GENERAL ITEMS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1301, 7 October 1922, Page 3

GENERAL ITEMS.

A witness, who was very indignant regarding a suggestion made to him under cross-examination at the Auckland Supreme Court (relates the Star) turned' round to Mr Justice Herdman, and in wounded tones said: "With regard to the statement that Mr ■ and his brother seeing the car a few days after and reporting to me, that is absolutely false, Your Honour." "We are quite accustomed to that here," was the Judge's dry recognition, with an additional remark that conflicting views in evidence were no novelty to the Court. The pale bum coloured plumage of the bittern has become a very rare sight even in the solitudes of the most remote swamp lands. But travellers by the train from Lumsden to Gore recently were surprised (states the Southland Times) to see one of these native birds, believed now to be almost extinct, sitting upon the margin of a patch of swamp land beside the railway track between Riversdale and Manderville. One of the travellers related that he used frequently to see these birds as a boy, but had not seen one for over twenty years. In the Oamaru district (states the Mail) the number of twin lambs is uncommonly large, but what is more remarkable is that many of the ewes have given birth to quadruplets. This fecundity, however, has sometimes disastrous results, for the ewe, affrighted at the swarm of lambs around it, frequently deserts all but one or two, and leaves the others to perish. The plethora of lambs does not seem to be confined to the North Otago district, for both south and north of this place there is a similar abundance of small fry.

Many Gore householders (says the Mataura Ensign) may be wondering why their pet cats have not returned for their matutinal meal of late. A certain resident, however, has been troubled by the depredations of the felines in his chicken yard, and weird melodies which have prevented a liaison with Morpheus. An ingenious death trap contrivance has been arranged at an appropriate gap in the fence surrounding the sacred territory of the disgruntled cat hater, and the latest reports from the fighting front state that nyie "tabbies" have already gone to happier hunting grounds.

It would seem from a letter sent to the Ashburton Borough Council by the Minister of Defence (the Hon Sir Heaton Rhodes) that the Local Bodies' and the Progress League's appeal that the Sockburn aerodrome be not allowed to be closed has borne fruit (states the Guardian). On September 15 a conference of delegates of all three aviation companies was held in the Minister's office with a view to deciding how best the Government could assist the companies with the means at its disposal, and it has been decided that in addition to increasing the rate of subsidy already in force each company should be given employment by carrying out refresher courses for ex-R.A.F. pilots. This additional assistance and work, states the Minister, will enable the companies to carry on throughout the present financial year, when the whole question will again be brought under review.

A discussion on the need for farmers being able to obtain cheaper money in order to save them from financial disaster took place at a meeting of the North Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union, states the Timaru Post. , The discussion arose over a reply received from Mr Massey to a resolution of the executive urging the Government to float a loan' to enable farmers of approved financial ability to secure advances at a reasonable rate of interest. The Premier stated that the subject had been given careful consideration, and it had been decided it was not expedient at the present time to borrow money. It was decided that the matter should be referred to the general executive for a report.