NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1780, 24 January 1918, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES

The estimated output of the season by our dairy factories is 18,000 to 20,000 tons of butter and 45,000 tons of cheese. The bulk of ibis produce lias again been requisitioned by .the Government on Imperial account, at prices which should be satisfactory to producers. All last season’s make of butter is now believed to be exported, and a very considerable quantity of new season's butter has gone already.

The green light in Rangitoto Channel, Auckland, went out suddenly a few nights ago, and on examination it was found that a swarm of bees had settled on the lamp, and closed the ventilation hole, with the result that the pilot light was extinguished. The lamp was opened and re-lit. On a previous occasion the lamp was extinguished by i<- swarm of Hies.

A serious accident recently occurred at Mr W. Q. Stead’s residence, Flaxmere, Hastings. AVh engaged in pumping up the tyr a motor car with a [latent pump, William Alahalm, of Christchurch, chauffeur for Mrs C. G. Stead, sustained severe injuries through the sudden explosion of the pump. His left eye was blown out, his left fractured in two places, and 0r... .... the bones in his face fractured, while he also received severe abrasions. He was at once removed to Nurse O’Callaghan’s private hospital in Hastings, where for a lime ■ n hopes were entertained for his recovery, but he is now out of danger.

The following advertisement so amused a parly of New Zealanders and .others while at Sierra Leone, that, Miss Simcox, of Otaki, who returned with them, took a copy. It reads: Bungie, the sympathetic un.dertaker; general builder for the living and the dead; general contractor —always on the spot. At Bungle’s, the sympathetic undertaker, you can always get a readymade coflin from 10s tid to fifty guineas. Bungie will wash, dress, and look after your dead till it gets to its last resting [dace. Bonnets, shrouds, knickers, etc., supplied, also a good quantity of coflin furniture. ' Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. Remember, once you die, and, after death, Bungie takes charge. Call at once at the refuge and refreshing bungalow, 15 Kissey St.

Through some inexplicable cause (Says the Oropuki Advocate), probably on account of the large quantity of machinery that is exposed at the shale-works in Orepuki, the vicinity of that locality, known us Shaleopolis, has been visited by lightning on more than one occasion. Some time ago the huge chimney connected with the works was destroyed by the agency of lightning, The thunderstorm which passed over the district on the evening of New Year’s Day was very severe in the locality mentioned, and three trees located many chums apart were set on fire at their tops by the electric discharge, tine of the trees is 80ft. high. From the lime it was sfnick residents hud an anxious lime guarding their property from tire. Another tree, struck by (he current in its gravitating path, hits now burned down |o the roots. The third tree is located fully half a mile distant. In each ease (he trees held commanding positions, and were in a st;il e of-decay, but the inexplicable part of the uncanny business i> bow did the trees manage to become ignited when they were saturated with the drenching showers which preceded the visitation. The fires in all the stricken mammoths started simultaneously, and all of them started burning from their tops downwards.