NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26352, 6 January 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

St. Kilda Visiter A sea elephant, which has been seen at St. Kilda recently, reappeared yesterday. After swimming about some distance from the shore, the animal eventually catne on to the beach, where, for about a quarter of an hour, it remained as the centre of attraction for a large crowd. It did not appear to be well, and was bleeding from the tail. After lying on the beach, the sea elephant again entered the water. Threepence in Lamb To find a threepenny piece inside a slice of Christmas pudding is an accepted thing at this time of the year, but an unexpected discovery by a Christchurch resident was that of a threepence firmly embedded between the ribs of a side of Christmas lamb. Presumably it was placed there by 4 a festive-minded slaughterman while the carcass was still warm. Insects for California Included in the cargo of the Pan American Airways clipper East Indian, from Auckland for San Francisco last week, was a consignment of live beneficial insects from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Australia. They are known as klamath weed insects and are being forwarded to the Division of Foreign Parasite Introduction in California. The consignment is contained in three cardboard packages which have been specially made to enable the insects to breathe. The Wet' Coast

Last year there were 208 rainy days at Greymouth, the total fall being 109.86 inches. A feature of the year’s weather was the unpsually heavy falls in the last six months, namely, 70.36 inches, against 39.50 inches in the first six months. The wettest month was November, with 15.69 inches, and December was next with a total of over 14k inches. January last had 121 inches. The 1945 rainfall was 118.77 inches, almost nine inches in excess of that for last year, and this fell on 255 days, compared with last year’s 208. Problem for Shunters

The usual quiet of the Marton railway station was livened on a recent afternoon by the visit of a swarm of bees. Shunters had an unenviable task when it was necessary to couple two wagons together on which the bees had settled. They were on the coupling chains and several brave men backed smartly away, but the wise counsel of a senior member, who had apparently had experience in an apiary, induced the bees \o leave their temporary home for that of a benzine box. Work then proceeded with its usual efficiency. “ Do Unto Others . .

When he got into his car one morning ’recently a South Canterbury member of the Automobile Association found the following letter:—“ Dear A.A. Brother: Your vehicle’s gas tank was observed to be leaking, and investigation showed a pin-hole in the bottom of the tank. My only piece of chewing gum has now served to act as a temporary stop gap. Remember the Dutch boy and the hole in the dyke. Also, fellow-motorist, the main leaf of your car’s rear spring is broken. A happy New Year once the troubles have been remedied.—A Southland member.” Not Native Products The presence at recent international conventions in Montreal of a number of Orientals wearing their distinctive shawl headgear, which in the case of Arabs is known as the “keffiyah,” revealed that these are not native products, but are made for the desert people by a Glasgow firm, which has been making keffiyahs for at least 70 years, reports a Montreal correspondent. King Ibn Saud of Saudi' Arabia, is a known wearer of Scottish keffiyahs, and his son, the Emir Feisal, had one specially made while he was in Canada recently. LOCALS An Unusual Find A Hamilton district settler has in his possession a £1 note of the long-de-funct Colonial Bank of New Zealand, a rarity in these days. The note was dated December, 1891. He came into possession in an unusual way. Many years .ago his wife received as a gift from her mother a feather pillow, and in refurbishing it with new ticking lately she found a folded £1 note inside, which must have been enclosed with the downy feathers when the pillow was made. The note is probably not legal tender, but the owner says he has been offered more than its face value as a souvenir. So far he has resisted the offer. Made to Last A tribute to the durable quality of British products a century ago is a document turned up by an Auckland resident in the course of a springcleaningMhis year. It is a paybook of a gunner in the British Royal Marine Artillery, showing that he enlisted in August, 1825, over 121 years ago. The paybook is in an excellent state of preservation suggesting an almost imperishable life. According to the document a naval gunner’s pay in those days was 16s a month. However, the cost of clothing was in proportion, and in the list of requirements for the man’s kit, a greatcoat is listed at 10s, a pair of boots at 12s, a shell jacket at 12s 9d, and a cap at 4s Id. Trousers range from 3s 2d to 5s lOd. socks run to 2s, and braces to 6d. Impression of Dominion

A feature of conditions which has impressed Miss K. McDonnell, of Los Angeles, California, and formerly of Gore, is the clean appearance of the smaller towns and the happy and contented appearance of the residents. Miss McDonnell left New Zealand 25 years ago and is paying a visit to her old home town. There was a definite effort, she said, to beautify the smaller centres, which were more attractive than those in America. The modern, well-cared for appearance of the farm houses and the condition of the pasture land was another aspect which claimed her attention. New Zealand roads, however, had not made the same appeal to Miss McDonnell. They did not bear favourable comparison with the highways of America, where many of the major traffic arteries were fourlane.