NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1925, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

• The first mutton-birds of the season were on offer in the shops of Invercargill last week (states an exchange).

North Canterbury farmers who have been slum-ploughing their stubble land, state that the ground is full of grubs, the presence of which is ascribed to the mild winter experienced last year. —Exchange.

An incident pleasing to observers occurred in a Masterton shop on a recent evening (says the “ Wairarapa Age”). Unnoticed, two small boys had left without paying. They soon returned, one of them remarking, “Gosh! We forgot to pay!”

One Government Department has a somewhat humorous, if not imperative style of impressing its regulations on its motor drivers (remarks the Wanganui “Chronicle”). Hero is a happy example. “Always regard the other driver as a blithering idiot.” The instruction is compelling none the less, despite the somewhat extravagant phrase-, ology.

Several very large specimens of sun flower brought into town recently at tracted much attention (says the Wat pa “Post”). One crown was over six teen inches in diameter. About nr aero of them were cultivated for fowl feed, and the crop was a most abundant one.

A Palmerslonian who was on active service, but ill the non-combatant ranks, proudly bore a poppy home on Saturday (relates the "Manawntu Times”). His litle son, on being informed of what it all meant, and that tho wearer had “gone to the war,” innocently inquired: “Were you upstairs in the grandstand when you went to the war. daddy?”

An Oanlani resident who recently visited tho .Mount Cook Hermitage states (says the “North Otago Times”) that fully three-fourths of the visitors to that resort during the Easter holidays were tourists. One or two millionaires were among the number.

Deer seem, to lie thriving in the surrounding district (states the Wanganui “Chronicle”), and a motorist who journeyed as far as Parikitto recently stated that while lie was having lunch on the hanks of the river lie noticed a small herd browsing in a paddock, lfo was also informed by the Maoris that pheasants were plentiful, and that good >ig shooting was obtainable in the Parikmo district.

“Where the progress of Southland is :oing to begin is in the tree use of hue and cheap ill,'inures,” said Mr Cl.

P. Johnston at a meeting of the Southland Farmers’ Union. “I know that even in nt.y own little valley largely increased numbers of tat lambs are being sent down which before tlie use of manures and lime would only have been stores. 11 the farmers remember that fact Southland will prosper and progress in spite ol all handicaps.”—- “ Times.”

Two new steam vents on the higher lank of Tongariro, and to the east of die- Blue Lake, are now to be ohserv?d. .stated Mr C. T. Salmon, who has •oturued to Palmerston North followng a ten day’s trip to the National 'ark. to a “Stndard" reporter.

The competition of motor lorries in ie carriage of benzine from AYolling>n to Masterton in a, little more than vo years effected a reduction in tho lilwa.v freight, on this commodity by >oul 60 per cent., i.e.. from 3s 6d to , Id per case (states the “Wairarapa go”).

Although rabbits are often referred in slighting terms, “bunny” is play-

ing a big part in the export trade of New Zealand, and has a big commercial value (savs the Wanganui “Herald").

There arc cases on record where farmers on the Main Trunk line have abandoned sheep farming in order to engage in what proved the more lucrative business of gathering rabbit skins.

I allhits thrive on a farm where a Roniiey ram or an Angora goat would lan;uish. and are most prolific*.

The answer io the question: “Do weasels hunt fish like the otter? ’ was furnished the other day by a Patea resident in a most convincing manner (states a local paper). As he was proceeding along a public road he saw a weasel emerge from a small creek with a live cel about Oin. long in its mouth. He tried to capture the animal, hut it eluded him and ran into a. box-thorn hedge, with the cel still gripped in its mouth.

The Otago Hospital Board reports stale (says the “Daily Tillies”), that with regard to the radium which was lost some Time ago a report has been received that there was evidence ol radio activity in one hag of ashes pait icnlarly. and also live others, and. on the recommendation of the special committee -appointed, authority has been granted for the six bags to he forwarded either to Belgium or to the United States for the extraction ol the radium and the re-conditioning <>' the tube. Definite prices are to be obtained from America and Belgium for such work, and also for the supply ol 100 mgs. of radium already autnon

“Parliament has been estimated to tost 255. a minute,’’ said Mr C. E. Wheeler in addressing the Auckland Rotarv Club (states the “Star”). “On that liasis last session’s Gaming Bill e ol ,t the country £2500. Dealing with the representation of the people in Parliament, lie explained that New Zealand was not quite so extravagant ;IS \u-tialia. There were 120 members to represent 1.500.000 people. On this basis there should be 030 members in the Australian l’arliiuncnt. whereas there are 6L. ’

Wimt is probably the origin of the rumour that a* sailing vessel went ashore near Opunake at the week-end is supplied by the Pihanm correspondent of the “Taranaki News,” who writes: “Quite a sensation was caused in Pi ham a, on Friday, when a large sailing vessel was observed very dose inshore, and ns a strong breeze was blow in" shorowards at the time it was "enernTlv surmised that the ship must Cave been in difficulties. The impression was that the ship would not have enough sea room to enable her to clear the Oeo Point, which has been the scene of a previous wreck. Constable Clous ton came out from Opunake, bringing with him signalling apparatus etc- but apparently everything was all right, and everyone was relieved to see the ship work away from the shore.