NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1927, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

ZOO FAMILY GROWS. Six young emus have been hatched at the Auckland Zoo, and there are still four more eggs at the hatching stage. Later, a young camel is expected to make an appearance, and also a young hippopotamus. In view of the tragic fate of the baby hippo ■last spring, the arrival of another young hippo is being awa.ted with more than ordinary interest, although the time of the domestic event is by no means certain. It may he anytime n)) to Christmas. In the meanwhile Mr Hippo, who is suspected of cannibalistic tendencies, is segregated, and somewhat morose.

TICKLING THE TROUT. ‘•1 have never had such a lovely time' in my life,” declared an enthusiastic American visitor at Rotorua. lie was one of an American party that had been amazed at the sight of the Fairy Spring, and had spent most of a day af one of the delights of his boyhood., dipping his hand into the water and tickling trout. The visitor said that it would he Ills best, fisli story in future, allbough he was afraid his description of the Fairy Bpring and the fish would not be believed when be told lion bis return borne.

MIXED BATHING. “I am strongly of the opinion tliai some of the hotels in New Zealand could be greatly improved.” said a member of tbe council of the South Canterbury Automobile Association, lie added that- one matter that required attention was proper locks la secure bathroom doors. Ho thought that the Licensed Victuallers’ Association should be approached with a view of baring the matter remedied. -Tt is not the duly of the Licensed Victuallers' Association to stop mixed bathing." -aid another member, amid laughter.

PROPOSED PENNY DAY. o] have never beard oi a collection being taken up in hospitals all the years that 1 have been connected with them. I move that no action be taken.” These remarks were made bv tbe -chairman (Mr W. Wallace) when a letter was read from the Unemployment Association, seeking permission to ronduet a penny-day c illeetion at the hospital. In seconding tin- resolution. Mr .). Rowe remarked that many of Hie children came from poor families, and several had parents who were unemployed. 'Hie motion was carried unanimously.

HEAVY TRAFFIC IN MANUKAU COUNTY. "W" are quite competent to frame a hy-hnv uroveutiug heavy trafiie on certain roads at e lain limes ol tile year. V-.’e certainly want some |>on or to slop heavy Ira flu- on some <■ the roads.” said the engineer (Mr -i. ’’age) at a mealing of the Mimukan County Council yesterday. He said that the Wnifematu County Council bad flamed a !;v-i.aw. Classification

was fine prop : I ion and prevision, but that dii’ net meet all cases. Tbe chairmen was given authority to drat! a I --low. which will be submitted to lb - next meeting of the council.

RN.I/IU OF V WRECK. While digging in tbe sand at Pandora, Spirits Ilav. a Maori woman named Wheaa found a penny with the head of George 111 on. it, dated 1807. At dillVrent times odd bits of some old wreck, without- any known history, lias boon found in the loc-ri!-

ily. Some idea of tbe date when 't tie mysterious vessel met her fate max be gleaned from the fact Hint the penny bad not. been in circulation for any time, as, apart from natural discoloration, il was almost entirely unworn. Tbe min is now in the possession of Air L. Keene, of Te Raki

BERTH’S NEW UNIVERSITY. The third prize in an architectural competition arranged by the University of Western -Australia lias been won by the 'Auckland linn of Glimmer and l-'ord. The first prize went to a Melbourne linn cf architects, and the second prize to an English firm. The competition was open to the architects of Great Britain, the Dominions and the United States, The new university buildings are to be erected three miles from Berth on an area of 10(1 acres ol wooded land, and the possibilities of Lite scheme caused wide interest among arch Meets.

TAXEKIVS SEARCH I'nli .MONOPLANE. Unsiicco.'-sful sen rch for I in? mono plane Dallas Spirit, whidi was lost Inst moiltii while speeding to search for the .'iiis-sinjj; competitors in the Dole air race to llcnoliilu, tvns marieby the tanker i’leinden, nt present in Auckland. The Dallas Spirit, with Captain \Y. Erwin and Mr A. H. Eichwaldt on hoard, fell into the sea about 502 miles west of San Francisco, and the Pleioden, which was hound from Tiniam to ’Frisco, reached the locality where the aviators

were supposed to have come to grief thirteen, hours after receiving an S.O.S. message. The tanker ’Pulpit Point, which arrived at Auckland last week, also-heard the distress messages sent out by Captain Erwin, but was too far away to render any assistance.

HANGER FOR. A WEEK. A request of a most unusual character came 'before the llorowhenua County Council, when a woman living in Tokomaru asked that she should be appointed as ranger for the period of one week, says an. exchange. As explained in her letter, about 14 horses persisted in spending many hours outside the gate of her residence. It was in order to stop this annoyance that she desired the council to appoint her to the position, which she would fill for one week without payment of any description. As long as she could get the horses which camped outside her gate, she explained, payment was not required. To assist her in tier work, she was tbe possessor of a good dog and o( a suitable whip. Tbe lady’s oiler win not accepted, however, it being explained that, if the horses complained of wore giving her trouble, she would be quite at liberty to drive them to the pound. _________