NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1924, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

Prisoners at Mount Eden Gaol iu Auckland were treated to a “ picture show ” the other afternoon (says the “Star”). Tlie programme was much appreciated by those who were given permission to attend.

The stamp vending machines in tlie lobby ol the Auckland chief' post office took L’.Ti in two days recently, the weight ol the 8100 pennies being 1751 b. An official with a taste for calculation mentioned (states the “ Herald”) that for last year the machines took one-third of a million pennies, and that if the stamps they represent were placed in a line they would reach from the G.P.O. to One I ree Hill. Ihe inventor of this veryuseful machine which is now in use in a number of countries is Air Dickie, of the mail department, at Auckland.

The ways of the American people in regard to many tilings are usually reckoned by the mure stolid Britisher as freakish. A recent visitor to Honolulu told a “Gisborne Times” reporter that he happened to hit Honolulu during a carnival week. One of the stunts put on was to Place lads in charge of the various civicactivities lor a day. There was a lad in charge of the muiiii-ipal offices another lad took over the city’s police, anil still another lad took over tlie city’s traffic. And so on. These lads had, of course, had some preparatory training, and they carried out their duties in a remarkably callable manner. It was not difficult to see, added the visitor, that the people were justly prnuncl of their juvenile temporary administrators. lie had learned, too, that oil that particular day, the people were most careful to ho on their very host behaviour.

“ The cry to-day is for bright and popular services—something to please public opinion.” said the* Rev G. Gordon Bell, ALA., preaching at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Auckland oil Sunday (reports the “ Star”). Everything clone and said iu church miisl lie in accordance with public opinion. In New Zealand many a Driest of the Church was afraid to tell people the truth, because he was dependent upon his congregation for a living. The result was that sweet and sugary things were bleated from the pulpiL instead of the* truth, which so many found unpalatable. The Word of God was never “ public opinion.” What was the voice ol public* opinion when Jesus Christ was on earth ? “Crucify him! Crucify him!” It was jusl the same to-day.

Once having lasted blond a rat will come hack for more, and "ill tackle a sleeping adult without compunctions isays the “Alanawatu Times”). A Palmerston North family last week decided to utilise a conservatory leading olf the veranda for sleeping quarters. On reaching home one night, the hreail-winner found the house in (•onsternation. At about II p.m., it appears that his little son in the sleeping porch gave* a shriek that loretohl some untoward circumstance. Investigation disclosed that the child’s hand was covered in blood, and the middle linger nearly bitten through. A bathing in water and the use ol an antiseptic- put an end lo any danger. Later iu the week Hie lady of the house, who was also sleeping in tlie conservatory, lelt a sharp pain in hei shoulder and woke no lo see the rodent sitting calmly on her pillow. The next dav a trap was set, and the rat. a huge one. was caught.