NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24296, 13 May 1940, Page 12

NEWS IN BRIEF

On his recent visit to Australia Mr N. B. Bellringer, who has just returned to New Plymouth, said he saw more horses in use in commercial vehicles than he had seen for a long. time. There were still a few horse-drawn cabs in some centres while many tradesmen had not yet adopted the motorised methods of delivery of their goods. He said there was scarcely; a baker in some places who did not still use the horse and cart instead of the motor van for delivery purposes. A 100 per cent, pass of recruits Xrayed at the Wanganui Public Hospital, preparatory to entering camp in the third echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, is the record of Wanganui. In New Zealand the average percentage of men rejected when gixen X-ray tests is 3.8. Grandism (4123). —Three luxury wines at a price you can afford: Tagona Port 3s 6d. Aragon Port 4s 6d. Douro Port 5s 6d.—Grand Hotel... Mrs Piripi Whui. a . well-known identity among the Northern Maoris, died last Wednesday at Tautoro. , At the hui, which took place at Tautoro. a large gathering of Maoris from all over the north congregated. Mrs Whui, who was 84 years of age, leaves a large family. A letter which was posted in Whangarei last Monday was returned by the mail delivered there a few days later, having in less than five davs travelled to Sydney and back—a distance of 2500 miles. It bears the first day cover of the transtasman New Zealand-England, via'Sydney, air service. nostage being a 5d New Zealand and 5d Australian stamp. A New Plymouth visitor to Sydney recently was somewhat amused to see on the vehicle of a milkman the sign “ Raw Milk Vendor.” The Sydney milk supply is almost wholly pasteurised, but there are apparently some purveyors of this commodity who do not believe in the method, and they brand themselves so as to distinguish:.their article from that of the pasteurised product. . Taffeta in a good variety of. shades and suitable for evening wear can be purchased very reasonably from James Gray and Sons. Ltd... A Napier resident who left a pumpkin out in the sun to go to seed had an amusing experience. When he came outside he found that the pumpkin he had left standing on the chair had fallen and trapped a huge rat underneath it. Evidently the. rat had had a meal of seeds from the pumpkin, and in the act of departing had pulled the pumpkin on to the top of him. \ Even scientific means are called in to determine the vexed question of classification of imports. It is recorded in the annual report just presented by the Dominion Laboratory that analyses are eften helpful and sometimes necessary in determining correct classification of imports and, when required, are made by the laboratory. A great variety of samples was submitted; these totalled 183 for the period covered in the report. The Waitotara district apparently received the brunt of the severe hail and rainstorm that .was experienced at Wanganui and to the northward last week-end, and a man who has lived in the district for 50 years said that it was the worst he could remember. Hailstones as large as sixpenny pieces fell, and they created a deafening roar as they struck the roof; of houses and bounced on to the tops of motor cars and other objects. Many windows were broken, and leaks w_ere started in roofs that hitherto had been quite sound. Buy now New Goods, just 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... “No cne can justify war,” said Sir James Elliott to the Wellington Rotary Club recently. “ Yet is this war a holy crusade against barbarism and paganism? We sit here at our ease; sleep to-night quietly in our beds; go forth on the morrew to our comriierce or-our sports: try to forget unpleasant things. But our soldiers and our sailors- and our airmen go forth against the powers cf darkness to destroy anti-Christ in the person of Adolf Hitler and his mighty legions. The destiny of mankind lies trembling in the balance.”. Over 1,000,000 torch batteries were exported from the United States last October, compared with 78,000 in the previous October, according to figures issued by the Department of Commerce. The black-outs in Great Brir tain were responsible for the boom, the demand so taxing raw material reserves on hand that for a shert time it was feared that even the requirements of the American market would not be met. « Candidates for the Auckland West seat in the House of Representatives are not likely to run out of petrol for their motor cars in the coursl of the campaign. They are to be allowed a supply for normal electioneering requirements, according to a statement by the oil fuel controller in Auckland. Mr G. I. Williamson. The question of making supplies of motor spirit available for vehicles engaged on election day in carrying voters to the polling places is under consideration by the Dominion oil fuel controller, Mr G. L. Laurenscn. Spring cleaning time is here, and now is the time to replace worn-out ashpans, coal scuttles, kitchen canisters, bins, meat safes, etc.—Dickinson, Mytton, Ltd., 204 Crawford street (Oval end)... ’ The recent "go-slow” action of Auckland tramwaymen had an echo at a meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, in Auckland. Mr Fraser said that no Government in wartime could stand for having any of its services held up, and a member of the audience shouted: “What about the trams? ” Mr Fraser replied that the Minister cf Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, had used legislation created to meet such situations, and a settlement had been achieved, however unpalatable it might be to some people. Two shooters who had been - early astir near Otorohanga on a recent morning among the wild duck, with marked success, heard the church bells, and decided that they would attend to ; their religious duties before continuing the shoot later in the day. At offertory time one of the sportsmen was short of small change, but his friend, sitting alongside him, placed an “ 1.0. U., one duck ” on the plate. He duly delivered the “ offering ” after the service, to the amusement and appreciation of the' officiating clergyman. The special department at Crossan’s Waterloo Hotel, conducted personally by the proprietor, for attention to town and country orders, is acknowledged by many to be a'boon... A dropped coin, a stamped foot and a standing bus provided all the ingredients for a minor . comedy in Whangarei recently.' The coin was dropped by a man who stamped down a foot in an endeavour to prevent the coin from rolling. Instead his foot sent it shooting into the roadway underneath a stationary bus. With a woe-be-gone expression he stood beside the bus with a few interested ■ onlookers. When the bus withdrew the roadway did not yield up its treasure until somebody found the truant coin on the opposite side of the streeL It was a penny! 1 ■ • The Whangarei branch of : the S.P.C.A. frequently receives requests from those desiring to dispose off of adopt pets. Those requiring to find new homes for their pet animals make a point of emphasising docility, while this characteristic is sought after invariably by those seeking pets. Consequently an application made to the society recently caused something of a' sensation. It was for the largest, most savage-natured dog procurable. The request came from a sideshowman, so that the purpose to which the dog was to be put was fairly obvious. Have you tried Hitchon’s pork savelovs, oork sausages. _or Oxford-sausage (cooked)? If your *rpcer can’t supply ring cur Dunedin branch (12-344), Mil. ton (22)... . ’