NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LVIV, Issue 83, 24 December 1926, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

NOTES FROM ALL PARTS. THE DOMINION DAY BY DAY. Plenty of l'tning- Doctors. "The Christchurch Hospital will have a full complement of young doctors for next year," said the resident medical superintendent (Dr. W. B. Fox). "There is no shortage of young men for hospital work, but the applicants have been fewer than for the last five or six years. Perhaps the extension of the curriculum from live lo six years has had something to do with this, but in any case Hut supply always exceeded the demand some years ago." •* * *

A Strange Fish. A large fish, measuring 7ft by 4ft by Ift lOin, of a species with which local fishermen are unfamiliar, jwas washed ashore at Longbeach recently, and aroused considerable curiosity among fishing enthusiasts in the neighbourhood (reports ah exchange). The fish does jiot resemble any of the various deep-sea fish which anglers" have from time to time caught in coastal waters, and a minute description of the fish has been sent to the Canterbury Museum authorities to have it classified. . •* * • Dual Purpose Strays. * When local bodies are considering samples of dog collars each year, consideration is usually given_as to the one which appears to be most useful for use as a names strap, even if the cost is a trifle higher, says the Auckland Star. At the Matamata County Council meeting on Friday, some members were in favour of the acceptance of a tender for an inferior collar, possibly because of the increase in motor' traction for farm work. On the chairman's casting vote, however, the "hames straps" secured the verdict fori another year. •* • • The Wrong Machine. A burly Maori walked into th© Taihape Post Office the other afternoon (says the Times), and asked if he could use the telephone. "Not here," said the clerk, "you put a penny in the machine outside and use that telephone." The Maori walked arway, but returned a moment later looking very disgusted. "Well," said the clerk, "how did you get on?" "Get on?" retorted the dusky_gehtleman. "Py corry I no get on very well. I not get the other ferra. ATI the machine say was 'l4 stone.'" Then it dawned on the clerk that the Maori had put his pennies in a weighing machine. ••• • s» Light Fruit Crops. Apple crops throughout the Poverty Bay district will be lighter than usual this year, and the commercial growers are afraid there will be no surplus for export. Unfortunately, all the cases ordered for export have arived (says the "Poverty Bay Herald"), and growers will have to take delivery and hold them for next season. The crops generally are patchy, and it appears likely that the whole of the apples grown will beconsumed in the district, more especially as excellent arrangements' can be made for cold storage. Pear crops look good, but it is probable that these, too, will be needed for the local market. •» • • Youthful Turfites. The sporting spirit of the New Zealand child is early manifested. At the entertainment to children at the .Majestic Theatre, says the Auckland Star,. one 'of the pictures screened was a reproduction of the running of the St. Leger. As Coronach was seen to' talte the lead and gallop with victorious stride towards the winning post, there arose such a cheer trom the youngsters as hSd surely not before been heard in that tneatre —it mignt be the roar of an Eilerslie crowd welcoming the favourite "home," excepting that it was pitcned in a higher and more Tnelodious key! The "sport of kings" will not wane in popularity in this country if the interest shown in it by the rising generation is any criterion. •* * * 'A Shearing Eecord. * ' Wnat is possmiy a record for*this district as far as shearing is concerned was carried out by a gang at Kototaui recently, when, six men snore lt>73 sheep in a nine-hour day. Four of these men did no less than. 122!) sheep, these being Piki Smith .its, W. iieechani 300, Syd. Aparama and Hiwi Maynard 3u2. This tally easily beats what Hawke's Bay recently claimed as a record, wueri tour men snore 1165 sheep for Mr .). D. iuglis at Mt, Erin. The highest tally, in. that case also was 318, but there the men worked for 10 hours, thus having an extra hour above the Rototahi shearers. The* sheep at Rototahi were in perfect conuition, as'Shown by the fact that the wool easily topped the market at the - recent Napier sale. »* * * A Tight Little "Boat. "She's one of the tightest little boats that ever crossed the ocean from England to New Zealand," remarked Captain L. McLean, gazing over the side of the ferry at the well-known steamer Glenelg, which had just arrived from Whangarei. Captain McLean had many memories of the old ship. "She was built at Port Glasgow," he went on, "and her voyage out here occupied over four months. That was nearly fifty years ago, for she was launched in 187 S, but she has not altered very much, although her masts are only half the height they were when they were first stepped. The Glenelg came out under sail and steam, and as she carried a fair spread of canvas, she was able to make very fair runs in favourable weather. Calls were made at Monte Video and Hobart." The old seafarer continued to gaze. "I came out in her," he finished. — Auckland Star.