Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 60

“John Chinaman’’ is evidently dissatisfied with New Plymouth, or vice versa, for, though the town’s population is over 16,000, it has not one Chinese fruit shop (says a northern paper). A few years ago there were at least four, but these have gradually dwindled down until, but a few weeks ago, the last closed his premises. There are, however, three Chinese launderers and one Hindu fruiterer, while a solitary Chinese still hawks his fruit and vegetables in a four-wheeled horse wagon. During the past four years the Christchurch City Council has spent £llO,OOO in various housing schemes (says the Sun). The council last applied to the Government for permission to raise a loan of £75,000. Of this, two portions of £25,000 each were granted, and both have now been used. The present position is that the council has 45 applications under the scheme and no loan money available. That it does not pay to leave the platform, a passenger by a northern express train found to his cost at a station down the line recently (reports the Napier Daily Telegraph). “I thought the train, stayed here four minutes,” he breathlessly exclaimed to the stationmaster as the express was fading out of sight. “ Not necessarily,” replied the official to the traveller, who went away to get a car to catch the train at the next station, • sadder and wiser mam