NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24221, 13 February 1940, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

A Wanganui tobacconist attending to the front of his shop just about opening time recently became locked out when the gusty wind _blewr the door to. Owner and Staff had to remain outside until a spare key was obtained from home. “ Sheetings rose by 400 to 600 per cent, in four years during the last war and it seems likely that history will repeat itself,” stated _ the managing secretary of . the Waipawa Hospital Board, Mr P. R. Smyrk, at a .regent meeting of the board. Alrerdy. he stated, the hospital had encountered rises in the prices of linen. , ■ • As the first words bi the treaty pageant at Waitangi were spoken .last Tuesday morning a sharp crack was heard just behind the spectators. A. high branch of a large totara tree, from which 30 people were watching ine pageant, broke, and two men sitting on it fell 20 feet to the ground Mr Walter Tepania, of Kaitaia, -sufferof fractured ribs and head, injuries, and Mr John Subritzky, of Kaikohe, suffered fractured ribs. Both were rendered unconscious. . During the next ten days bargains of exceptional value will be offered at James Gray and Sons. Milton. See the price list for particulars of these clear-. aK “ The recent heavy rains throughout the district have been of inestimable value to the farming community, remarked a farmer at the Fordelhewe fair. Had it not been for the ram, he said, the countryside,, which was rlready dry, would have become almost devastated. Pastures were now in tiptop condition, and able to stand up to a spell of dry weather. ■ . In the Waikato it was impossible to get skilled labour, and farmers he knew were reducing herds to numbers that could be coped with by a farmer, bis wife and family, said Mr A.. J. Sinclair, addressing a meeting at Whangarei last week. Farming required skilled labour and not the type of man who was unsuitable for city employment. Replying to a question, he said it was not for the industry to compel farmers to . pay wages to-their wives and children, whose earnings, after all, went into a common familv fund. _ . Buy now New Year Goods, lust opened up; many cannot be replaced. Shop early while the selection is good. Gifts for all at Mosgiel’s Drapers.—A. F. Cheyne and C 0... Compared with last summer, the Auckland City Council’s motor camping ground at Western Springs has been less popular this season. It is recognised that the general flow of holidaymakers in recent months has been to the Exhibition at Wellington rather than to the north, but it is also thought that a conscious effort on the part of many people to conserve petrol even during the unrestricted period in December and January has resulted in fewer motoring holidays. The number of parties visiting the camp during recent weeks hss been only about half the total for the corresponding period a year ago. . ' ■ . , Said McNab to McTavish; Weel, mon, a visit tae the Waterloo Hptel is part of a mon’s da’ly lif.-• , Recently the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce communicated with the chief postmaster (Mr A. N. Wallace) asking if it was sufficient for the box number of the sender of a letter overseas to be shown on the outside of the envelope. At a meeting of the chamber last week a reply was received stating that the instructions of the Controller of Censorship were that the name and address of the writer had, in all cases, to be shown on the back of the envelope. There was an exception which wss that, in the case of correspondence posted by business concerns, trade and other organisations, it would suffice if only the name of the concern or organisation appeared on the cover of the letter. _ Grandism (4050): There’s a friendly Hotel where they hand out sunshine. Famed for quality wines and spirits. The Grand Hotel... The unusual case of an ex-fireman being convicted of parking his car m a street and failing to leave at least six clear feet between the vehicle and a fire-plug was discussed at the New Plymouth Police Court. It was stated that a parking plsce was deliberately sought away from the plug, but the defendant had not been sware of the obligation to keep a full six feet away. The magistrate expressed the opinion that the publicity given to this and other c-ses of a similar nature would have the effect of making it known more generally that fire-plugs had, to be left clear by drivers in search of parking places in the streets. Call at our New Showrooms, at 204 Crawford street (Oval end), and see our selection of kitchen bins, canister sets, copper coal scuttles, etc.—Dickinson, Mytton. Ltd. (late Dickinsons, Ltd.)...

An indefinite newspaper advertisement, which failed to give the place of a meeting, led to misunderstanding on the part of a number of women and a brief interruption of the proceedings of the meeting of the New . Plymouth Borough Council recently. The Mayor, Mr E. R. C. Gilmour, left the chair for a moment or two to interview a party comprising several women who arrived at the council chambers at 8 p.m. They had come to take part at a public meeting which was advertised to be held in the borough chambers that evening. The advertisement did not state the location of the borough chambers, which in this instance was another town in Taranaki, so the women had to return home. , . The holidays are over now. The children back to school. You’ll want your Hitchon’s ha* again. Don’t forget the rule.