NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1925, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

“Patients in hospital always decrease in number towards Christmas,” said the chairman of a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board. “They find they are not sick until after Christmas.” —“Herald.” A property in the Oamnru district upon which a pine plantation was ntatlo about forty years ago, has produced about ,C3otio worth of sawn timber during the last year or two (states the “North Otoga Times”). Lieut-Coloncl G. Symonds, the English road expert said at Carterton that he would never estimate the life of a road. It could not lx? done. L\en the Americans bail iouiid that out. A good road attracted increased traffic, the amount of which it was impossible to estimate.—' “Wairarapa Age.” Speaking at Carterton, Lieut-Colonel G. Symonds. an English reading exl>ert.'said that in surfacing a road with bitumen manv engineers made, the mistake of not putting on enough sand or chips. This (reports the “Wairarapa pro") allowed the bitumen to ‘sweat and was the cause of waves on a road. Big fish are still being taken in tho Vuekland Harbour, despite its continuous growth as a port (says the “New Zealand Herald”). From off Herne Bay wharf on Saturday, quite close to the inner harbour, Mr J. Bleakley, of Grey Lynn, landed a kingfish which, when cleaned, weighed 201 b. On Monday a kingfish and a kaliawai "ere laptured from off' tbe same wharf, both tish lteing over 81b. in weight. Mr Bleakley has caught four such fish within ten days. It is generally recognised that a fire brigade proceeding to a fire is given a VlcaV right-of-way by all other vehicular traffic. The other night, hoxvever, states the “Otago Daily Times,” despite the almost deafening noise of the siren from the leading lire engine, a motor-ear travelling in the same direction ignored the warning and kept ahead of the fire engine, hampering the progress of the brigade. Such tactics, if known to be wilful, are to he the subject of a prosecution.

\n amusing interlude occurred at the ilnverdargUl Court during the heari ig of the case in which Annie F.lizalbeth Scott was charged with theft (says the “Southland News”). Senior-Sergeant Seandreit was questioning Mr Burwell with regard to some dog collars which the accused was alleged to have stolen. Holding up a dog collar, Senior-Ser-geant Sound ret t asked, “You did not give the accused permission to wear these as garters, did you?” Mr Burnell's reply was hardly audible amidst ihe laughter which rippled across tho court. Apparently there has been some keen feeling in To Kuiti over the elections, judging hy the following taken from the “ Chronicle,” :— “During tho last few days several contemptible actions have been performed hy some person or persons who have either a poor idea, of humour or are prompted by a spiteful spirit, and anyone who can help firing the culprits to hook will earn the gratitude of all law-abiding citizens. During the last week-end the office of ibis paper was broken into, the front .loot- being battered with a large stone. Nothing was interfered with inside the office, and the senseless individual responsible must have been imbued with :i spirit of wanton mischief. Another installeo of the same spirit of vandalism was brought under our notice when a tent, erected at tho side of the Municipal Hull on election day was slashed with a knife, and rendered almost useVss. To Kuiti has a reputation of being a law-abiding and sporting community, and it is honed that the culprit or culprits will he made to realise that such acts will not he tolerated in this town.”