LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20271, 25 March 1938, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Record Sales Tax Collection. The sales tax collection in January total/ed £317,518, a record figure for any single month since the tax came into operation in 1933, says the latest issue of the Abstract of Statistics. Air Mails in London. The Chief Postmaster at Thames advises that the air mails despatched from Auckland and Wellington on March 2, via >Sydncy-Singaporo air service, arrived in London on March 20. Numbering of Borough. Preliminary work in connection with the numbering of tfie borough is at present being carried out. in connection with this, all section frontages are being measured. Motor Spirits Imports. During 1937 motor spirits to the value of £1,856,209 (N.Z. currency) were imported to the Dominion. The greatest amount, to the value of £1,169,629, came from the Dutch East Indies. Jersey Cows and Politicians. Laughter greeted a remark made by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe at the official opening of Mangaweka's new Post Office, that the Jersey cow had done more for New Zealand than politicians had ever accomplished. Novel Competition. At the Hawkc's Bay Autumn Show, held at Tomoana last week, there was a class in the school section for a collection of white butterflies. Miss N. Parker was the winner with a total of 17,777 butterflies and Miss D. Howlett was second with 5000.

Shipping to Thames. For the 12 months ended December, the total manifest tonnage handled over the Thames wharf was 7155 tons, says the latest issue of the Abstract of Statistics. Inward cargo amounted to 5239 and outward 1916 tons. The total handled at Corotnandel was 1920 tons. Worth Trying. A Eiccarton resident is wondering whether ho should put his garden through a sieve. Two years ago ho dug up a sovereign. On Sunday his lucky star was shining again, not so brightly this time, his find being a George 111. half-crown, bearing the date 1817. Motor Vehicles to N.Z. Motor-curs imported to New Zealand in 1937, according to the latest issue of the Abstract of Statistics reached a total of £4,719,907 in Dominion currency. From the U»ited Kingdom tho value was £2,851,499, from Canada £1,127,661, and U.S.A. £740,244. The i value of motor lorries, trucks and buses was £1,071,225.

Like the Minister. Reference at the St. John Ambulance Association annual meeting last night was made to the attendance by the president, Mr. R. M. Rhodes. "My remarks, however." said Mr. Rhodes, "are like those of the minister who preaches to those present on small attendances, instead of getting out among those who are away." A Motorist's Court. "Why should motorists charged with offences against the traffic regulations have to appear in the same Court with drunks and burglars?" asked Mr. P. J. Thorn (Otago), at the meeting of the South Island Motor Union last Monday, when the enforcement of regulations was being considered. He considered that a special Court should be set up for hearing such cases. Good Imitators. Speaking to a Palmerston Xorth audience the Rev. L. Watkins, vicar of Mangaweka, who spent three years as a L'haplin in Hongkong, said tho Chinese were very fine imitatators. Mrs Watkins had bought a hat in Sydney en route to Hongkong for 25/-, and after wearing it for about a year she took it to a Chinese tailor in Hongkong. The tailor in three days had reproduced a perfect model of the hat for fi/6. Rats Fed to Oats aud Cats to Rats. A Wanganui man has received from the United States particulars of a new "get-rieh-quick" scheme similar to the "snake and rabbit farms." The promoters propose to start a cat ranch. Next door will l»e a rat ranch. The rats will breed 10 times faster than the cats, so that there will l>e enough rats to feed the cats. The rats will he fed on the carcases of the cats after they have boon killed and skinned. So, the promoters say, they will feed rats to cats and cats to rats, and get the skins for nothing. Those interesed are urged in an announcement of the plan to 'invest now while opportunity knocks at your door." 100-Year-Old Canoe. A 100-year-old Maori fishing canoe, worn and scarred by the years, is tho interesting relic of former days now in the possession of Mr. lhakara Rapana (Ike Robin), once well-known as a champion wrestler, who lives at Kohupatiki, between Hastings and Napier. The canoe is made of totara. and most of the timber has been well preserved. As a canoe, however, it has passed its days of usefulness, for lioth prow and stern have l>een holed. The canoe

came originally from Wairoa, where it was fashioned with axes from a. single tree trunk, work which must have taken months. For- some years it has been allowed to lie in a paddock adjoining Mr. Rapana's house.

Government Sheep I "All right, let them go!" said tho owner resignedly, when the auctioneer asked him if he would sell at the last bid for his rams at the ram fair, says the Star-Sun. "You ought to be like another breeder I know and say: 'Sell them; they belong to the Government, anyway, so why worry!' " replied tho auctioneer, amidst laughter. Timaru's Plague. Christchurch gardeners who complain of the depredations of the white butterfly arc fortunately placed, in comparison with Timaru citizens. On Sunday clouds of the pest were to bo seen in practically every suburban street in Timaru, they swarmed over tho golf links and settled thickly on Caroline Bay. One enthusiastic amateur gardener ruefully remarked that of 150 nasturtium plants flanking his garden paths, only six survived the attentions of the white butterfly.

Once Was Enough. There are sonic- people who boast they will try anything—once. This was the attitude of one man who visited a Japanese vessel at Bluff. He was received most courteously by the officers and treated with great hospitality. When asked what he would have to drink, he was uncertain of his choice, so said: "Just %vhat the others are having." It only required a little of the warmed, oily liquid so enjoyed by his hosts to convince him that "sake" might be all very well for Orientals, but it did not suit the palate or head of the Southlander.