NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1923, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

“IVe are apt to-day to take ottr Rugby too seriously, and not to devote enough time to coaching the young idea,” remarked an ex-Wairarapa rep. at the Rugby Union dinner at Carterton.

At Hamilton two residents were fined £3 and £1 respectively for allowing noxious weeds to grow on the ‘ footpath fronting their properties, and one resident whb had cleared tho footpath of weeds after proceedings had been taken against him was ordered to pay court costs.

As another instance of how the motor is competing with the railways, the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union found it cheaper by £lO to send its team to Wairarapa by car than by train (says tho “Ago”). Tho team returned by ear on Sunday morning. When the saving in hotel expenses, through not having to wait for Monday’s train is <- considered, the difference in the cost of the tour is a substantial one.

Ask any resident of Hawcra how to make footpaths, and tho answer will lie: “Don’t use bitumen.” Owing to the oily nature of the bitumen, on dewy mornings and in wet weather, water collects on the bitumen surface in little globules, instead of draining off evenly, as in the case of an ordinary asphalt surface, and the result is extromfl* discomforting to pedestrians. Thick soles or wet feet nil the way to work is tho choice of many where bitumen is employed (says the “Star"), and seeing that on almost every day there is either dew or rain the discomfort is generally present.

During the hearing of a case at Wanganui in which drink was tho subject at issue, counsel produced certain testimonials in favour of his client to show that lie was a sober man (relates the “Herald”). Mr Barton, S.M.. remarked that it would be a very easy thing for a man to get- some of his male friends to give him testimonial.-'. “Our sex, added Mi Ba.ton, “may have their faults, but thor is one bright spot in their character; i..at they are sometimes wonderfully .wad to each other when it comes to the matter of testimonials.”

Unforseen predicaments and emergencies for which we are unprepared sometimes iollow on the death of a friend (remarks tho Auckland “Star”). This was recently evidenced in tho Auckland Police Court, when Mr .J. ,T. Sullivan made an unusual application to Mr J. ML Poynton. S.M. Last week a young woman was committed to the Supreme Court for trial at the next criminal session, on a charge of theft, ami, a friend coming forward with a bond, she was released on bail. But influenza gripped the bondsman that night, and a few short hours afterwards the young woman’s friend had gone to his last rest. M hat counsel desired was an arrangement whereby she might he allowed to retain her liberty, since she had no other friend who would lodge a bond. I lie jxilieo still retained deceased’s bond, said counsel, and the estate was liable. His Worship allowed the young woman to’ retain her liberty providing she reported daily to the police.

During his recent lecture at Bell Block, Mr Wood gave a few hints oil how to ring a bull, and at the same time commented on the extreme cruelty perpetrated often, he hoped, unintentionally—when performing this operation (says an exchange). He produced two homo-made hull “rings” which had been taken from animals after they had been slaughtered at the meat works. The first of these instruments of torture consisted of a rusty piece of fencing wire twisted into a loop about seven or egiht inches long. The ends of the wire had not even been snipped off close to prevent them catching in rubbish, etc., and how the boast had managed to feed itself siiflicietnly to warrant his dispatch to ihe works was a mystery. The. other was an old rusty boat-ring. The fact of it being of Iron should have condemned its use, not to mention its dimensions.