LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 163, 28 July 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Farmers Support B Stations. A mianimoua deeision to support whole-hearfcedly the eft'orts of those Bclass radio broadeasting stations that desire to remain in operation ivithout being controlled in any way was reached at a meetingj of the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers' Union, following on the receipt of a circular on the subject from the New Zealand Farmers' Union headquarters. Fantails Increasing. Marked increases in North island fantails have been noted in the Wanganui district. Mr. F. H. Allan told a Wanganui reporter that he had seen nine within a chain of his house on the Wanganui river and over 20 birds within a few chains on another occasion. He said that they showed a niarked tameness and were prone to follow human beings, obviously keen to gec what food was Tevealed when the earth was disturbed by pedestrians. Origin of dltl Joke. A possible explanation of the venerable joke about the plumber going back for his tools was revealed by Mr A. S. Prime, of the New Zealand Standards lnstitute, to the technology cal section of the Wellington Philosophical Society. It was a re-sult of lack of standardisation, said Mr Prime. A plumber would be called to put a valve on a tap, and the housewife would be incapable of de'scribing what kind of a tap it wqs. The plumber would arrive with one kind of valve and, finding it unsuitable, would have to go home fqy another. Gas Attack Warning. An unusual but efficacious method of calling the gathering to order was adopted at the reunion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade by the president, Captain P. Salmon. When a speeeh or item was about to be given and some of the large assemblage exhibited an inclination to dcontinue eonversation, tongues were instantly silenced by the electrifying shrielc of a Klaxon siren through the microphone. "You heard the Klaxon in the old days as a warning of gas attacks," said the president. "When you hear it to-night I want attention, so bite hard on your rubber tubes." The Early Bird. "I suppose you have watched a thrush on your lawn running a few steps and then stopping with its head on one side," said Mr. Johannes Andersen at Lower Hutt. "The popular idea is that the bird is listening, but as a matter of fact the thrush is looking, the position of its eyes being such that it has to cock its head to one side to see clearly. Really it is watehing a worm hole for a sign of the worm whieh has come up its tunnel during the night and is enjoying the early warmth before desCending again. The birds know each worm hole, and it really is the case of the 'early bird catches the worm. ' The late comer will find the holes have all been visited and will go empty away. You will see large numbers of worms left stranded on your garden paths after rain, but the birds will disdain to touch these; they prefer their- worms f resh.' ' Advertising N.Z. Nearly every town and village in Britain organised carnival processions as part of the Coronation celebrations, and the name of New Zealand flgured largely on many occasions, due to an enterprising move by the New Zealand Meat Producers' BoaTd. Anticipating a great demand for fancy costumes, the board's London office circularised the whole of the retail meat trade in Britain offering to eupply red, white and blue crepe paper on which were printed in gold the worde "New Zealand Lamb. ' ' Sketch designs were also made available to show how this rnaterial could be made up effeetively into costumes for men, women and children. The response to this offer was so overwhelming that extra staff had to be engaged to meet the domand. Nearly 4000 fancy costumes, as well as 334 designs for trade vans and cars and 390 designs for decorating delivery cycles, were distributed. Nearly a Faux Pas. How a sudden liash of intuition eaved him from what might have been an awkward predicament was desciubed by Mr. Yictor Peters to a meeting of Wellington business men. Mr. Peters, who is the conductor of the Christchurch Harmonic Society, paid a visit to the hall of the Royal College of Music when he was in London. A rehearsal was in progress, and, noticing a man standing near the door, Mr. Peters asked if he could go in and listen, explaining that he came from New Zealand. The man pointed out several prominent English musicians who were present, and then offered to show him rognd the building. After he had seen the interesting features of the place, Mr. Peters began to wonder whether he should give the man a tip, and he had half a crown in his hand when he felt a warning presentiment. ' ' Will Sir Edward Elgar be here' to-night?" he inquired. "Come along to-morrow night and you '11 see me in action," said hiis guide, with a smile.

Demand For Horses. The keen demand exisling in the Waikato for horses was exemplified at Matamata when Dalgety and Oo., Ltd., sold a line of 18 draught three-year-old fillies and geldings on account of Messrs. Crabb Brothers, Matamata, at an average of £42 17/-. Wailaby For Zoo. The latest acqnisition to the animal life at Cornwall Park is a male wailaby secured by the Hastings Borough Ccuncil from the Christchurch Zoological Gardens. There are now four wallabies at the park, the three previously olnained being females, one of whicb was actually born and bred at Cornwall Park. Kennedy, Road Extension. A slight alteration has been made in llie route of the Kennedy road extension to avoid contact with one of the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board's steel towers. A slight bend has beeu inude adjaccnt to the tower, transferriug the road a few feet to the n^rthern sido of the original route. This will greatly improve the road for tialh'e. Inspeetion of Borough. The Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, and members of the Hastings Borough Council this morning conducted another tour of the borough to inspect the various works in hand and also to obtain an insight into the conditions and cir1 cumstances surrounding contemplated works preparatory to framing the supplementary estimates of works for the now current year. Still Not Deeided. The fixtures c&mmittee of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union and the Hastings sub-union met in Hastings last evening to discuss the recent postponement of a portion of one series of matches. No announcement will be made concerning the deliherations until the meeting of the management committee of the union at Napier this evening. In the meantime, it is not known what senior-grade games in Hastings and Napier will be played next Saturday aftenioon. Kiwis Plentiful. Klwis are plentiful on the Wanganui river. These birds are said to be multiplying. Wekas, on the other hand, have completely disappeared. Mr. Gregor McGregor has a theory that the love of swamp country, with its uninviting dampness, ds the cause of kiwis continuing to hold their own against stoats and weasels. The woodhen, on the other hand, frequents country which is congenial to these natural onemies of wingless birds. Hastings Success. At the New Zealand chamljioiisliip field trials for sporting dogs, held at Masterton on July 17 and 18, Mr G. A. Duniop, of Hastings, was successful ■ndth his English Setter dog Arran Grouse, which won the New Zealand championship for setters and pojntcrs. He ivas also third in the North Island championship held at Lower Hutt last year, and again won the North Islanu eb.ampioinship held in (Hastings ilast Easter, which proves lie has been very consistent in his workings. Mr Duniop took part with his pointer in the North island championship but she wa* unplaeed. There were 20 entries in the lill-breed New Zealand championship, dogs iiom both islands competmg. Low Fences for Gardens. A strong plea foi the ase of low fences in front of gardens at Christchurch and suburbs was made by Mr. M. J. Barnett superintendent of city parks and reserves, at a meeting arranged by the Christchurch Beautifying Association. He said high fences were oi'tep exected to deter intruders, keep out stray cats and dogs, provide shelter, an provided privacy. But actudlly prowlers preferred the seclusion offered by high fences, and a low wall would keep out dogs, and eats usually preferred to scale a high fence. The houso itself and adjacent houses provided sufficient shelter, and privacy could be obtained in the back garden. "We must take up an unselfish attitude,' ' he said. "When the high fence is removed it makes us realise that it is necessaiy to make the garden beautiful.' Mr Barnett advocated a wall from 18 inches to two feet high. Slang in Sohools. Criticism of tlle us© of slang in. the Sckool Journal published by the Education Department for use in New Zealand schools is made by a corresipondent writing in. the Christchurch Press. Taking the July issue of the journal as an example, this correspondent says : Following are some of the expressions culled from a ckapter headed "A Nemeral." Wliat that means I realised when i read that one of the characters, Pip, held to the light something that flashed, tlxat winked, that waB a most Iovely green. "It's a 'nemeral'," lie said solemnly. .Leading up to the discovery of this "nemeral," let me quote: "Look," said Pip, "look what l've disoovered," and he showed them an old wet, squashed-looking boot. "There's lots of thing8 buried 'in tho sand," explained Pip. "They get chucked up from wrecks. Here, shall I show you what I found yesterday?" said Pip mysteriously. "Say, cross my heart straight dinkum." This is all matter that the children have to read to. their teacher during lessons.