LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16073, 7 April 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In sinking a main shaft at Muir’s reefs a blue mineralised country rock has been met with at a depth of 402 ft. This particular class of country gives favourable indications, and much resembles the country rock in the Waihi mines, says an exchange.

A flock of four keas made its appearance in the township at the head of the Wairau Valley, states “The North Utago Times.’' Fortunately all were destroyed. The invasion of the flat country by these killers of sheep is on the increase, and the sheepmen are becoming somewhat concerned.

For some days prior to April Ist an advertisement appeared in tlie Wlmngarei paper intimating that a sale would take place at certain sample rooms when wonderful bargains would be offered, including cigarettes at 4d a packet, Loewe pipes at 3s and benzine at 11s a case. A large crowd congregated at the sample rooms only to find that they were the subjects of an “April Fools’ Day” hoax.

‘As you know, I am not unacquainted with Canterbury,” said Mr Massey to a deputation yesterday. “I spent two years here as a boy.” “They fed you well,” interjected Mr G. "Witty, M.P. “They did,” replied the Prime Minister. “That reminds me, on one occascion when I was in Auckland J asked a policeman to direct me. He asked me if I were from Canterbury, and f asked him what prompted that question. ‘Because you look so well,’ he replied.”

A school teacher who is noted for her sedateness caused something of a sensation on the Oaniaru Station platform the other morning in her efforts to catch the Ivurow express (says the Uamaru Mail.) Sprinting along the platform she. upset a large gentleman who was spread-eagled on the ground gasping with astonishment, and made after the train at full tilt. Sad to relate she missed it. but a friendly motorist enabled lier to appear before her pupils up to time.

A dog that catches eels is one ol the celebrities of the Hauraki Plains. Of no particular breed, but “just dog. he waits until the tide leaves tlie mud bare in a backwater close to the Jverepeehi wharf, and then bis fun begins, lie has no system, but just splashes about in the mud and noses along the hanks. When he grips an eel he pulls it forth with the enthusiasm of a weka for a worm and with the creature lashing like a flail around bis head, he dashes on to the road, where he leaves the body. He has never been seen to eat an eel—be limits for the Jove of the game.

To be stung by a bee while motoring is an unusual experience, but it occurred to a New Plymouth motor cyclist (states an exchange). While the cyclist's hand was momentarily off the handle-bar one of the busy little creatures settled unobserved upon the grip. The motorist returned his ungloved hand to the bar — and the bee made ‘its presence felt. A Wanganui citizen can go one better than this. He was cycling home, tired after his day’s work, and as he opened his mouth to yawn a “bumble” bee flew in. The next day. when the victim went to work, he could scarcely move his tongue to speak.

“Can’t we do something to stop these hair-brained motorists from breaking speed records on the main roads?” asked a member of the Wanganui Automobile Association at a recent council meeting. The chairman (Mr A. S. Burgess) said that various county councils were already taking action. “Wlrat’s the good of that?” asked a. member. “These fellows only laugh at fines, a«cl go boasting ail over the country about the amounts they have paid already. 1 say they ought to be put in gaol.” It was unanimously decided to urge that legislation be introduced giving magistrates power to imprison persons convicted of deliberate attempts to break speed records‘on the dominion’s highways.

Au interesting account of the amazing recovery of a small bird after a serous injury is given by the chief petty officer on H.M.S. Philomel. The bird, a white dove, was savagely attacked by a dog, a »d had its chest so torn open that its heart was actually exposed, the beating being plain i y Hsihlo. After lying unattended for half an hour the bird was taken to the sick bay. where its wounds were sewn up with horse hair, and a bandage wound round its body. It was then put to bed in its box, while its mate waited nearby for company. On being visited next morning the bird was found to have freed itself from the bandages and to be flying around the room. When the door was opened it Mew inside. The dove appears to be now as strong as ever, though the stitches can be plainly seen in its bodv.

An inexplicable incident, and one that has aroused some consternation in the the neighbourhood of Featherston Street W., Palmerston North, occurred one evening recently (says the •Ylanawatu Times.) A lady, together with her daughter, was at home when a knock was heard at the door. The lady opened the door to a strange man, and the greeting site received was: “You had better take care or your'house will be burnt clown; your wash-house is going now.” Then the man disappeared in the darkness. The lady visited the wash-house, and found that a basketful of washing which she had placed there earlier in the evening was alight and the contents blazing fiercely. The peculiar part of the incident was the discovery of pieces of crumpled paper pushed in the network of the basket, from which the clothes had obviously been ignited. No further explanation of the incident was forthcoming, despite the efforts of the ladies to recall the mysterious visitor.

The indications are for: —Easterly winds, moderate to strong. The weather will probably prove squally with heavy showers. The barometer has a rising tendency. Seas rough. Tides high. The readings at Thames Post Office were: Barometer 30.19. Thermometer 63 at noon to day.

The Waipu which was advertised to leave Paeroa to-day, was unable to «aii owing to the flooded state of the river.

A Wanganui resident who was in the back country in the Waitotara recently states the effects of the recent southerly and the salt spray could be noticed on fruit trees and hedges fully IS miles inland.

A unique demonstration of strength was witnessed on the Auckland waterfront, when Alice, tlie giant of the team of elephants with Wirth’s circus, liberated a “bogged” dray with the greatest ease after a powerful motor truck bad failed.

A special meeting of the Cabinet was held to consider the Gisborne murder case, Sir Francis Bell (Attorney-Gen-eral) presiding in the absence of the Prime Minister, who is away in the South Island. The decision arrived at cannot, however, be made known until His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral has been consulted, and the matter dealt with bv the Executive Council.

“There are two of them, husband and wife. They were riding along together without lights.” said Constable Southworth to the .Magistrate at the Court the other morning during the hearing of the by-law cases (says the Ashburton Guardian). “Yes.” replied his Worship, smilingly, “but husband and wife are one.” “But they are both charged, your Worship,” rejoined the constable amid laughter. The Magistrate fined the wife 10s and costs (7s) and let the husband off with costs only, believing, no doubt, that there was only purse between the two of them.

The mental gear of an inebriate in the Palmerston North Court slipped a cog in his efforts to avoid a holiday from the cares of the world at His Majesty’s pleasure (says the Manawatu Times). In answer to the bench he stated that be bad a permanent job in Apiti to go to. He had been in Palmerston North for tlie past five months. The presiding Justice; “Do you mean to say that you can go back to the job after all that time.” Accused clutched at tlie straw. “Oh, yes!” he said hasily, “I often leave it to come into town for a lew days!”

The deepest hole in the earth, according to the “Scientific American,” is a. gold mine in the State of Minnas Geraes, Brazil. The mine is now «79oteet below the surface at the top of the shaft through which it is entered. But the Tamarack No. 5 copper mine, in the Lake Superior region of the United States, goes nearest to the centre of the earth. This is because the Tamarack starts in a country whose level is not far below of the sea. while the Brazilian mine is in a mountainous region nearly 3(100 feet above sea level. The fact that the doctors ascribed more than half the eye troubles of men and women to bad lighting in offices was touched upon hv the Minister for Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) at the opening of the Elizabeth street "infant school at Wellington. Present-day schools were being constructed along modern lines, said Mr Parr, and it was seen that the light was thrown over the pupil’s left shoulder. This ensured safety as far as the eyes were concerned. Another factor in schools was the continual passage of fresh air through the rooms. The olden-dav methods were slowly being eliminated as new schools were erected.

Is the borer peculiar to New Zealand?” asked Mr Justice Herdman of a witness in a Supreme Court case at Auckland. The witness replied that, he believed there were certain insects which bored into timber in other countries. His Honour said lie had heard that the rafters in Westminster Hall had been destroyed bv some kind of insect. The witness added that be had seen borer in new houses, even in houses under construction. Creosote would kill the borer in the earh- stages if squirted into the holes. Another Witness said that if the boards were treated with creosote it would render them immune from borer.