In the Dominion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 220, 17 September 1928, Page 6

In the Dominion

| “Defendant is notorious for his slow j driving, and has had wires from friends j ironically congratulating him on being so lawless as to get caught for speeding,” said Mr J. C. Train, referring to one of the motorists who was among the large number brought before the Invercargill Police Court for speeding. A DOUBLE SOMERSAULT I A double somersault was turned by a cyclist who was involved in a cullis ion on the Belmont-Clifton Bill Road, Takapuna, Auckland. A motor-bus had almost overtaken the cyclist and apparently, in cutting in toward the side of the road, just touched the cycleThe rider was thrown off, turning a double somersault to land on his lect. He again spun in the air and landed on his feet on the concrete. Except for being slightly dazed ho was unhurt and was able to proceed on his way. JAZZ BAND’S LATE HOURS

Jazz bands were mentioned during the hearing of a maintenance case in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court. The defendant, who conducts an orchestra and earns a little extra money from time to time, said that his orchestra’s hours of engagement were usually from 8 p.m. until midnight. “Are you sure'?” queried Mr J. 11. Salmon, S.M. “Only until midnight? My experience of some orchestras is that they keep up their ungodly row until 3 o’clock in the morning and disturb people-” HAD TO DO WASHING.

“Why did you leave your wife?” asked counsel of the defendant in a maintenance case in the Magistrate’s Court in Wellington. The defendant eyed counsel keenly, leant over the rail of the witness-box, and replied: “Do you think it is a fair thing,” he said, “for me to have to do the washing week after week?” “But you didn’t do it that often, did you?” inquired counsel. “Oh, didn’t I —just didn’t I!” answered the defendant with some emphasis- “Why, week-end after week-end, 1 have done the washing. ’ ’ MARBLE DISCOLOURED.

The discolouration of marble used in Parliament Buildings, Wellington, and other large structures in Auckland and Wellington, has formed the subject of a special investigation by Government experts. Research has been made in regard to each of the numerous theories advanced, but it has been found that none of them has any real basis. It was demonstrated that the cause was the settlement and accumulation of windblown dust and soot. There was no doubt that a smoother dressing of the surface of the marble would reduce this to a great extent. A CURIOUS ACCIDENT.

A curious accident befel a large motor lorry at Waipawa. The vehicle was left standing on the main road just over the river while the driver went into a house for a few minutes. When he returned he was astonished to find the lorry, w’hich was loaded with a large pen full of young calves, embedded in a paddock on the other side of the road on the river bank. Apparently the engine was left running, though the brakes were said to be on, and the lorry turned by some means, crossed the road, broke through a fence and camo to rest at the bottom of a bank in the paddock. Luckily it did not capsize, so neither the vehicle nor the calves were injuredTOO MANY RETURNS.

According to Mr Jernes Deans, the farmer spends a good proportion of his time filling in returns for the Government Statistician. At a meeting of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, he said that farmers had lately been asked to supply a schedule of wages paid to labourers. “It is too much to think that farmers can be filling in these returns all the time,” said Mr Deans. “This information is already supplied in another return, so why duplicate it First w r e have sheep returns, then wheat returns, laud returns, and if we arc lucky enough to have anything left after that we have to supply income tax returns.” The Association intends to register its objection to the new return suggested. “ARRIVED—SOUTHERN CROSS.”

There is piece of official machinery which has treated the trans-Tas man flight in the most matter-of-fact manner, giving no hint of the tremendous significance of the event. In the books of the Customs Department appears the following uneiiiotional entry: ‘‘Arrived —Southern Cross, aeroplane, from Sydncv. Passengers: C. Kingsford Smith, C. T- P. Ulm, co-com manders; 11. A. Litchfield, navigator; T. 11. Al ’William, radio operator. Nothing dutiable.’’ No outward or inward clearance papers were carried by the ’plane, which, in this respect, is like a pleasure yacht, but when cargoes are carried across the Tasman by air, the goods will be inspected just as the goods brought by steamers are.

A FINE BULLOCK. A magnificent white Shorthorn bullock, weighing 27001 b-, wat sold at Westfield for £37 by the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Ltd. The animal was bred and fattened by Mr N. Clotworthy, of Pukehuia, Northern Wairoa. The buyers were Messrs. Stonex Brothers, who propose to send him to the Royal Show at Palmerston NorthThe price was not exceptionally high, in view of the weight of the beef- and a buyer for a firm of butchers went to £36 10s before he dropped out of the running. The bullock is eight years old, and was raised on alluvial flats which have never been top-dressed. He was raised and fattened entirely on grass, spending most of his life in the small paddocks round Air Clotworthy’s homestead. SERVICE REMEMBERED.

Among the old pioneers .there is a worthy spirit of kindly remembrance whenever occasions arise which recall past services in advancing the interests of the Dominion. The landing of the Southern Cross at Christchurch on Tuesday brought to mind what Sir Henry Wigram had done towards inaugurating aircraft facilities at Christchurch, and a veteran pioneer of that district (Air E. Pivitt), who is now living at Waiwaka Terrace, New Plymouth, dispatched a telegram to Sir Henry congratulating him on living to sec his work bear fruit. The courtesy was much appreciated by Sir Henry, who promptly replied. It is quite possible that few, if any, others gave a thought to the aviation pioneer’s services in connection with the historic, flight and landing. A ROVING PIGEON. A simple way of making a voyage part wav round the world was adopted by a blue checker pigeon which may

be seen on board the I’ort Napier, at present in New Zealand waters, after her thrilling experiences of explosions and fire at sea. The bird alighted on the vessel during a fog in the English Channel, and, as the I’ort Napier was outward-bound, the bo’sun decided to care for it until the return to England. On one of its slender legs is a tiny ring with markings to siiuw that tiie bird is registered with the society which controls pigeon racing in Eng land. It is said to be by no means an unusual experience for homing birds while flying for training or racing purposes between the Continent of Europe and the British Isles to prefer the security of being on a ship to the uncertainty of being lost in the clouds. As in the present instance, they are invariably cared for until the completion of the return voyage, when they are returned to the society for restoration to the owners. GOOD HEIFERS WANTED.

Good-class dairy heifers arc in keen demand throughout the Waikato at present and a well-known district dairyman expressed the opinion that before the season is far advanced there will be a ready sale for heifers brought from Taranaki and Alanawatu, provided they are of good quality. He added that the “bobby” calf trade has caused many hundreds of heifer calves, that would normally be kept for renewing herds, to be slaughtered. Those who were kept last year will not be anything like sufficient to meet the demand, consequently dairy sorts must be brought from other districts. As for the beef market, prices must firm, for very few steers from dairy cows grazed within a ten miles radius of the centres are being kept. It is only in the further districts that steers arc reared. Farmers bringing in new country, especially that where second growth is much in evidence, need store stock to trample or cat the young shoots. The shortage of store cattle must result in prices rising.