NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1923, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

■What is the reason why your husband does not work!-” asked His Worship (Mr E. Hage, S.M.) at Hie. Wellington Magistrate's Court during the hearing of a iiiaiiilemtmc ease. ■Oh I think it is because lie is too tired.” replied witness amidst laughter. This is a genuine schoolboy howler from one of our local institutions. Provert;* was the subject of the lesson, ami the question was asked if anybody could complete : "Man proposes ” “Woman accepts” was the startling reply from one boy. evidently the possessor ot very modern ideas. —-Taranaki “Herald.” ■■Doe- defendant drink!'” asked counsel 1 1 witness during the course of a iiinintenaiieo ease at the Wellington .Magistrate's Court. "Yes, he drinks, but not to excess, ' was the reply. “A steady drinker. then?” queried counsel. “Well, lie remains sober for about three months, and then goes and gets drunk. During the past year there has been a very considerable ititlux of purebred .Torsov cattle into Hawke's Hay, and this well-known Imtter-fat breed is receiving voir much more attention from Hawke's Hay breeders than was formerly the ease (says the "Telegraph”). It is quite on the cards that the Jersey classes at the forthcoming A. and P. Show will lie amongst the largest in the cattle section.

It is not often that one bears of a motor-ear being purchased tor a sum as small a* 19s, but this occurred at an auction sale of unclaimed goods held by the Railway Department at Auckland (relates the "Herald”). A very cursory inspection of the vehicle, however, served to dispel any illusion that a bargain had been secured, as 1101 nv essential parts of the mechanism were missing, while the age of the battered vehicle precluded any hope of renovation. When a Maori was asked if the de- ' eased had left a will ill a succession case heard before the Native Land Court at .Moii'i 11 sville, tlie uati\e inquired wliv deceased should have left a will when be left a daughter. 11l another similar ease a native was asked questions concerning bis grandparents, hut he eou'il not toll the court whether his grandmother or gramliatlier were dead or alive, lie had heard of them, but did not know what their names “Wo were living in the same house for nine months, and it was like hell.” said a creditor with a wife and .oigfjf children, at a bankruptcy meeting in New Plymouth 011 Thursday. The oilier occupant- was bis brother-in-law 1 tlie bankrupt) and Ills wife and two children. The D.O.A. (Mr J. S. S. Medley) remarked that he had never yet known such an arrangement to be successful, no matter bow Iriondly the parties were before sharing the lioti-o Another creditor endorsed this view.— (Exchange). The query, “Why do Polarinns make good husbands?” was submitted at a ladies' luncheon in a I .K.A. club. Each lady was given a card, and asked 1,1 write her answer upon it. A handsome prize went to the winner, ami t hi* is what -lie wrote; "Mingling with good men. be becomes good himself: mixing with jolly iellows. he becomes good-natured and cheerful; belli" with a generous crowd, be becomes generous ; being taught ‘service to others,’ lie always considers others first."—-From Honolulu Rotary "AtoQuaitit and candid note from the little boy wlm threw- a stone at n. lire alarm, and turned out the brigade: “Dear Superintendent.—l am very sorry I broke the glass of tbo fire alarm. I did not menu to hit it. but I will never throw- stones in tbo street again.” Superintendent Williams is very proud of the little clmp, and has quite forgiven hint for turning out the brigade (says the Wanganui “Herald”). Doubtless the superintendent was contrasting in bis mind tilt* acts of adults who give false alarms, and got out of sight before tliev can lie caught and effectively dealt, with.

The Samoans ounrrel only ai cricket, said Mi J. Caugliley (Director of Education', speaking at a Rotary C lull luncheon in Wellington recently. . The matches last about a fort- *- night. One tribe challenges another. and they come along to the match. Every man lias a bat, and they Dike the game most seriously, though they also get all the fun posslide out of any comic incidents that j* may occur. The Samoans, he added, are a very law-abiding people. They do not steal, because, for one thing, there is v.#v little to steal, practically everything belonging to everybody.

Strange little scenes are sometimes enacted in the Police Court by those who await in doubt or trepidation the entry of the Magistrate, and the announcement of his decision. Esually i remarks the “Manawatu Daily Times”) the oppressive solemnity of the room subdues them, but sometimes tlie feelings of one or other of the parties overcome till other influences. Recently a man, charged with the breach of a maintenance order, suddenIv awoke from his attitude of mere despondency, and. sliding along Hie bench to where his wife was sitting, exclaimed: "Can’t you get me out of this?” The woman had iust launched into an impassionatc though low-toned refusal, when the steps of the . approaching justices were heard in the corridor, a watchful constable darted forward, and Hie little drama was interrupted a- suddenlv as ii had begun. Rut though slie refused, the expression of the wile, as her husband was put in the dock, presented as strange a enfliet of emotions a= any student of human nature could wish to -ce.

The annual report of tlie school medical oflicer for Anglesey in England lulls special attention to the prevalence of cigarette smoking among school J children. Parents arc blamed for neglecting to exercise their authority by preventing their children smoking, and it is stated that children are given cigarette-, liy then elder brothers, by adults, and even by their fathers. In on,, seluad a hoy of six was found to he a smoke:', and hi- parents were awaie ol the faet. In another ease a hoy of 12 was medically treated for general debility and palpitation, aniL it was found teat. his condition due entirely to .smoking. Many other similar eases were noted. The growing prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst, juveniles is causing great, anxiety to teachers and others interested in the well-being of the rising generation. Complaints on the .subject come fiom all parts of the country. and it looks as if tin organised effort should be made to put an end to this pernicious habit.