NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1924, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

The layman’s position in respect to hi.s cognisance of the law was touched upon in the Auckland Supreme Court during the hearing of a matter before Air Justice Stringer (says the “Herald”). Air Sullivan, in applying for a, writ of mandamus against a public body, said; “ Everyono is presumed to know the law.” This drew front His Honour the modifying phrase that “no one is allowed to set up ignorance of the law ” as a plea.

Recently a Palmerston North (•..sident commented oil the tameness cf a. blackbird nesting at his premises. A Wanganui land agent states that lielias had a similar experience with a thrush this season, which nested in a shrub near his house. She has now brought out the second hatch of young birds (states the “Herald”). At any time lie could go to the nest and handle the bird, anti she took little notice except to give him an occasional peck when she thought he was inclined to interfere too modi with the eggs or the* young birds.

“They arc all in bad health when the matter of maintenance is discussed,” remarked. Air F. AY. Schramn in the Auckland Alagistrate’s Court during the hearing of a cast* in which a husband applied for reduction of the t'.'i nor week order that liis wife had obtained against him (reports the “Star”). “Yes,” said Air l'\ lx. Hunt, S.AI., “ the only woman win: has ever admitted in this Court that she was ill good health had just c-oim out uf hospital after her fourth ■'operation.”

“Persian girls are married at the age of seven, probably to men old enough to be their grandfathers. I could tell you some harrowing tales of the lives of Persian women.” This was part of tho address given by Air C. E. (1. Tisdull, who for twenty-three years was secretary of the Hritish and Foreign Hible Society in Persia, Alesopotamia, and Singapore, at a meeting of the Auckland branch (reports thr.“Star”. Air Tisdull said that the liible was the only influence that would uplift the unfortunate women.

Speaking at the Invercargill Angling Club’s social in bis honour oil Friday evening (says the “ Southland Times”) Air J. AY. Smith, who recently returned from an extended tour abroad, stated that while in A’ancouver he had tasted a fish known as black cod, which was something similar to New Zealand blue cod. Ho was nol sure that it was any better than blue cod, but it certainly made good eating, and In* would like to see it introduced into New Zealand.

“ I don’t think there is the slightest fear of over-production,” said Air C. E. Ale.Millaii, ALP., for Tnuranga, at AYaimauku, when speaking of the prospects of the dairy industry (states the “Auckland Star”). “If we can only induce the American people to eat one more pound ol butter each every year they can cat the whole of the New Zealand output. AVc can only persuade them to do that by better quality. Farmers must not leave it to the factory managers, but must supply lirsl-class cream. Air Alc.Alillian thought this point most important. If farmers supplied inferior cream they put a lot of work on the manager and did not get the results. “ It is like a lady making a skirt,” lie exiilaincd. “ A new skirt, is all right, but it is not as good as one that is turned.” And helore be bad an opportunity to reconstruct this simile there was a hearty outburst from, the ladies.

Twenty years ago a man built a Iroomed house at Terrace End, I’al merstnn North, and by providing nmsl ~f the labour himself, lie completed tin job I'm* fill!* M‘i‘»d. To-day 'says flu “.Mamiwatu Times") things arc some what dillVreiit. On Ihe surface ii would he thought an exceedingly pom house, that could he secured for thn sum, and the remark might ho heard “I cannot get a four roomed house built under tS-TO.” Where docs tin difference lie? Is it in the actual cost of materials and labour, or is it in tin wide differentiation of the public taste which has unquestionably undergone a change during the past two decades? One of the prominent builders in Palmerston North attributed the cause to the latter suggestion. Certain it is that the .mice of budding has increased enormously in manv cases well over 100 per cent - but mi the' other hand a great deal of the money expended in building a house at the present time is absorbed in fittings.

Manv and varied arc the happenings on a farm during the course of a year, hut few experiences equal that of’a well-known settlor at llorsham Downs (remarks the Hamilton correspondent of the “New Zealand Herald”). lie had his cows in the yard ready to start evening milking operations when one beast lilted another on its horns and landed it on its back in a concrete water trough. Assistance was available, and appliances of every description wore brought into action to relieve the cow Horn hoi position, hut there was not tv move anywhere, ill the end it was decided to break up the trough, and this "as done. When the animal was on her feet again it was seen that she win not much the worse for her treatment.