NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1925, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

To show how high Lake Waikarenioana is (states an exchange.), fishing and shooting camps that were supposed to he many feet above the high level, are now under water, and creeks that were once mere trickles have now L 3 to lit feet of water in their channels.

“Von pay a wonderful tribute to your native race here in New Zea land,” said an American naval officer to a “Wairarapa Age ” reporter, “and to see them occupying seats in Parliament and in the Cabinet was a surprise to us. 1 can't quite imagine the coloured race of America occupying seals in Congress.”

Most of the American saTlors who visited Palmerston North the other day did not worry about paying the exact money for a purchase (says the “ Manawatu Times”). They usually depended on the- honesty of shopkeepers liv holding out a handful ot small coins and asking the seller to take what was necessary.

The centre stretch of the bitumen roadway laid down on the Prince’s wharf at Auckland is proving unsatisfactory, and is now being relaid in patches (states the “Star”). Although carefully laid down, the road was never all that was anticipated, and besides developing corrugations, large pieces of it disintegrated and crumpled up badly. Workmen arc picking out these had parts and relaying them in asphalt.

While the majority of the American sailors in Palmerston North recently set out to enjoy themselves, there were two. however, who put into practice the time-honoured axiom that it is better to give than to receive (states the “Manawatu Times”). These two sailors visited the hospital and passing from one ward to another provided the inmates with a brief touch of Curie Sam’s friendship that was greatly appreciated.

It happened within the precincts of a Court (relates the Stratford “Post ’). A Chinese witness had been examined and the necessary information elicited from him. “ You may retire now,” said the foreman of the jury. “Some day. plliaps!” said John. “1 mean you may go out now,” assured the foreman when the merriment had subsided. I don’t link; doing welly good pisliuess!” exclaimed the bland Celestial amidst more laughter.

The set of ocean currents towards the bight formed liv the promontories Albatross Point and Woody Head was again illustrated a short time ago when a large hlack-lMi was thrown up on the beach between Kawhia and Aotca harbours. Ibis locality (states the “ Kawhia Settler”) has been known as a favourite repository for the “ waifs and strays ” ol the deep for many years, for, in addition to driftwood, many curious articles have found terra lirma after a lengthy sea voyage. Several bottles- containing messages from steamers trading along the Australian coast have found their way to this spot, while numerous lifebuoys and other articles have also contributed to a miscellaneous collection.

A strong protest has been recorded by the Otahuhu Borough Council against- the action of the Telegraph Department in tearing up newly-form-ed footpaths to lay underground cables (states the “New Zealand Herald”). It was stated the department had lieen notified twelve months ago of the council’s intention to form the .lootpaths in question, and had been asked to carry out any work at that- lime. An assurance had been given then that the department would not he making any alterations. Tho council decided, owing to the frequency with which the department- gave similar cause for protest. to circularise local bodies suggesting that united representations be made to ill*' Postmaster-General.

At. the conclusion ol the time-hon-oured ceremonies observed by all vessels that across the equator it is usual (says the “New Zealand Herald”) to present all on hoard with a more or less imposing diploma affirming that the recipient* has been duly inspected and found worthy ot admission to the solemn mysteries of Neptune’s court. As a rule the document is a very rough-and-ready typewritten one, prepared hastily on tile spur of tlie moment. In the American Navy, however, all sailors who cross the line are presented with an exceedingly elaborate and handsome diploma.

A despicable act of cruelty occurred in Maiinin recently when someone fixed with wire a bicycle wheel to the tail of a ihorse and set it galloping down the Manaia Road (tlie “M it ness” reports). Maddened with iright. Tic poor Iteast galloped wildly through the town, narrowly missing the children who were leaving school, and careered through the hack streets of the town lashing out wildly at the wheel. t\ hen caught it was found to he severclv cut''about tho heels, both hind legbeing running with blood.

The colloquial term of an American seaman in his own countrv is the short but forcible word “gob.” but according to an officer in Christchurch (states an exchange) the men do not anproro of it. “A wrong impression.” says this officer, “is that our sailors like to he called ‘gobs.’ As a matter of fact the older men resent it. 1 have heard a senior officer rep-riinand a junioi officer for referring to the men by that word.” He said that they should he referred to as sailors, blue-jackets, or simple as men. The word came into use before the war. and was more generally used (luring the war. hut it never has been anything except a term of derision. Young fellows may say that they like it. old and experienced sailors, who are proud of llte service, certainly do not.”

The Waiteinata County Council has discussed the position of the great loss of revenue to the Council occasioned by the acquisition by the City Council of property in the county for watershed purposes (states the Auckland “Star”). The chairman stated that under statutory provision these lands were exempt from rating, and the Wattemata County Council is expected to maintain many miles of roads to the West Coast without receiving any revenue for the purpose, while it was stated that the profits of the Au.klaml City Council on the sale *1 water amounted to £00,099. He thought that the City Council should exercise a moral obligation in the matter, even if they had not a legal one. It aa.s explained that a petition had been presented to Parliament, praying that the law he amended to provide for the rating of these lands, and that the petition would shortly he heard belote a Parliamentary Committee.