NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1923, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

The lambing season in the Colyton district is being characterised by a considerable mortality amongst the sheep, which (says a Kangitikei paper) are sickening from a disease not yet et• rreelly diagnosed.

To attract tlie attention of visitors to the Empire Exhibtion (says the “New Zealand Herald”), the Auckland District is sending home a large swordfish, caught at the Bay of Islands, and several stags’ and boars’ heads.

‘‘lilt-reused population is being constantly driven from Greytown (says the ‘‘Standard”), on account of the shortage of houses. During the last month two families have been unable to find accommodation and have in consequence gone elsewhere.

“Some of these hoys coming from • olleges are the biggest nuisances you’ve got.” declared Mr J. A. Flesher (Mayor of Christchurch) when the Conciliation Council was considering extra payment to youths in local bodies' offices with matriculation, civil service, and commercial accountancy examination passes (reports the Lyttelton ‘■Times”). “They are the worst writers you ever struck; their handwriting i- atrocious.”

“A great many of these bean attacks are really not heart marks. They are indigestion,” explained l)r Borrio when ("says the Lyttelton “Times”) he was asked by a member of the Home Economies Association what was the ’test first aid treatment for heart failure. “The accumulation of wind from indigestion is pressed up on the heart ~nd causes embarrassment. It made the heart heat quickly and the patient probably fainted. “S'ou can't work in a minute space— neither can vour heart.” he said.

ft seems strange that anyone would find it worth while to counterleit a sixpenny piece. One was recently passed across the Oumaru l’ost Office counter (states the “Mail”). The coin is dated 191.1. and is- a perfect imitation. It is apparently made of tin or aluminium, and when bent splits in two, leaving the head and tail sides, which have evidently been soldered together. The coin is soft, bent easily, and does not ring true.

A resident of Dunedin was supplied for years with vegetables brought by a certain Chinese, who gave entire satisfaction (relates the “Evening Star"). The customer moved to another house, and notified the Chinese of the shift, asking him to continue his calls, lie did not call, and the customer could not for a time make out why lie kept away, till at last the explanation was forthcoming—to serve the new house he would have to cross ilu* tram line and thus intrude upon tpe heat of another Chinese! Ihe incident shows bow the Chinese systematise their trade, also how they observe it point of honour.

‘‘ln spite of heavy trapping opossums are becoming a bigger menace in the hack country than wild ‘‘pigs." said Councillor A. Matthews at the last meeting of the* Featherslon County Council, cm the l question of asking that the protection cut opossums and hares be removed. Councillor Matthews, (states the “Wairarnnn Age”) also mentioned that the l depredations of bares caused extreme annoyance and loss. He had best a third of a crop of swedes, and was forced nightly to fire a gun across the paddock to scare the hares away. The meeting decided to make representations to the proper quarter tec have the protect removed.

‘•There is nothing butler in this world thiin proper recreation,'* said the 1t,.,. \\ . .1. Kemp at the Baptist Tabernacle (Auckland), “ami many a man who cannot got atva.v from bis office and his bonks cuts many years off Ins |j|V." A omul name of golf m, the links would put new Me into num\ a jaded brain, and one of the ablest men laid over known bad died at fortylive Heeanse be did not. take proper exercise. when, liumanely speaking, bad la indulged in Unit occasionally he would have ]irotiably lived to a pood old ape. “Walking.” be continued. “was one of the linesl oxen ises known, yet young people seemed to bate m-ail.. Insl the art and took a tram 1! the, had to pc> even the length of Queen sit,cel." In former day- their lal liers walked live and ten miles and tbongbi nothing of it. but young people wen carried wherever they wot nowaday*.-- Auckland “Star.”

A novel proposal for supplying land to immigrants i- made liv a ->ew /i nlander in a Scottish newspapw. In; writes- “t inier tin* I'.m.’.lish ■ noi.l Holdings Act. comity ronn.ils can torrow large sums of money from the British (Jovernment to buv liloi ks ni rural land which they i at up inio three, four, and iwentv-aore sections, ami sell i persons wlw desire to start poultry. bee. fruit. or dairv farming. Ibe persons Imving tie.- • Kuglisb sections ) -y for them on deferred payment. I hc*e holdings iov a success'. As no similar Act prevails in Xew Zealand. I siig-ge-t that tic i unity councils lie idb.iwcd to luijoire large bloeks of land m New- Zealand mar the railways and then cut them up into small holdings and settle specially selected de.irv fanners from their own enmity same, allowing immigrants :W. years to pnv for this land. “No dnnhl lb" machinery of the New Zealand miltt.cipal bodies and also eounty councils ol New Zealand eould he brought .m' ■ play to lielji with this scheme. Tlmre is a great need of a small bolding system here, as at present the New Zealand (tovorniilellt oilers very little unto the pour man to secure a small farm.' 1