largest consists of about 10 stray whiskers, but the owner finds consolation in the fact that quality counts more than quantity. His was superfine. ■ The method by which wheat grown in Galilee is taxed was described by Mr J. W. Clapham at the Hastings Rotary Club’s luncheon recently. Tire wheat, he said, was piled high on the threshing floor, and an assessor estimated the quantity for taxation purposes. The owners of the wheat were wont to call in the assistance of their farm animals in compressing the wheat, oy sleeping a night on the stack, in order that the quantity might appear Visitors to Dunedin will find accommodation at Hotel Central, 100 Princes street, .o their liking. < “ Is that going to provide for relaxation, for a little outing at the weekend? ” asked the Rev. J. D. Hay, vicar of Glenmark, during a debate in the Anglican Synod in Christchurch on a proposed new scheme for providing the clergy with cars. There was amused surprise among members at the mention of a week-end as a clergyman’s recreation time. “ The week-end? '* several voices asked incredulously. It was a minute or two before Mr Hay realised his slip. “The beginning of the week,” he said hastily, and continued his speech. “This place is lousy with air-raid shelters,” is the terse description of London by a New Zealand Royal Air Force pilot, in a letter home written after the outbreak of the war. ‘'lt is quite strange to see so many girls in uniform, sandbags everywhere, water-tanks in the streets, and fire tenders behind taxis. We have had three air-raid alarms,' and are quite bored by them. No enemy air attack could possibly penetrate oUr defences. At night all cars have their lights dimmed and screened.” continued the writer, “ and the city is pitch dark.” Make Labour Day one to be remembered. Visit the Spring Fair at the Barling’s. Macandrew Bay... New Zealand’s well-known tpheroa soup will delight the palates of even more Americans as a result of the experience of a passenger on the liner Monterey during the vessel’s stay at Auckland. Sampling the soup in a city restaurant, he was so delighted with its unique flavour that he made immediate arrangements to secure a supply, and shipboard friends were amazed to see him arriving at the ship during the afternoon in the company of a grocer’s assistant, who carried a full case of'the tinned soup on his shoulder. Confidence in the boys of the school was expressed by Mr W. A. Armour, the headmaster, at the Foundation Day function at Wellington College recently. In paying tribute to the interest taken in the college by the Legislature, the Board of Governors, the Old Boys’ Association, and parents generally, he said that the boys, too. year by year had not been backward in promoting the welfare of the school and its amenities. Even if they were too young to take part in the defence of the Empire, he knew there were among the present boys those who were willing and anxious to help fill any 'gaps that might take place in the school. It was fine to know that that was the case, added Mr Armour. “ Seeds that grow,” that’s the kind that people can buy at Gray’s, Milton. They stock Cooper’s, Yates’s, and Sutton’s... An offer by members of the. Civic Band Carnival Committee to assist in the cultivation of city reserves for vegetable growing was received the other night by', the Invercargill City Council. “At a meeting of the Civic Band Carnival Committee, it Was decided because of the international situation to postpone the carnival ihdiflnitely and to offer the services' of the organisation to the City Council to be used as it thinks fit,” stated a letter from the band secretary. “It was suggested that the 40-hour week members: of the committee would be prepared to give their Saturdays in assisting to cultivate the reserves for the production of vegetables, as suggested at the City Council table.” The council decided to thank the band for its generous offer. Grandism' (3953): With duty, sales tax, it pays you to buy Grand Hotel wines and spirits of quality. Shop at the Home Supply Store... “All those connected with the .hostel have been pleased to see actual signs of the cbmmencement of the construction of the new building,” stated the headmistress of the Napier Girls’ High School (Miss E. M. McCarthy) in the course of her report to the monthly meeting of the Napier Secondary Education Board held in Napier recently. Preparations for the foundations of the new hostel have already been commenced. To hear 70 pipe bands in action at the Highland Games at Cowal. near Dunoon, was the recent experience of Mr W. A. Hoey and party, of Whangarei. “It was a great gathering,of the clans,” Mr Hoey writes. “Over 1000 pipers took part, their glittering jgear looking very gay. Each band played separately on the march from the town to the grounds, and again played three times individually in the competition. When prizes were given out the bands formed into a large square. There were many dancers, and the athletic standard was highThe Scotch blood leaped in mv veins.” 4 . , . Special showing of all new Groods m the showroom: Children’s, Maids’ and Ladies’ Knitted Goods. Winter Frocks. Hats and Coats. Call early while the selection is here. Many goods we will be unable to replace.—Mosgiel’s Drapers, A. F. Cheyne and C 0... “I say, Mr Parry, the Maori not the only fellow who take thg wild pigeon, but the pakeha the big "fellow with the pigeon,” wrote a northern Maori to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) regarding an official warning issued that proceedings would be taken in all cases in which there was evidence against any person of killing the protected native pigeon. “ I see feathers round the back of his whare. I know he get the pigeon all right, . but he the shrewd guy. He makes the kapai pie. He says under the lid of the pie is the young rabbit, but the feathers round the back of the whare give the right name of the pie! ” Turned over by a gust of wind, while resting on the ground outside the hangar recently, the Napier Aero Club’s Waco primary glider was extensively damaged. The fuselage was badly bent, an aileron broken, and the rudder and an elevator buckled. If repairs to the fuselage are possible in Napier, the machine should be ready for the air again within three weeks. “You might be able to put a uniform on a man and make him a policeman, but you cannot put a uniform on a man and make him a fireman,” said Superintendent N. M. Ross, of the Wanganui Central Fire Brigade, at a meeting of the Wanganui Fire Board, when asked whether it was possible for a picture theatre to assign one of its staff to fire duties. If in high places you now sit And want your nerve unshaken, Keep taking what will make you flit, A course of Hitchon’s bacon...