NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

“From measurements taken all over the world the fact lias emerged . that the New Zealand hoy and the New Zealand girl of 15 are the tallest and best developed of any in the world.” said the Minister of Education (Mr 17. Atmore), in an address to the Auckland Advertising Club. That fact was not so very surprising, the Minister thought, for the stock from which New Zealanders had sprung was probably the best that bad over left the shores of .Great Britain. The Minister further believed that New Zealand was mow noticeably developing a type of its own, and the various’ component parts—English, Scots, and Irish—were not so much in distinctive evidence as was the case some years ago.

“ Elephants, lions, and tigers Won’t worry mo this time.” said Mr George Wirlli, of circus fame, who was a passenger to Vancouver by the Niagara at ~nd. “ This is the first real •holiday of my life.” Mr Wirth intends to spend a holiday in Canada Hid the United States. While in New "Voile lie will visit his sister, Mrs Mar-fin-Wirth, who is interested in several Miontrical enterprises in that city! She s the mother of iMay Wirth, the famuis equestrienne. “ Though this is ny first real holiday,” said Mr Wirth. I have travelled far and wide in search of ‘turns’ for the circus.” I’lie famous circus had its fiftieth • uirthdny ou October 23 of last year, •nil on behalf of the citizens of Melourne the Wirth Brothers were pro ' (anted with medals in recognition of heir long and well-known association .v it'll the Australian entertainment vorld. “ Many old friends were pre,(>nt, and they talked reminiscently o! he good times they had when tliej isited the circus in their boyhood lays,” said Mr Wirth.

Hunting cocaine sellers and users in Sydney is as exciting as limiting tigers n a jungle (says an Australian ex■liange). 'l'lie hunter never knows when lie may lie taken unawares. Day uul night the authorities are busy on the track of the snow snuffers and disributors, to say nothing about about unugglers, who have now devised a means <of bringing it down through Queensland and Cliina and Malaya.— hough everylxidv knows that most of .lie cocaine comes from South America. Inly occasionally it is now brought lirect to Sydney. The crime wave which is at present sweeping through ■Sydney with its razor slashings, shootings. and hold-ups, has its origin in ',he drug. Addicts run amok for the want of it, and sellers who traffic in it and rarely snuff it quarrel over the division of the spoils, which come I •h icily from the adulteration of the smuggled cocaine. The police despair of being able to cope with the drug mi hit and drug smuggling until every avenue of admission to Australia is •dosed. The murderous incidents , which are at present being experienced are mild compared with what is in store. The real addicts are becoming rnore and more violent, and shortly the sellers will have to cease slashing i