LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17661, 12 August 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Through the instrumentality of the Coromandel Chamber of Commerce, rural mail delivery is mow available to country settlers between Manaia and Waikawau, along the Thamef;Co reman del Road.

The Thames Harbour Board announces that 10 per cent penalty on rates will accrue after 16th September on all unpaid rates.

The' Thames Auction Mart invito entries for their first weaner pig sale.

The removal of sand from certain localities is prohibited by the Harbour Board in an advt. today.

A resident who hag just returned from a trip in towards the Wanganui River through the Ahu Ahu district, reports that the large white clematis blooms have made their appearance in that locality. These, usually, are not fully out until the end of August and beginning of September. He also states that the native passion fruitmakes an imposing sight in parts of the bush. On some trees this creeper is a blaze of red.

It is reported that the Government purpose farming-out the mussel beds about the Hauraki Gulf. The Coromandel Chamber of Commerce has asked that the draft regulations covering the project should he submitted to the Coromandel County Council before adopting them. A glancing bullet wa£ the cause of an unusual accident at the Timaru Miniature Rifle Club’s range during the progress of the South Island championship contest on Saturday night. Mr. W. Duncan, who was acting marker, was shot through the nose, and obviously had a narrow escape from serious injury. It is believed that the <missle ricocheted through a partition from .another range m the Drill Hall.

That a young man shot himself in a frenzy when not responsible for his action after his friend had been accidentally killed by him was the verdict of a coroner’s jury in the case of Frederick Charles Turner, aged 27, and Frederick Robert Durrani, aged 18, gardeners’ labourers, who were found dead with gunshot wounds in the head in a field of their employer, Ernest Morse, of Cringleford. The two were good friends and had been ferreting for rabbits together. •, Policeevidence was that Turner had a wound in front of the head and Durrant a wound behind the left ear. It wad obvious Turner had died from a selfinflicted wound. There were no signs of a struggle and there were a number of rabbits in the field.

Snow was clearly visible on all high ridges of the Te Aroba mountains during the early part of Thursday morning and . formed a very pretty picture in the strong, (sunshine. Trees and brushes stood oui clearly in their fine white mantles and even on the top of the Bald Spur splashes of white were apparent. The weather seems scarcely cold enough to warrant the appearance of snow in the neighbourhood but about midnight there was a very cold snap which probably was responsible for’ the fall. Rainfall 1 for the last 24 hours was exactly 2£ inches according to local measurements.— News.

Of all the professional beggars one who visited Hamilton should take the prize. He began in quite an orthodox manner: If only he had train fare to the Tliames, all would be well. The man to whom he appealed was sufficiently canny to buy his ticket and see him on to the train, instead of advancing the cash. The donor met a friend and had a .short conversation hefore leaving the station. Coming along Victoria Street, lie met the gentleman of the hard-up story emerging from a hotel bar. Hie gentleman confessed that he had got off the train on the other side—he had an appointment to meet a friend! He had contrived to dispose of his ticket. The benefactor demanded the change and issued an ultimatum, to expire in three minutes. “Can you change a fiver?” asked the gentleman of the hard-up story. The other changed the fiver and recovered hi®, cash.

There was an unusual interruption in the evening service at St Paul’s Church, Christchurch, on Sunday evening when a well-dressed man had to be ejected from the congregation for persistently snoring. Immaculately clothed, carrying gloves and cane, he arrived late and proceeded leisurely down the aisle and took his el ace in one of the front, news. Settling himself there very deliberately, he fell: into a deep slumber, snoring loudly. Attempt's to prod him into wakefulness were successful for a time, but during the sermon he slept, or appeared to sleep once more, punctuating the .sentences of the preacher, the Rev. W. Bower Black, with heavy and resonant snores. Eventually the service had to be stopped. Sturdy officebearers put the tired man out of doors.

An advt. of used car,; inserted by Mr. Gordon Mincher will interest many who contemplate the purchase of a car at not too high a price. The cars are all on exhibition at Mr. Mincher’s garage.

He strolled into- the club in which he had managed to gain admission as a member, and looked round to see whether there was anyone there lie knew. After a while he noticed a well known barrister reading by the window. He walked over and held out his hand, the palm facing downwards. On his fourth finger glittered a diamond he had just bought. “What do you think of that?” he asked with an air of pride. “It’s a good stone,” murmured the barrister acidly, “but if I were you I’d «ell it and buy a nail-brush.” \