NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24835, 7 February 1942, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF

A Maori mere, beautifully fashioned from, whalebone, and in perfect preservation, was. exhibited at the Invercargill Rotary Club luncheon this week. Mr F. G. Hall-Jones said he had gone into the history of the relic and found that on the shore of Lake Te Anau, where it was unearthed, a battle had taken place about 1785. The mere came into the possession of Mr E. C. Govan, of Te Anau, some 20 years ago, and he had now lent it to the Southland Museum. . ' James Gray and Sons, Ltd., Milton, are offering you " specials" in their ladies' showroom —summer frocks, coats, and millinery—at greatly reduced prices... i A meeting addressed by Mr A. Sutherland, National candidate for Hauraki, at Pokeno recently was breaking up when Mr Sutherland was seen to be anxiously searching for something. Inquiries revealed that his hat had disappeared. After a few minutes' further search the hat was discovered—on the head of the chairman, Mr C, Leathern, who had in the meantime been actively assisting in the search, blissfully unaware that he was wearing the candidate's hat instead of his own.

" Welcome to my parlour," says Mr Crossan, of Crossan's Waterloo Hotel, Caversham...

Serious concern at the rapid spread of ragwort in the Hutt Valley area was expressed by a former King Country farmer, who said that it was'time the responsible authorities dealt with the matter before it was too late. Three to four years ago, he said, he had noticed two plants in one locality. Now there were hundreds of thousands, all flowering and seeding. Unless action was taken, the area would be smothered with the noxious weed next season.

Showroom specials for 14 days only. See special window displays. Oddments at gift prices. Call early. Mosgiel's drapers.—A. F. Cheyne and Co.. 1882-1942... Reminiscent of the methods of transport used in the Boer treks of Africa and by the early American pioneers, covered wagons have made their appearance on the North Shore, Auckland. Brought into use since the recent petrol restrictions, the wagons are used by farmers for conveying goods to and from the far north. Residents state that it is no uncommon sight to see two or three together swaying up /the street, pulled by two horses", while another cart horse, which walks behind', is hitched on when the grade becomes too steep and the wagon requires more " horse-power."