NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1925, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

Some witnesses in me Magistrate s Court get very much entangled in the legal phraseology that boats about the courtroom. Thus, a witness, ask by the Christchurch Magistrate if she were a widow, replied: “Yes, tu the host of my knowledge.” Exchange.

The value of fumigation as a means if destroying rats in ships was si,,,,vn i;t LytteltOn recently (says the Tress’’). T’lie Union Company’s steam- .[• Flora had boon scaled up and funigated the previous night. In the norning over -1 GO dead rats were gathered, and made an interesting sight as hey were piled up on the dock awaitng destruction by burning.

Careful dentists in Auckland ale taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of disease at the present time (says the “Star”). Sonic of them ire wearing nose and month protect- > . or masks, mliitnin.ing disinter .•mt, while working m their operating rooms. I’he nature of a dentist's work brings jatient and operator into close contact. and the mask is a protection U

A lew days ago at the Knik. a Irag-,-dv was averted by the prompt action two chauffeurs in the employ ot ti Postal Department (says the Dunedin ■‘Star”). They were enjoying their holiday near the beach there when they heard children’s screams. it was a small hnv struggling thigh deep i> the sea, and apparently in terrible distress, while his companions, childlike, tied from the scene. The two men hastened in, and were Itorriiied to tmd an octopus gripping the legs ol the boy. whom the quickly carried ash r and detached from too hideous croc I„re bv battering the latter to death. Beyond a fright the hoy uas unharmed.

A very fine example of neighbourliness and practical sympathy was witnessed recently at Gust (states the Christchurch “Press”,). The death ol a settler took place when his oat crop was in stook. Being on a returned soldier’s farm ho had been working hard to pay off his mortgage. A neighbour came forward and ottered to make himself responsible lor gathering in the crop. He got together a band of workers, supplied the drays and the food, and .superintended the work. The whole paddock of 13 acres was stacked in quick time.

Mr E. Taylor, of Rangataua. boasts a net that' rarely featmes among the domestic live stock of the ordinal'' household, and that is a seagull, 'which has been in the care of this owner m nine fourteen years (says the A\ angn„ui -‘Chronicle”). The old bird is a? docile as a house dog. and despite the handicap) of ago, is as enthusiastic in her work as-a kitten is at play, a tea davs ago the feathered veteran demonstrated her undiminished oapnet; tor service by laying an egg, and announced the fact to the household with an eloquence suggestive of the interrogation. “Now, What do you know about that ?”

A Kauv.Tiata young lady, while straying under some willows, noticed m a ,-otten stump a small round nest, composed of dried grasses (says the Auckland ‘‘Star”). She investigated with great care, and to her surprise discovered ten young ink-. They "ere about .the size of large slugs, quite hairless, and with closed eyes, but were exceedingly active and were most comical creatures. AYhat she wants to know is: >.ns this a kindergarten or just the usual thing with mu e ? She quite thought that three or tour mice were the limit. She never saw such a thing in her life as ten blind mice.

Settlers on the Ninety-Aide Reach who innv discover a large iron ho.it stranded on the.shore, need not go to the trouble of acquainting the pohco or marine authorities with the fact (savs the Timnrti “Herald”). Ihe boais ‘not- the remaining traces of solim wrecked vessel, nor has it been washed overboard from some passing steamer Some thirty or forty years ago w he.. it was added to the surf-boat service at Timaru, it was n very MR to-date craft of its kind, and for many years did good service in filtering merchandise from ifoe ships m 'the roadstead to the beach. With the advent of the harbour, its servlets f ; > -i.hf.fc work Were VlO WqUlled, i- h-a pneiYiUifht? it h.ns iiceii hf CoW2to«#wta itottffte

hour Board, in latter years being utilised as a mooring boat for the d.edge. It has now 1,00.. found that it lias e, lived its period of usefulness, so last week it was towed out to the NuientiAlile Beach and allowed to drift ashore. It was stated' that the old surf-boat rode the breakers in splendid style, and took the bench as in days of old without shipping a drop of water.

As an example of how it pays to advert v* a ease is quoted ... winch a Cliristelmrch motor firm ndveitisecl some of the Sydney papers their tourist. trips over various parts ot >e« Zealand (says the Lyttelton. “ Times ). The secretary was greatly surprised on opening his private box the other day to find that there were no lewer than eightv-five letters from Australian people anxious to know all the particulars attached to the trips.

“On tlio f;ico of it your position is ridiculous.” said Mr A. M. Mowlem. I S.M.. at. the Stratford Court, when a judgment debtor admitted that he was facing a liability of between £3OO and £-100 and trying to keep a wife and four children on wages of 13s a day - “ Your position is so impossible that T can only advise you to tile in ban.truptev.” 'continued the Magistrate. The Atagistrato (says the laranaki News”) pointed out that the liaukruptev Court existed for honest, thoirdi unfortunate men to make a clear start in life, as well as tor otoei purposes. The debtor replied lmt he would like to be adiudged bankrupt by one of his creditors, to. h CftUld not tod 'iiHlCleut money to h e mllourped ,« I pile Vm.Vltk t<> eflfiblh !U<U tol *f cr siiii the