NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1925, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

The poor old horse is taking a hack seat in Wanganui, for one was sold at auction, plus a trap) and harness, lor 30= the other day (says an exchange).

A Masterton grain merchant informed the “Wairarapa Age” that he anticipates a good sale for oats to poultrymen this season, owing to Uie high price of fowlwheat. The oats, he says are of excellent quality.

A .Masterton working man said to an “Age” reporter recently that the biggest obstacles to prolonged strikes were the paid agitators. .By the time their salaries were paid the unions had not suftiicent funds for a long struggle.

in giving judgment in a ease at Eketaluinn, the Magistrate, Mr S. I’. Free, S..M. said: “The conservation of forests is a matter ol national importance. The wealth of the country has I icon spent recklessly in the past, lienee the stringency ot the regulations pnoteeting the lorests: —“Express.

Two huge specimens of the trout and eel family respectively were caught in the Alataura River during the past few days (states a southern paper). Mi 11. Anderson galled an eel weighing 2Glh. and Ift. Gin• in length, and he is going to try some of Me cured skm for bootlaces. At Wyndham Mr A. T • R o ss caught a splendid trout weighing ]Ollh., length 30iu. and girth 16in.

An original excuse for lading to attend military parades was lorwardcu to Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M.. in a letter. an extract of which he read in the Magistrate’s Court recently (says the “Cross”). “The young man says in this.” he said, “that lie thought all parades had been put ofl because ol the infantile paralysis. But.” continued his Worship, ” the epidemic did not start until a week after this letter was written! Perhaps it was a post facto case,” he added, smilingly, after a brief pause.

Tile question of voluntary public work was raised hv a member of the Taranaki executive of the New Zcafiiml Kaniters’ Cuion at a recent meeting (says the “Hawera Star”). lie said a farmer had asked him, “AY hat do you' get out of it?” referring to the Farmers’ Union. And when he said “Nothing,” the other rejoined. “What do you do it for then i The work he was doing voluntarily was on behalf of men such as the questioner. So little, apparently, was it appiociated.

Some interesting and valuable Maori articles have been handed to Mr Arehov. the Curator of the Auckland Museum. as presents to the museum by K a tain residents (reports the “ Northlander”). Mr Edward Evans has given several toki or adzes, a mere, and a line set of greenstone implements ami ornamnts. Mr AY alter Masters lias presented a splendid greenstone tiki, and greenstone hern or flax scutcher, and Mr Shirley Masters has given a grindstone of unusual type, used lor working down the slender ear pendants. Several implements dug lrom the swamp, including a eery large ho, or spade, have been given by Mr T. Houston, of Ahipara, and well shaped adzes have been presented by Mr Mila Para-, tone and Air Kruera Paora, ol Ahipaia.

A white-clad figure dashing along at a terrific rate scarcely discernible in the cloud of dust, a few shouts, then a cheer and a cry: “AYell collared. Nepia.” No 'this is not an extract from a report of one ol the All Blacks matches, (hut relates an exchange) merely a little incident which happened at the Alorrinsvillc sheep sale. A sheep had got loose and made for an open gateway as last as its limbs could carry it. YY lien the cloud ol dust had cleared it was found that one of the sheepmen, stooping low. had boon responsible I<ir_ the arrest of the woolly one’s career. The loat had at least a few admirers', as can he judged by the cheers ami the above exclamation.

On ;i recent afternoon an ambulance collector in Christchurch solicited help for the cause from an individual (says the “Star”), lie refused curtly and siie then turned to another person. As she did this a shilling dropped from her box on to the pavement close to the man’s loot unnoticed by her. A ladv standing by saw the man look round and then put his foot on the shilling. She went up to the collector and said: “You have dropped a shilling and it is under that man s foot.” The collector went promptly up to him and said: “YYould you kindly give me the shilling which is under you foot?” lie calmly moved his foot and went away.

An appeal to all sportsmen to rally together for the protection ol the healthy spoil that they hold so dear was made at a function held at the le Aroint races on Saturday by Mr YY . S. Glenn. ALE., for Rangitikei (reports the “YY’aipa Rost”). "Comparatively speaking there are not a tremendous lot of us interested in sport.” he stated, “ami consequently it behoves us to get together and combat the wowsers and killjoys who would deny to the people the noble sport ol horseracing and the other forms ol healthy outdoor amusement.” He urged his hearers when recording their Parliamentary votes to support the man who was a sport, whether he ho Jtcionn. Liberal, or Labour, or anythin,*' else.

“ If we are to cany on the reputation of New Zealand as the leader in spurt and field,” he addl'd, “ we must get together and present a united front to our enemies.” i lie Taumsminui “Press” records a sensation in that town on a recent afternoon. A well-known resident rode his horse lip the main street in real movie cowboy fashion. and when he arrived opposite the shop ot a prominent snort he resolved to make some purchases. He promtply turned the pracing equine in towards the door and rode right inside the shop. The occupants were much surprised sit tins “Wild West" style of doing business. Accounts were . paid and purchases made, and the resident then alighted from his horse and ordered it outside the shop. A little later he thought that his wandering horse might he up to some mischiel, so he sent his dog alter it. Rider, horse and dog then disappeared from, the scene, and business reassumed its normal progress. A small tuna, one of the species of the sporting fish which frequents the coast of Flotilla and Calitorma, and is much sought by deep-sea anglers, was caught at Russell some days ago (states the “New Zealand Herald”). Ihe local pieople were at first unable to recognise the stranger, but an American visitor definitely placed it as a tuna, showing that the fishing possibilities of the northern const are better than has been imagined. A tuna was recently caught at Napier, and the opinion is generally held among fishermen that if these small specimens forecast the migration of the larger tuna to southern waters, the attractions of the deep-water sport along the Auckland coast are likely to he greatly increased.