LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A man named H. Ware, of the Opunake district, was admitted to the New Plymouth hospital on Saturday sudering from a fractured leg. Mr. Ware was feeding turnips from a cart when he fell out and injured his leg. It was reported hist evening that he was progressing satisfactorily.

A denial that small slips have been -frequently occurring on the summit of Mt. Egniont since the earthquake on February 3 is given by Mr. R. W. Larsen, chief guide at North Egmont. Mr. Larsen has made the ascent a number of times since February 3, and is able to contradict the rumour that changes have occurred in the shape of the summit.

A penguin disporting itself in the sea on the east side of the Newton King wharf created considerable interest at the port of New Plymouth yesterday. The bird, which was about a foot long, seemed to delight in diving irito the water and swimming furiously about fifty yards at a time at a comparatively small depth. A fern and rubbish fire in the railway waste ground opposite the walk to Kawaroa Park was extinguished at about 6 p.m. last night by the New Plymouth Eire Brigade. It was stated that the fire was a small one and required only the chemical extinguisher. It is thought that the cigarette- butt of a passer-by or possibly a match started the blaze.

He was a dutiful son' and, besides the worry of unemployment, he had the additional burden of supporting his aged mother, says the Marlborough Express. This was a young man’s story in applying to the local Unemployment Committee for work. There is little doubt that that sympathetic body would have done its best, but unfortunately for the applicant, two of his brothers had previously applied for work, and they had stated that their mother had died ten years ago. The direction the bereaved one took in leaving Blenheim is not Ipown.

It is understood the gate takings at the athletic carnival in Pukekura Park on Saturday night amounted to between £BO and £9O. Under its arrangement with the New Zealand council the committee controlling the meeting had to pay £4O as a guarantee before New Plymouth could be included in the itinerary of th® American athletes. The gatp takings, together with accounts for local expenses, have to be forwarded to the council, which is financing the tour. Should some meetings show profits these will be iised to off-set losses at the smaller centres. “Some of New Zealand’s tourist attractions, sqch as Mt- Cook and the cold lakes, want re-naming,” said Mr, J. L. Wheeler, manager’ for Pacific Tours, Ltd., of San Francisco, while at Christchurch. “Mt. Cook might bo anywhere in the world; you ought to rename it Mt. Aoraugi, which is a much more attractive name, and besides is distinctive of New Zealand. The name ‘cold lakes’ is repellent; if they were called the ‘southern lakes’ it would bo much better from a tourist point of view.”

A motor-car belonging to Mi’. H- RJenkins, who was returning from a visit to the north, was caught by the tide at the Blqff on Ninety Mile Beach on Tuesday, and had to bo temporarily abandoned, says the New Zealand Herald. The tide was just covering the sand as Mr. Jenkins' drove off the rocks at the Bluff and his car, which weighed nearly two and a-half tons, could not bo moved out of the heavy sand. The incoming tide filled tlto engine with water and set the floor-boards of the car afloat. Later' the car was towed to the end of the beach arid will bo brought to Auckland on a scow.

“Rumour is a lying jade,” states the New Zealand Draper, Clothier and Boot Retailer. “Whether given birth through fear or jealousy, any rumour affecting the standing of a sound business house should be followed up and handled with the gloves off, Rumour hath it that So-and-So have put off a hundred hands, that another concern is selling out to a big Australian firm, that a leading drapery establishment is in the hands of the receivers—and s° on. Not a word of truth in any of it. Some people seem to take a devilish delight in spreading rumours and adding a bit from their own imagination. It doesn’t do to stand on ceremony in dealing with rumourmongers; they are a menace to the community, especially in these days when confidence must be maintained.”

The small daughter of Mr. arid Mrs. F, C. Malaquin, Hanmer Springs, discovered a new game, and was busily engaged acting as traffic director to bees, heavy laden, making their way a hive. It was not long before the bees in the hive attacked the child, who is three apd a-half years of age, an<J she was badly stung, her parents removing more than 20 stings from her face and legs. Mrs. Malaquin, remembering a saying that in the case of bee stings people rush for the blue-bag instead of the honey pot, rubbed honey over the injured places, :pd in a quarter of an hour the youngster was at play again without showing any marks of her experience.

A plaintive request for a food allowance and bread tickets was made at the office of the Auckland Hospital Relief Board last'week by a young man. He gave the number of the street where he was living, arid also the name of the owner of the house. The case as it was presented looked like one of real hardship, but just at the moment another social worker entered the office and heard the man’s request. “You scoundrel,” he said, “you liave been living at our shelter for over three weeks and we have been looking after you well. Get out or I’ll boot you out.” The humorous part of the incident was the quick way in which the man lett—a marked contrast to the pensive way in which he came in.—Star. The Wellington Harbour Board’s unit of 10 men, whope work in Napier and at the P®rk Hospital in connection with the earthquake won high praise, carried, among other equipment, ambulance requisites. They were not only trained men, but several of them had had experience in the war, in the influenza epidemic of 1918, and were used to the organised treatment of emergency situations. When they were being drafted, it was noted that one of them, through war service, had only one arm. When the question wap discreetly asked whether he should be expected to go on such a mission, the answer of his companions was that he was the most useful of them all, and indispensable. In addition to many other accomplishments, he is a highly expert motor-driver.

Webster Brop. advertise 2000 boxe.B of choice assorted fruit for to-morrow (Tuesday), at 1.30 o’clock.