NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1021, 21 March 1912, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

Says the Lyttelton Times : The hope ot the Liberal-Labour combination, and it is a very strong and confident hope, lies in the members of the party who have not yet been in office, and who, with high ideals and warm enthusiasm, will mount the Treasury benches with no narrow traditions or “wretched past ” to restrain and embarrass them.

The old family physician being away on a much-needed vacation, his practice was entrusted to his sou, a recent medical student When the old man returned the youngster told him, among other things, that he had cured Miss Ferguson. “My boy,” said the old doctor, “ I’m proud of you; but Miss Ferguson’s indigestou is what put you through college.”

We in New Zealand have flattered ourselves for some time that our Dominion was well-known throughout the civilised world as being entirely separate from Australia, but evidently from the address on a letter recently received irom a firm in Prussia, such is not the case. The communication, which was received by Mr A. Hill, caretaker ot the Ellerslie racecourse, is addressed as follows : '•Mr Course Race, HUerslie, Auckland, N.Z, Australia.”

The following matrimonial advertisement appeared in an Auckland paper:—“A gentleman, slightly passed middle-age, with honourable and sincere intentions, owner of beautiful home, wishes to correspond with a lady of similar inclinations and a refined nature, possessing some means, which she could take pleasure in joining with the possessions of one who is true and sincere at heart. The confidence of a lady writing would he much valued.” Surely such a flowing effusion ought to fetch ’em

A union of policemen, to be conducted on modern trade union lines, is said to be projected in Sydney. A police union of the kind spoken of would be liable to be called out in sympathy with any industrial .outbreak. It is claimed by those who are interesting themselves in the matter that policemen have as much right to combine as tramway employees or railway servants, the fact being lost sight of that these latter are engaged in industrial services merely, whereas the duties of the police force consist in maintaining law and order.

Owners of bays on the islands in and around Auckland are at present greatly concerned owing to threats of prosecution for using small nets tor catching sprats, etc., for bait tor fishing purposes. It has been the custom for years to put out a small net close to the shore to catch the smaller fish, but this it is contended is against the law, and will have to be stopped. There is some talk of a deputation being formed to wait on the Hon. J. A. Miller, Minister of Marine, and placing the matter before him with a view to getting some definite pronouncement on the question.

Confusion of names at the Auckland Police Court on Thursday morning caused a certain amount of amusement. A man named Milligan was called upon, and one of the waiting defendants was usheied in from the prisoueis’ room. He was charged with being a rogue and vagabond. “Who’s a rogue and vagabond ?” he demanded in a raucous voice. “Go down to the shipping offices and you will fiud out about that.” When asked if he desired to be

dealt with summarily, the occupant of the defendant’s box expressed such indignant surprise as to give rise to enquiries, which showed that the man’s name wa* Finnigan, and not Milligan. He left the Court with an air of triumph—to appear later on a charge of assault.

Mr Frank Gavin Duffy, K.C., celebrated his 14th birthday last week. This simple statement of tact, though at first sight suggesting youthful precocity of a very high order, depends upon the curious circumstance that Mr Duffy was born on February 29th, in the year 1852 (says the Melbourne Argus). Fate, which was unkind enough to allot him only one natal day in every four years, on one occasion compelled him to go without a birthday for eight years. The interval was Irom 1596 to 1904, when Mr Duffy was old enough not to worry about it. The omission, of course, arose tiom the fact that the year 1900 was not a leap year, the number 19 not being divisable by lour. It is staled on good authority, however, that in his younger days Mr Duffy was most particular in observing a substitute for his regular birthday in “off” years, the anniversary being kept on March Ist.