LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17680, 3 September 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlie Post Office has received advice that mails which left Auckland on the 30th July, per Aorangi, via. Vancouver. arrived in London on the 28tli August. ' <

St. George’s Girls’ Club will hold another of their popular dance socials at the Parish Hall this evening. Tlie admission is 1/6 and supper is provided. Old-time dances, with some jazz, will be played by A. Williams] Orchestra.

A dense fog covered the Hauraki Plains vesterday morning extending, uo as far as Kaihere and thence to Mcrrinsville. Heavv fog was also experienced at Hamilton yesterday ipoming. Such fogs are unusual at this time of year.

Snorts of all grades are reminded cf the meeting at the Queen’s Theatre this evening to discuss the proposal to form a sports club at Thames.

“You must get the local paper if you. live in the district. It is part of the life of its own public, a hit of themselves, and the advertiser who leaves it out of his calculations is, in my opinion, missing one of the greatest assets in securing sales.” This is the considered statement of Mr. R. T. Lang, of Sells, Ltd., London, based on his own experiences and observations during .40 years’ association with big business.

A splendid tribute to the work of New Zealand graders of dairy produce was paid by Mr. W. Grounds, speaking at Tatuanui. He admitted that occasionally cheese graded ’ “finest” here might open up as only “first” grade at home, but usually- the grading was upheld. He had heard a prominent Tooley Street bnyr in London say; “I take my hat off to the New Zealand graders. They do their work well.” That opinion was borne out by three other big, buyer*present.

The whole of the earthquake district is settling down to normal again, said Mr. J. Newman, the Nelson manager of Newman’s Transport Services. Motors were still using the Maruia Road from Murchison to Westport, as the road via Lvell was stfll in a !bisd way. At present the Public Works Department seemed to be concentrating upon roads leading to settlers’ homes, but with the advent of better weather it should not take vferv long to put the Lyell Road into good order again. Tlie accidental discovery of a natural fly-killer is described in the British Medical Journal. A castor oil plant was placed accidentally in a room swarming with flies, which flew in hundreds through the open window, but as soon as it was deposited in its place the flies disappeared as if by enchantment. On examination they were found under the castor oil plant or clinging to the under surface of its leaves, dead. The leaves emit an essential oil or toxic principle which possess the strongest insecticide qualities.

Even in biceps there are fashions, as the president of the Wellington Y.M.C.A. (Mr. W. J. Mason) reminded an audience the other evening. He was pointing out how the whole idea of physical culture had changed during the past 20 years. In the old days men came to town with bulging biceps, bent iron bars, and broke iron chains. It was quite the fashionable thing for the strong man to have lumps of muscle on his arms and other limbs. But big biceps did not indicate the best physical training. The present aim of' the man who had charge of physical culture was all-round .training and fitness so that if a man had to sprint for : a. train he would catch it—and not do himself harm.

Mr. T. Graham, of Cochrane Street, notifies . that he can supply the purest ice cream for picnics and parties or sports in large and small quantities.

A valuable cow, owned by Mrs. Potaka, died at Utiki as a result of swallowing a golf ball which was picked up on the links on which the cow was grazing. A veterinary surgeon found the ball lodged firmly in the throat of the cow.

Where a*e the men to-day ,wlio can use a scythe as to the manner born? Not many do we see at the present time, and yet this implement is just as badly needed now as ever it was. I saw a man last week who, in spite of his age, which was very nearly 60, was only a beginner. To watch him was very interesting. The beginner has a bad time with the scythe always, and unless he has someone of the old school to teach him , the rhythmic swing and. movement his Work must be hard. When he commences operations he digs the point of the scythe into the ground, stands awkwardly, and seems unable to get the hang of the tool at all. To watch the old hands is a- revelation. With a beautiful swing 'and great precision, all working together the men will move across • a field carrying everything before them. But no one teaches the young idea these days. Most people take their ; theatrical entertainment as it is offered them without worrying about how it is brought about or what it .costs. In the eas</ of a big professional company playing, musical comedies the expenditure entailed (including fares bv steamer and rail) may easily run into from £I2OO to £I4OO a week, so that they must take over £2OO, and in some cases £250, per night to pay hare out .of pocket expenses. Comedy and dramatic companies do not, as a rule, cost nearly so much. A successful (box office) comedy with a cast of only half a dozen people is the readiest and biggest moneymaker. It is no joke for amateurs to put on a musical comedy. This year the Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society produced one play only (“.Our Miss Gibbs”) and its expenditure (without having to pay. any salaries to performers) ran into £866/10/6. 0/ that the Opera, House expenses (rent, royalties, lighting,. etc.) amounted to\ /£291/l/8; advertising and printing, £ll9/8/1; stage hands and orchestra, £119718/1; producer, £75; musical director and secretary, £2l each. The society lost £BB on the season.