NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1923, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

The liie calls received in the metropolitan! an-a of Sydney for the last half year, which total nearly 1100. or 550 ittoru tiuiii for tins siuiiy poriotl l:ust year, constitute a record in the history ot the fire lighu-tlf the Fire God is ne less relent less it! iu fury Ur Ge i.mi.under ,j[ tin year it is estimated that the approximate damage wiil run into about L 4,500,09- Ihe month of January has been the worst month so far for tires, with a total of 417, or an increase ot more than 500 cninpn.ro.-l with the ci rrcspniiding period of the previous year.

“[ am paying 30s. per week rent for a liiiir-rooiued lien-e at Wanganui least.” remarked a, delendant in a maintenance cn-o at the local Court. Tin- Magistrate (-ays the "Herald”) seemed to treat the remark with a cert.'iin amount, of incredulity, and was not satisfied on the point until he asked counsel for the defence to hack up the statement, with documentary evi-

ll is very seldom ilmt special trains are reqilsiilinne.l hv private individuals in New /.-aland for making hasty journeys. A few nights ago, on the arrival ui Erankton of the Alain Irunk express from Auckland, a male passenger liurriedlv made his wav To the office of (!„, .stationma.ster, who eoiiducted him to a side line, where an engine with a earring l ' attached was already steaming. T his had been ordered by teleplume from Auckland, and the man immediately hoarded her and the train dashed away on an urgent journey to Euiorun. Travelling by ‘‘special” is a somewhat expensive made of getting ahou Lthe country, and the journey frmn Frnnklun in Rotorua would cost Hie passenger something in the region oi £53. Specials (says the “'Waikato Tillies”) (barged for on the basis ol L’s (Id per mile lor the first JJ miles, anil s 3d thereafter, with a minimum clciree of £5 19s. Were this method of exi lu ive travelling to come into .general use .there would be little fear of the railways not paying.