LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 34, 3 November 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Two Sorts of Farmers. The Minister of Public WorkB the Hon. R. Semple, generally has a phrase to amuse his listeners. At Christchurch, when he was discussing irrigation, he said: "We are out to help th© farmers. By that I mean the farmers who farm the farms, not the farmers who farm the farmers who farm the farms." No one in his audience nnstook his meaning "Tho Talklng House." "I cannot truthfully say that I have enjoyed coming here to ta.lk to you tomght," remarked Sir Apirana Ngata, at the conclusion of his address to tlie Hastings Hj.storical Society. It is my daily work to talk in Parliament. Talking the way we have to fight down there. We cannot bite or scratch and «se our finger-nails, although if we could some of us Avould prefer it that way." Taitation First. At a meeting of the committee oi a certain agricultural and pastoral society in the' Auckland provmce the following letter from a business hrm was received with smiles: — "From the fragments still left after the Government has collected, we will meet your re quest for a s.mall donation towards your prize fund. Next year you may be able to collect direct from the department, as they seem to be aiming for handling everything." There was no comment on the letter. Big New Cool-Store. With the compievion in a fcrtnight's time of the new butter store for the Taranaki Producers' Freezing Works at Moturoa, *New Plymouth will possess the second largest cool stores in New Zealand— second only to the freezing works at Auckland. The storage capacity of the new building will be 80,000 boxes of butter and that of the whole works about 201,400 boxes of butter and 82,650 crates of cheese. Explanation Wantcd. Considerable interest amopg the "tree-conscious'1 section of the Wanganui pubiic has been aroused by a large plane tree. This tree, one of the many hundreds planted m the city streets, Was cut back drastically in the autumn, with the others. To-day, although scarcely a leaf is to be found on its companions, it is in full leaf. it is directly under 3, street electric light, and it i? suggested that this has had a stimulating effect upon it. Many Truants in Former Days. "I have at home the first Veport issued on Auckland schoois by an jnspector," said Mr. T. (j. Wells, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, when speaking at the Grafton School jubilee function, "One thing spicially mentioned is the amount of truant-playing that went on. When we look around at the respectable gentlemen present we can scarcely imagine that they used to be fond of 'playing the wag,' perhaps to go down to the wharves to spend the, day fishing.'' Eating in tho Military Style. A liumorous reference to the military training which has been compulsory for students in China for the past three or four years was made by Mr. E. Ling in an address to the Auckfcnd branch of the League of Nations Union. Military uniforms had to be worn, he said, arid students were liable to be called up for duty at any time of the day or night. They even had to eat in military style, being at first allowed only three minutes for a meal. A number suffered from indigestion as a, result and the authorities decided to be more lenient, allowing them five minutes. Armlstlot Day Pians. This year the observance of Armistice Day, November 11, will take the forin that has 'now come to be familiar to citizens throughout th© Empire. In London a short service will be held at the Cenotaph aud at 11 a.m. tlie twominute silence. In all parts of the Empire the same procedore will b© foliowed. A Gazette notice signed by the Prime Minister, the Rt. HOa. M. J. Savage, states that "citizens and traf-fie-control authorities throUghout New Zealand are earnestly requested to observe the practice adopted in this Dominion on former similar occasions of two minutes's silence from -11 a.jn., and the suspension of all vehicular traffic during that period. Where a service is held it is suggested that it should be at the local cenotaph or war memorial as the case may be." A Mutual Surprise. One of Auckland* s trafiio officers got an answer from a motorist recently which caused him more than ordinary surprise. The worthy officer was on his rounds inspecting certificates of fitness, etc. Encountering one motorist, he asked the usual question, "Have you got your certificate. of fitness?'' The driver, a man, iooked .nonplussed and stared at his companions, who were ladies, with an embarrassed gaze. Again th© officer repeated the polite question, and then the man stammered out that he had not got one. "You see, officer, I am a tourist, just doing the Dominion, and have just hired this caf. I certainly did not know the regulations, but I will go immediately to the nearest doetor, if you will give me time to make amends, aud get a rnedical certificate."

Clifton Domain. A donation of 10/- toward the planned, imprdvements at the Clifton domain has been received from Mr. A. B. Hurst, of Napier, by the Clifton Domain Board. New Cali Sign For 4ZP. The call-sign of station 4ZP, Invercargill, has been changed to 4YZ. The call-signs of all the nation al stations include the letter Y and the proposed alteration wiJJ. bring the Invercargill station into line with the others. White Helmets Appear. White helmets have made their xeappearance among members of the Gasings police force. The truly warm summer's weather that has been experienced all thiB week favours tho wearing of the white helmets while on day duty. Members of the postal delivery branch also came out in their white helmets this morning to indicate that their particular summer season has Degun. Lost Wedding Rings. While working near an excavation at Horoera during a recent hui, Mr. H. J. Dewes found two wedding rfngs kept together by a safety pin, which was well decayed. It was ascertained later that the rings were lost 11 years ago by two women, one of whom died a few years ago. The, rings were given to a baby to play with and they were lost. The owner of one of the rings has claimed hers, and the other will be forwarded to the husband of the owner.