NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1924, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

,r We in America arc proud of being predominantly Anglo-Savon. In the future we will be more careful to see that we remain so,” said Dr. AY. J. Mayo, of Rochester, United States of America, at the Rotary Club, Auckland.—“ Star”. “ft is just a matter of principle,” •said it lady at the Auckland Magistrate's Court on getting judgment for £1 f7s Oil., the value of a lamp sold amongst other goods belonging to her. ‘1 don’t want the money, and you can give it to the Rev. Jasper Ca-lder for his mission.” —(Aucklaml “Star”). Of the building in Auckland City as many as 90 per cent., according'to a statement made by Alt B. C. Chilwell. in lii.s address to the Auckland Rotary Club, were erected without the set vices of an architect. And yet. lie observed, it was the members of the architectural profession who were blamed by the public for the inartistic blemishes of the city.- '‘New Zealand Herald.” When a letter was read from a Hindu debtor at the Auckland Court, stating that he was out of work, had in) money, and was so ill that he was about to enter a hospital, counsel appearing for the creditor remarked (relates the Auckland “Star”) that the Hindu had been going into the hospital for two years and had not arrived there yet. The debtor was employed at a country store. Investigating strange markings on walls of the ship, customs oflieials in Vancouver recently run down a large cache of narcotic drugs, Chinese pearls, anil silk clothing aboard tho Empress of Russia, which docked at Vancouver from the Orient. Tho stuff was packed aivav in secret compartments in the Chinese quarters of the vessel and obviously was intended for illegal entry into Canada. No arrests have been made.

Ilorn-rimmeil .spectacles at last have broken into the royal family. Princess Victoria has adopted them and wears them on all occasions. King George has noted Princess Victoria’s choice with interest, for he also was advised recently to wear spoctaeles for reading and writing, hut ho, is rarely seen with them in public.

On a native meeting house in course of erection near To Puke there is placed a notice in English. “No ladies of any kind whatsoever tire allowed inside this building.” The Maori version of the notice is also exhibited (says the “Poverty Bay Herald”). The explanation given was that it- is an old Maori custom that no woman is allowed inside a meeting house during its erection. ,Should she unconsciously stray there it is said the erection of the bouse would be abandoned.

‘■ln spite of so many of our men being in England during the war. very llazy notions of conditions of life in New Zealand exist, even in the minds of educated people,” states Mr R. P. Broad, tin Arotnnho shoolmaster. after his exchange experiences in Loudon. More ol leu than not New Zealand is looked upon as pint of Australia, lying a lew hours’ steam from its shores. Children in senior classes wore amazed to learn that we celebrate Christinas ill Doecniher. that our chief export is wool, and not kauri gum. that English is the common language, that wo have railway trains and nwitnr-ea.rs, and that »V even use wireless.—(Exchange).

A very interesting story coon is front Canada. A young lady, of Saskatchewan, tbc happy possessor of a diamond engagement ring, was passing through the (.Tin poultry yard when •-lie accidentally dropped the precious irensore. A watchful chicken, which had an eye for the beautiful, espied it, and without thought of its value, its tender associations and memories, deposited it. in its ever waiting crop. The consternation of the young lady can be better imagined than told. Immediately the question enmo: “How can the ring be recovered?” The chicken which had so ruthlessly committed the sacrilege soon lost his identity among his fellows. There was only one course open, and that was to behead the birds one by one, and then post-mortem the crops until the ring was found. It is not learned how many of the feathered tribe suffered death or how many chicken pies wore bailed, but the sequel of the story is that the overjoyed lady found her precious ring none the worse for its travels.

A naval cadet made a daring leap from a (LAV.It. express shortly after leaving Paddington one day recently. The 12 o'clock express was proceeding on its non-stop run to Exeter, and had attained a speed of 20 miles an hour, when a carriage Ilnur suddenly opened and the cadet leapt out. He was fortunate in landing on his legs. Two railway officials ran up. I*or a few moments the cadet was breathless and agitated, lie then told them that 1 •• intended to run away. He was returning after Christmas leave to Dartmouth, and complained that oil account of bullying he would not go hack. On the way to the stationmaster’s office they met his mother. Every endeavour was made to persuade him to travel by the next train at 2 o’clock, but he remained obdurate and would not- go. Eventually he was taken in a taxi-cab by his mother to their home at Harrington Gardens, South Kensington.