GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 21 September 1923, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

Monday next, September 24, being Dominion Day, the Banks doing business throughout the Dominion, will be closed.

“I fail to see why a man should steal fowls when he has enough of his said counsel at the blastorton Magistrate’s Court. “Economy, perhaps,” said Mr S. L. P. Free, S.M.— “Wairarapa Age.”

Visitors to Rotorua remark that trout are thriving wonderfully in the Rotorua and Rotoiti Lakes, and the Oh an Channel connecting the two lakes contains great numbers of five and sixpounders and also of smaller trout, but the large ones predominate.

“You don’t mind me calling you ‘captain’ do you?” asked a solicitor when cross-examining a witness in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru yesterday. “You can call me what you like,” promptly replied the witness, and he added, '“l’ve got nothing to giveaway. ”

An opossu mtrapper who located his camp in the Rimutakas, 12 miles from Akatarawa-Waikanae Road, states, that the block he was working abounds with game, deer, pigs, and goats being plentiful, while the rivers are wen stocked with rainbow trout.

Among the exhibits which attracted an audience to the Magistrate’s Court At Oamaru were a two-gallon keg of beer, a couple of bottles of wine, and half a bottle of whisky (says the “North Otago Times”). The liquor, of course, went down the State fink.

A reduction for one year has teen effected with all shipping lines in the freight rates, on. stud stock frxoi England to Australia, to assist »lie Australian meat industry in endeavours to improve the breed of Australian cattle. Freight has been reduced to 40 guineas per head for cattle and to 11 guineas for sheep.

From the viewpoint of crime the police report that Christchurch has seldom been in so favourable a position as it is at present. For some weeks past (states an exchange) there has been almost a clean sheet so far as reports of serious crime are concerned. Lesser offences have been reported, but they have not been numerous.

The next meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board, to be held on Friday next, promises to be of unusual importance. At it the reports by Mr A. Dudley Dobson, and the resident engineer (Mr F. W. Clarke), on harbour improvement, will be considered, and. the harbour rate for the year will be discussed.

A Press Association message • says that the Wairoa Magistrate’s Court was occupied for part of two days hearing considerable evidence in a sheepworrying .case —Ardkeen (a soldier settler) and Jack Owen against William McKay and Sydney Malone, a claim for 81 sheep killed and general damages to the flock. The Magistrate (Mr Levvy) yesterday awarded the plaintiffs £9O damages and costs.

“The vocal chords are the head, throat, chest, and ako the valves; which are five in number—A, E, I, 0, XL The diaphram is like a strong piece of elastic which keeps the ribs together.” This was the reply of a candidate to a question on musical matters, said Mr Roland Foster, a judge at the Wellington competitions; while another pupil, referring to Adam’s apple, said it was also sometimes known as “the apple of discord.” Laughter.)

Crayfish appear to he the chief commodity on the local fish market at the present time (says the “Southland News”), and even the famous oyster has to take second place to the tasty crustacean. A local fish dealer stated that the demand was enormous, and that although over 6000 crayfish were usually received on a Thursday afternoon they were cleared by Saturday. What with oysters- and crayfish, Invercargill appeals to be a fish-eating community.

Diogenes resurrected would not need a lamp to look for an honest man in Auckland (remarks the “Star”). There are honest men here—and others. Recently one above temptation found in the street the sum of £8 10s. He advertised for the owner of “a sum of money,” and had five replies. To the person Who later furnished the’ right particulars he handed over the money. “You are an honest chap,” said the man; “keep it.” The finder, however, lesolutely refused the gift, and was not easily persuaded to accept 5s for his expenses from the owner, who, by the way, is a man said to be worth £50,000.

At the meeting of the Executive of the South Canterbury Automobile Association last night it was suggested that in-fairness the Timaru Borough Council should he prosecuted on 'account of the new' dazzling headlights which it has on the municipal buses, as any ordinary motorist would be if he had such lights. Two members said that on coming into town that night they had had to stop their respective cars on the road, because the headlights on the bus had made it impossible for them to see where they were going. Such lights were anathematised by users of the public highway, and should not be allowed.

Referring to the date when the new Land and Income Tax comes into force, Mr F. J. Rolleston draws attention to an error which appeared in a paragraph in yesterday’s “Herald.” The original Bill provided that the new' rates and exemptions should not come into force until April 1, 1924, but this provision was struck out whilo tho Bill was passing through the House. According to the Income Tax Commissioner, the Act is now in force and applies to all income tax payable for the year ending March 91, 1923. The assessments now being received show' the deductions in accordance with this year’s {Act.

The Council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society decided on Wednesday last, on the motion of Mr E. F. Stead, to apply to the Government for 100 ova of the land-locked variety of salmon, which is at present in some of the southern lakes, with the idea of turning them out in one or tw r o of the small land-locked lakes in the Upper Waimakariri district. Mr Stead said he believed the salmon was tbo land-locked variety from Canada, and, knowing that that variety was a very fine sporting fish, he wished to sec experiments made in the lakes -where the fish could not get out. Then, if if, were proved that it was that variety, it might easily turn, out to be a better fish than the rainbow trout.

The increasing and criminal recklessness of many of the motor drivers on Napier roads was brought to liglu recently by an accident in which a boy had a narrow' escape from serious injuries and perhaps death. The boy m question (states the “Daily Telegraph’) w'as riding w'ith a companion at a fast pace along the road. A motorist in a two-seater ear w r as proceeding fast in the middle of the road and essayed to pass the dangerous junction of the two roads without sounding his horn. The lad n(;tcmpteu to cross in front of the car hut seeing that he could tint turn round in time, nor pull up, ho increased his speou, and, going at a high ..rate, leapt the gutter on the onposiie side and crashed into a brick -wall. Had it not been for his action he' would undoubtedly have suffered considerable damage. As it w'as the cycle had two bars badlv