LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4728, 23 July 1924, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Dunedin resident dispatched a letter addressed "Trinity College, Cambridge.” The letter (states an exchange) went to New Zealand’s own Cambridge, and back it came through I h<- Dead Letter Office, across it being written: "No college at Cambridge,”

Mr G. H. Vowles, Thames Road, writing from Torquay to a friend in Paeroa, mentions that he had witnessed the English Derby, and that he had had to pay 12s 6d for standing room on the famous racecoui se. Mr Vowles states that he has made a thorough tour of the Wembley Exhibition, and had the privilege of witnessing the June 3 celebrations, at which the massed banefe of the Eng-, lish Regiments played before Their Majesties the King and Queen and members of the Royal Family.

On the testimony of a lad, upon whom the necessity of thoroughness was jmprcKsed in a three j ears’ course at the Palmerston North High School, the “Manawatu Times” is informed that when he was called upon to sign a certificate in the Government department which he had chosen as the field of life's work, “that he would make himself conversant with, and would abide by, the one thousand two hundred and twenty-seven rules and regulations contained in this book,” he forthwith tendered his resignation rather than promise to perform the impossible feat.

The Public Works Department’s local staff has been recently carrying out boring operation on the west side of the Criterion bridge over the Ohinemuri River at Paeroa for the purpose of arriving at some idea of the class of foundation on which the piles of the present bridge are resting. It is understood that on the townside of the bridge the bore was put down sonic fifty feet before rock formation was struck, while on the other side a hard papa foundation was found at about thirty-seven feet down. It is necessary to ascertain the clasp of bed on which the bridge piles are resting before a decision as to whether the bridge is worth repairing or not can be arrived at.

It is a matter for regret to have to report that some people have a poor sense of honesty. During the past month, out of two dozen magazines placed on the tables in the readingroom of the local library only six now remain. Of the magazines stolen two wore the latest issues of “Punch. Some months ago the trustees of the library opened the reading-room daily for the use and benefit of the public, and the privilege has been taken full advantage of, especially oy country folk, who were glad to have somewhere to sit down and rest. In view of the recent thefts it is likely that the trustees will be reluctantly compelled to curtail the privilege, in which case the reading-room will then only be open to the public during the hours when the librarian is hi attendance.

'talking of inflated language, which iw one of the cultural evils of the time, a Taranaki paper reports that a Maon called at the Hawera station and pompously asked for his luggage, which, he said, consisted of two suitcases and a wicker basket. The station hands searched for the luggage described, but could not find it. Then the traveller made the discovery himself. Pointing to two corn sacks on a barrow he informed a porter that they were hits suit-cases. ‘ The remainder of the luggage was still missing, however, and, urged by the . native, the railway people located the “wicker basket” at the Waitotara station, it was an old flax Maori kit containing a pumpkin. But why blame the Maori ? He takes his tone from the European to whom all concerts are “grand.”* cabins “state rooms,” and “yes’s” “answeivs in the affirmative.”

Yesterday we were handed a paper, the “Melbourne Argus,” posted in Melbourne on May 29, 1924, and addressed to Mr B. H. Stansfield, Auction Mart, Normanby Road, North Island, New Zealand, The paper was duly delivered to Mr Stansfield in Paeroa yesterday morning. The paper am! wrapper bear no less than thirteen postmarks, as well as a number of addresses written in red ink. The part of the address, Normanby Road, evidently caused the postal officials to concentrate their energies in locating Mr Stansfield in Taranaki, as some of the postmarks are Normanby, Manaia, Eltham, Okaiawa, and Hawer.a. That the paper should ultimately he delivered to Mr Stansfield in Paeroa speaks well for the efficiency and intelligence of the New Zealand postal service.

Sonie amusement was created in the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court when a member of the South Invercargill Borough Council was charged by the inspector with driving a horse and cart without lights. Before evidence could be heard (relates the “Southland Times”) counsel for the defence said that the information did not disclose any offence, as there was nothing to prevent a man from driving a horse and cart without lights. (Laughter.) His Worship drew the attention of the informant to the omission of some such phrase as "after sunset,” otherwise it was no offence. Informant urged that it was a quibble on the part of the defence, and that his evidence would disclose the fact that it occurred at night. His Worship, however, said he could not accept this view of the matter. The case should bo accurately stated so that the defendant knew exactly what lie was charged with. "Oh ! He knew well enough,” Interjected the informant. His Worship, however, said that the information would have to be struck out. Similar action was taken with other informations similarly lacking in full details.