NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1925, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

Whitebait is now being caught in small quantities in the lower part of the Manawatu River at Foxton (states the “Manawatu Times”).

“Councillors of to-day haven't got the ‘stammer' they had years ago,” declared a councillor ut a recent local body meeting (relates the Auckland “Star”). “1 presume you mean stamina.” interjected the clerk. "VC. that’s the word,” agreed the man from wav back.

Professor Park stated before the 1 Diversity Commission at Dunedin that the value of the products of mining in the Empire exceeded fourfold the value of the products of the land (says an exchange). The speaker, who is professor of mining in the University, also predicted that an oil boom was coming. •’You must be an optimist,” lie said, in answer to the rather sceptical comments of the commission.

While proceeding from Dacron to To Aruba, a car owned hy Mr John Robinson, with four occupants, went over the thank between To Aloha and \Ynitohi (says ail exchange). The car was proceeding slowly on account of the lights failing, when, rounding a bond it went straight ahead, all of the occupants being precipitated into a creek. The occupants were pinned underneath. hut escaped unhurt.

One of the local body clerks was in trouble at an Auckland district council meeting recently (says the “Star”). He recommended the council to adopt a report “in tolo” ill lieu of reading a rather lengthy document through. “There is too much of this "ere hototo.” declared a. councillor. Filter on, objection was taken to the clerk addressing a lady in correspondence, as Mile. “I think it is sheer familiarity to call the lady ‘AI illy'." announced flip councillor.

The recent spell of exceptionally had weather has caused much loss to Hawke’s Bay orchanlists with lemon crops, states the Naoier “Daily Telegraph.” Hall-matured fruit has been attacked by a fungoid growth, which causes (he lemons to whiten and drop off. The disease cannot tic successfully combated during wet weather, and as a result tons of lemons are falling from the trees in a rotten enndilion the loss being a very serious one for grow-

A Palmerston North railwayman of a mechanical turn of mind has solved the bicycle lighting problem in a novel manner (states an exchange). Out: ot scrap metal lie const meted a generator which derives its motive power from the rear wheel of the cycle. The magnet. is the only part, not constructed at home, and the laminated segments of tire armature were cut of kerosene tins. When the cycle is in motion the current generated is sufficient to light an ordinary torch lamp.

A ploughman employed on a llatuina (Hawke’s Day) farm recently had an unenviable experience (states an exchange). About four o’clock in the afternoon, while fixing a plough, the horses jumped forward, with the result. that the ploughman was pinned down between the horses and the ini* pleiuent. With great presence of mind the unfortunate man grasped the reins unit kept t tie horses from moving; any further. For two 1 the mail bung mi to the horses with death threatening hint if the horses moved a lew inclies. He was toiiiid by a search party an hour alter darkness set it.

Mr Frank Tate, one of the members of the Royal Commission on University Education, is endowed with a delightful sense of humour, and frequently succeeds in alfording welcome relict to what would otherwise be the drab seriousness ol technical evidence coining from one educational expert- alter another (says the “Otago Daily Times”). Professor Dark was telling the eomniissicio ol the very large, amount of money spent hy the students in Dunedin, and remarked that they were spCMid&ig all the time. Mr late at otico expressed surprise. ‘‘Judging by the notices I saw in front of some hotels to-day.” lie said, "1 thought they got things free.” “That,” said Professor Park, “is only one day in the year.” “Oh. I see!” remarked Mr Fate innocently.

The appointment of permanent sur

vevor to act. on behalf of consignees is one of the subjects to lie brought up at the annual meeting of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association next week (states the Dunedin ‘Star’). It is urged that if the importers were strung enough to pay'a surveyor whose do tv would tie .to go aboard every arriving vessel and see the hatches opened. noting before the cargo was broken bow it was stowed, whether anything had been frayed by working against stanchions, as to whether it. was free from water contact, and so on. lie would he the better able to look after im| ni ters’ interests, and be ill a position to know exactly, bet ore claims were sent in. what the facts were.

Through the constant rains for the Inst nine weeks, rill motor traffic l Wimbledon is practically at a standstill. states the Napier “Daily Telegraph.’* ’1 here is no through traffic at all. ns there is a huge slip on tho mail 27 miles from Daitnevirke. 'I he road in this particular place has completely slipped away into the creek below. At the present time the mails have til he transferred from one car to another and carried over the slip bv the roadman. It will be a. considerable time before the road is open to all traffic. Motor-lorry traffic has been at a standstill for the last fortnight, and settlers are finding it difficult t-> ( ret their stores, etc., through.