NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1923, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

"I am quite guilty, Your Worship. It’s the first time I have been in the country, and it upset me, you see. This (relates the Timaru “Post”) was the statement of a number of the crew of the Corinthic who appearod in the Timaru Police Court to answer a charge of drunkenifess.

A YY’anganui “Chronicle” reporter, during a perambulation of llalc-onibe recently, met Air YY. Monk, who, although' 8G years of age, had just completed digging over a quarter of an aero section, and who said he felt fit to repeat the task. He still possesses a retentive memory, and his remniscences of olden times would fill a fair-sized volume. Air Alonk has been in New Zealand for over 82 years. Airs Monk, who is still hale and hearty, has reached 75 years of age.

A Afasterton young lady created quite a sensation by leaving her home at an early hour on a recent morning and leaving word which indicated that she had an intention of “doing away with herself.” The police were informed (says the YY'airarapa “Daily Times”), and urgent inquiries were allayed when if was ascertained that the girl had taken a ticket for Wanganui at the Masterton railway station and travelled by the early train.

It is going to take years to recover from the losses that must have occurred during the recent snowy weather (says a correspondent of the “Southland News,”) because those hill sheep can only be bred up there, they cannot be brought in from outside, and with heavy losses amongst ewes and young sheep this is going to take some years. There is one great satisfaction through it all, and that is the spirit of comradeship that has induced settlers to aid each other, not only farmers and run-holders, but miners and bush-men; they have combined in the common trial and by their stamina and perseverance have reduced the possible losses tremendously.

It was urged by Mr .T. YY. YY roodrofi'e at the meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association that in the tram-car advertising of locally-made goods arresting signs should be employed. “YY’e don’t want,” lie said, “pictures of a lady with pile fool on a chair and with a sign below, ‘1 wear New Zealand-made boots.’ ” A member: “YY’hy stop at the boots?” Air YY'oodroffc: “Tut! Tut!” The meeting decided to adhere to the neat-design idea, and not to worry about attraeivc ladies with hoots.

Some excitement was caused at Caroline Bay, Timaru, by tho recent appearance of a large seal (says the “Herald”). A crowd of spectators soon gathered and watched the movements of the uncommon visitor, with great interest, and a dog, evidently taking tho seal to lie a patch of seaweed, rushed into the surf to investigate, but the c-anine was unquestionably alarmed when the object which was splashing in the briny raised its bead and greeted the investigator with a vicious snail. The dog discreetly, and hastily, made for the bench.

“I think the public will have to cry a. halt in cashing cheques to strange moil,” remarked Detective-sergeant Cooney in the New Plymouth Court, when relating the career of a mail who stood in the dock to answer six charges of obtaining money and goods hv meaW of valueless cheques. “Very

few questions were asked the accused when he presented the cheques,’’ the Detective-sergeant said. His remarks (says tlie Taranaki “Daily News”), were endorsed by the Magistrate (Afr A. M. Alowlem, 5.A1.,) who said that the public were very often entirely to blame for the losses they sustained bv such means.

Kome very big catches of opossums aro reported to have been made n: the Paraparamumu reserve (says an exchange), but the species are for the main part the brown ami red-brown type, the more valuable greys being resident in the Taulierenikau and YY'aiohine valleys on the other side of the ranges.

YY'hen a suggestion that he had been taking a little liquor about- the time of a certain transaction was made to a witness in a case in the Auckland Police Court, the witness, who was usually employed as a cook for a survey party, replied: “YY’ell, I have been eight or nine months in the forest, t so I must confess I got a. bit wild.” This reply (says the “New Zealand Herald”) was considered quite sufficient.

“There is no excuse for anybody in tliis country who goes about stealing,” said Mr J. YYL Poynton, S.AL, at Auckland, in sentencing a man named George AY'igg to twelve months’ imprisonment for theft from an hotel. “If they are in trouble there are any number of societies, jtlic Salvation Army and others, all ready to help. No need to steal.” It was stated by the police that every day since tlie man’s appearance in Auckland a month before there had been thefts from hotels iu the city.—Exchange.

The “Palmerston Times” reports a minor tragedy: Tarring operations in Cuba street caused a pedestrian to use words that linotype machines are not allowed to spell. A nice, thick, shiny coat of tar bad been applied to the sloping side surface of tlie roadwav, waiting for a deluge of sand. The pedestrian mentioned decided to make a short cut to the other side of the street, and accordingly planted a footgingerly upon the blackened road. But the incline was liis downfall, and his feet, shooting backwards, be came with some force into contact with the road. YY'hen he was able to stand upright'once more, lie presented a laughable spectacle, being covered from bead to foot with tar. It is believed that insult will he added to injury through tho borough proceeding against the unfortunate mortal for removing borough property.

“1 have no sympathy with the lunatic who meanders across the street instead of walking across at right angles and gets hurt,” said a speaker at a recent meeting. “A by-law will soon come compelling him to walk across at right angles at certain points, and thus giving the motorist a better chance of missing him.”

Doomed was file latted call! A Fordcll farmer had sold him to a butcher in a. distant town, so one of the hands was deputed to load him to thestation, the only “packing” being an addressed label suspended from his neck. Two hours later the fanner was startled to see his employee strolling casually back, . the- oaf! walking placidly behind him. “Here, man!” shouted the angry fanner. “YVliat 01, earth arc you doing: That animal ought, to have gone by train!"

“ ’TainT my fault,” said the farmhand. “The brute’s been an’ et up where he was going’!”