LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLVIII, 22 February 1926, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The matter of a cull cow drive was discussed by the Eketahuna ‘farmers ■ Union and a committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements.

Tenders will be received by the i’atea Hospital Board up to live p.m. on .Saturday, March 0, tor the supply ol coal and coke to the I’atea Hospital for the year ending March 31, 1927.

Although some parts of the Waikato district the pastures have been alfected by the month’s spell of dry weather, Cambridge has stood up web lo the conditions, and the farmers have, not been, caused any groat ‘anxiety. ’

Applications closing on the Jlth day of March, 1920, will be received at the District Lands and Survey Office, Now Plymouth, for the renewable lease of a section, containing 87(3 acres of land at Opaku., Particulars may be obtained at the above office. ' ■

The Education Department is adopting- the imlicy at present of securing sites for schools ahead of .settlement, xather than waiting until a locality is well settled before making a decision. I’hia policy means that the Government is able to acquire property much more cheaply than in the past.

A Wanganui resident who missed a valuable gold watch from his house last week communicated with Coustable Willetts, of Aramoho, and 'was gratified to receive the Avatch back within naif an hour. The house had been entered and the theft bore characteristics that at once aroused Constable Willetts’ suspicious, with the result that within 20 minutes he had apprehended a boy who was already on probation

A notice appears in another column with reference to deteriorated lands. Applications for same must be lodged with the Commissioner of Crown Lands prior to June 30, 1926. Descriptions of the lauds proclaimed: under- the Act auCi application forms arc obtainable from the District Lauds and Survey Offices, Wellington, Wanganui, and Ohakuno, or at the .following,post offices: Taumarunui, Kakahi, Owhango, Ohakuno, Pactihi, Wanganui, and Wavcrley.

The “ New Turk Times” prints the best Coolidgc story of the year, illustrating the President’s economy ol ■words. He had been to church unaccompanied by his wife. On his return to the White House, Mrs. Coolidge asked him if the sermon was good, to which he replied, ” Yes.” "” What was it about 7” ’“Bin,” “ What did the preacher say about it 1 ?” ”Ho was against it.”

After a friendly cliut with an Auckland racing man a Main Trunk settler was promised a thoroughbred from the former’s stable. Due preparations for its reception at the nearest station were made, and an interested knot of by-standers gathered to witness the arrival of the world-beater. An important looking horse box drew up to the platform, and the door was opened with all the respectful pomp incumbent under the circumstances. And out walked a donkey!

This week’s “ New Zealand Free Lance” is, as usual, bright and varied with pictures and reading matter. There is a splendid full page photograph of our new Chief Justice, seated at his desk. A cartoon hits off the lively rivalry between motor bus and tram. Other pictures deal with the Australian bush tires, the visitors in the motor races at Muriwai Beach, Auckland, life on'thc northern gumfieids, and the mile race last .Saturday in which 11. Bose, of the Wairarapa, beat Lloyd Hahn, the American champion. Tlie ‘‘Memories of Early Wellington” make highly Interesting reading and Zaac Grey’s fisuing exploits up north arc both described and pictured.

i or Inc i. ..e .ng •. i uo kuowu ay ‘•' Dau, ” ana lie carries loads of responsibility on a section of the Wanganui railways, and possesses an abnormal amount of keen Irish wit. Some little time back lie had the misfortune to put a tiuck off the line at Palmerston North during shunting operations. Daiij of course, received the usual Please explain’ ’ and appended thereto was a footnote asking him what steps lie took to 'prevent the accident. Pan’s reply was as follows; “ I took steps and strides six yards long.” On another occasion Dan’s train was hall an hour late reaching Now Plymouth and Dan received another of the familiar ‘ ‘ Please explains. ’ ’ Dan replied again in brief: ‘ 1 Greasy rail, bad coal, no steam, head wind,” ■**-

Arms are much, in evidence these days,- and it takes a certain amount oi care to keep them in good condition. 'Jonhlaut scrubbing with a good still loofah will improve the circulation and ueip to.,keep the skin of the arms in good condition. Very thin arms will be greatly helped by massaging with olive oil. fled arms will benefit if bathe*., with milk diluted with lemon Juice.

The following story is told by u prominent member of the Education authority, who once visited one of the schools. In the course of his tour of inspection, he stopped at one class o! small boys, and said he was not there to question them but if one asked him a question ho could not answer, he would give the questioner sixpence. A small boy at once piped up; “ Why am 1 like a dead horso? ’ ’ The big man was staggered. ” What makes you ask a question like that?” ho asked. The child indicated that he was asking questions not answering them, so the big man gave' it up. ‘ 1 Because lam wait, mg for the tanner!” said the boy.

Engineers are now engaged in dismantling portions of the machinery at the Freezing Works at Ca-stlccliff. This will be distributed among various works requiring certain classes oi machinery.

“ .Large holdings must go. ” This emphatic declaration was made by the iion. A, D. McLeod, Minister of Lauds. He said that, so far as land settlement was concerned, there would have to be great changes in the i.uturc. Many of the large holdings would have to go into ■smaller sub* divisions, as it was only by pitting people on the land that good Government could be maintained, and Communistic ideas frustrated.

.Do you ever wonder when you go sightseeing, around Buckingham Palace what hours they keep there T asks - a writer . ; in au exchange. Our home loving Queen —and the King, too—has a nine o'clock breakfast, orders luncheon for half-past one, has a sitdown tea at live, followed by a very light dinner at eight.. Early to bed is the rule, one that keeps the Queen in perfect health.

A'story; is told of two youths who were fishing in the Taihhpe district recently, and who, while- having lunch, were unexpectedly accosted by a ranger. Asked to produce their licenses, the pair stood irresolute, and one bolted, hotly pursued by the ranger. A long chase ended in capture, and then the angry and gasping ranger demanded his captive's name. “ What for?'’ inquired the captive. ■ ‘ ‘ For not having a- license," was the sharp reply. "But i have got one, and here it is," said the captive, us he fished a bit of paper from his pocket. "Well, why on earth did you run?" shouted -the now thoroughly incensed ranger. " 1 wanted to give jnc cobber a chance to got away. He hasn't got one." The ranger's indignation may more easily be imagined than expressed.

Home time ago the Prince of Wales was discharging one of his functions in an English country town. As he passed through the usual cheering crowds a man of the labouring class stepped forward, and, confronting him, said; " Yon arc one of the idle rich, I suppose!" The Prince, report says, replied: " Eichi Well, perhaps you may think so. But idle! Hang it all, no!"

A country clergyman had lost his umbrella in church, and was very much upset. It wass not so much the loss of the umbrella that pained him, as he was at pains* to explain to his friends, but the thought that any of his flock could descend to such a thing. He addressed the congregation on the following Sunday and told them of his loss. "I do not expect the thief to reveal himself here," he remarked, ‘ 1 but 1 do hope it will be returned to mo in some way. May I suggest that whoever has it throws it over my garden nail to-morrow morning." The following day 20 umbrellas were found reposing on the lawn.