LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17618, 9 May 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Grounds Committee of the Thames Rugby Union inspected the Wharepoa ground this morning with a . view to matches being played there.

The new r trucking yards at the Kopu Station were used for the first time yesterday when a truck load of sheep was unleaded from the afternoon train.

The dropping of the word “not” from a message yesterday put a totally different interpretation on a paragraph published, in which a Maori named Howell was said to have pleaded guilty to an offence. As a matter of fact he pleaded not guilty, and further down the article it was stated that he had been acquitted, which made it obvious that a mistake had been made. Turua and Plains residents will note with pleasure that the famous Lynch Family of Bellringers and entertainers will play at Turua Town Hall on Saturday night. An advertisement is inserted on page 1. A statement that the fitting of rear reflectors on bicycles w-as not taken seriously was made at the meeting of the council of the, Auckland Automobile Association last evening. Several members expressed concern at the number of unlighted cycles encountered on the roads shortly after sunset. It was pointed out that in many cases reflectors were fitted on the mudguards at an angle which rendered them useless. Many, cyclists did not appreciate that they were absolutely without protection unless the reflectors w r ere vertical.

Occasionally—hut, of course, only occasionally—one hears a ratepayer of Thames grumbling mildly about the high rates he has to pay. This ‘morning a member of the “Thames Star” staff who has the rather dubious pleasure of owning property in England, received jqx interesting communication from a firm of English solictors to the effect that “you will be glad to note that there has been a decrease in the rates of 2gd for the year, making the rates only 4/8£ in the £.” Tho “only” is delicious! It is reported from Dannevirke that an insect is devoting itself to the destruction of Californian thistle in that district. A resident noticed its activities in the last few days in a paddock not far from High Street. The thistle suddenly assumed a black appearance, as if it had been severely frostbitten. Investigation disclosed tho presence of numerous flies, small and w r hite in appearance, similar in structure to the green fly that affects rose bushes but having larger wings. Whether the destruction will prove permanent remains to be seen, but the plants at present are in a bad way with their vitality completely sapped. Should the roots suffer similarly, the activities of the aphis should prove a boon.

The proprietor of a store in Oriental Bay, Wellington, had an amusing experience a day or two ago. Two ladies visitors from the Old Country, had been strolling round the bay, and felt that they would like some refreshment, when they saw in the winodw of the store a notice : “Milk Tokens Sold Here.” Stepping inside they asked the proprietor for “Two milk tokens, please,” under the impression that this was a new milk drink which they were prepared to try. “Pints or quarts?” asked the proprietor, much to .their atonishment. “Oh’ pints will dd; we couldn’t possibly drink quarts.” Their surprise was greater still when they received what appeared to them to be a couple of coins, but they were highly amused when matters were explained to them. The tendency of some rural dwellers to waste electricity when charged for it on the flat-rate basis was discussed aji a meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board this week. One example quoted was that of a farmer, the owner of a large homestead, who, pnor to leaving with his family on a threeweeks’ holiday, turned on"all the lights in his home. They burned continuously until his return. The explanation he offered was that the brilliant lighting of the house served to convey the impression to nocturnal prowlers that the house was occupied. Other members agreed that such a practice was by no means uncommon.