NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1925, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES.

“Our kauri is world-famous timber,” remarked Mr K. E. Hutchison in an address to the Agricultural Science Club tit Christchurch. ”1 have seen it sold at fabulous prices in the United States for building the pleasure yachts of retired bootleggers.”— •' Christchurch Press.”

“Education is not merely to teach a child to earn his living, but also to enable him to take an intelligent interest in every phase of life which is likely to arise and to he able to discharge the increasing responsibilities ol good citizenship,” was one of the points made by Mr .1. Caughcy, the Director of Education, in his talk on the junior high school system in Dannevirke (reports the “ News ”).

Speaking to a trainee, who was attending the territorial cramp at Burnham, a reporter of the “ North Otago Times ” was told a little about the great time the men had. “We had white tablecloths on the tables, stretchers and mattresses to sleep on, and four blankets.” ‘‘And the tucker was great. The only tiling wrong was tlvat tile camp did not last four or five years!”

With the approach ol November Guy Kawkes Day, the recent upheaval in China is being brought home even to local juveniles (says the ” Wanganui Herald As is commonly known most of the supplies of crackers for November f> celebrations come from China, but this year there are none, the reason given being that all manu-

facture was suspended on account ol hostilities. There are, of course, ample supplies of the higher grade fireworks, most of which are made in England, but the common cracker will this year he more or less conspicuous by its ab-

An I*lll hit in farmer, who had been much worried hv ravages committed h.v dogs amongst his sheep on a farm in the Toko district, lay in wait for the destroyers and accounted for three of them with a gun. lie did not know (states a local paper) whom the dogs belonged to until he was served with notice of a claim for tod. the alleged value of the dogs. This gave the necessary clue to the ownership, and now a coni ra-clann. amounting to (.TOO lias been made for flic value of the sheep destroyed.

The need for rain is apparent not only ill the state of the pastures of the district, hut also in the water shortage which many country residents are suffering (says the “Poverty Ray Herald”). In the To Karaka district there are a number of householders who already have had to cart water from creeks for household use. and unless rain is experienced there in the near future many homesteads will lie in a similar position. Residents in the district stale that it is seldom there has been a shortage so early in the season, and that in previous years tliev have never run mil of water until December or later.

With tbe approach of Guy Eawkcs’ Day, small boys arc generally expected to make nuisances of themselves. In do more or less damage lo themselves and their eomiianions (savs an Auckland paper.) This year, however, they have added a new terror to the season. Some of tlie.-e impatient youngstrs. v.ho can never wait until lie Fifth, were play ing with some crackers the other dnv. One hit mi the diabolical idea of putting some lighted crackers in the month of a dog that was following them. Doggie never suspected anything. and when the crackers eynloded he must have sutlcred agonies. lie danced round in a frmc/v. ami ibis mile seemed to amuse the inhuman little brats all the more. Children are generallv naturally imliued lo bo cruel, but. this cold-bearted brutality is turInnately so foreign to one's experience as to cause all the more horror.

A li-t of the wile- of -omc motorist-, when confronted by a trallie inspector and asked to produce their licenses, was given in a eonimiinication Irom the Southland inspector (Mr K. Slopford) to n meeting ot the Southland Motoi \ssoeial ion (says film ‘Time-"). Inspector Slopford stated that lie found ninny motorists ready Lo run the risk of driving without a license, and when caught tliev would oiler all imaginable excuses. One was, ‘‘Oh. 1 It'll 111 . v license in my other clothes. or “I ap„lied for a "license hut the inspeefo.told me lo come again.” or “First dav oii| of hospital for six months - just driving to the inspector's nlfirc to go 1 , a license.” Others pull out then' pocket-books, look through all their papers with intense interest, and when tliev cannot find the license say. * Oil. I say, I must have left it. on the duchesse.”

" I did not think that my countrymen could go so mad!” That was the reply that Mr -M. K. Wiig. Norwegian Consul for Southland, who returned the Dominion on the whaler Sir James Clark Ross, gave In a "Lyttelton 'l’inies” reporter when asked what reception was given to Captain Amundson upon his return to Osin from the North Pole. "It w:i- wonderful. lie Hew up the main streets ol till* city m his aeroplane. -,o low that one could hear him crying out •Good-day! Goodday!’ The people went mad.” Captain Amundsen, according to .Mr Vi’iig. is the national hero of Norway, but is i„ „o way inclined to let the people lionise him. being absolutely disappointing from a social point of view. "He always steps back and remains there,” said Air Wiig.