NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2392, 14 February 1922, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

An astonishing petrol performance was recently recorded in connection with a motor cycle petrol consumption competition conducted at Christchurch. Mr C. Bell, on an “Indian Scout,” won the event by covering 44 miles on slightly less than a pint of petrol. This is at the rate of 356 miles to the gallon. It’s a freak performance—but it goes to show the possibilities of the motor cycle for cheap road transport. A speed of 5 miles per hour had to be maintained over a practically circular route, 12 miles in length. A. B. Burgess, a negro employed on a Georgian railway, is the father of thirty-two children, of whom twenty-six are living. The family included seven sets of twins and two sets of triplets. The father'of this numerous progeny has been married three times. Recently a business man who is well known in Dunedin, was married. The ceremony completed, the happy couple left by motor car for Waikouaiti, but at Merton the bridegroom of only a few hours saw a business friend in a waiting train, and engaged him in such earnest conversation that before he was aware of the fact the train was carrying him on to the next station. Alighting at Waikouaiti, he at once obtained another car and made all speed back to Merton, where lie rejoined his patiently awaiting bride, who had just gleaned her first experience of the idiosyncrasies of husbands. “The Stage,” a weekly newspaper which chronicles the news of the thespian, is mad with the Yanks, and says: — The “million dollar” wheeze is being overdone. First there was the company with a “million dollar production,” and the “million dollar receipts,” and the million dollar salary.” Now we are told th,at Arbuekle is putting up a “million dollar defence.” It would not be a bad idea to drop the dollars and give us some sense. An American efficiency engineer has discovered, with the aid of a pedometer and a plain cook, that 2.003 steps are taken in the preparation of three normal meals: Breakfast, 440 steps; lunch, 051; dinner, 000. This appalling discovery may still further complicate housekeeping. Cooks will insist on a wage based on step energy per day. “I am very sorry ,madam, but if you will have a 1,500-step dinner I must ask another 10s a week.” Picture the housewife cutting down breakfast to bring the step ratio within trade union regulations. “No, John, you cannot possibly have sausages and bacon. Our step allowance scarcely allows us two boiled eggs.” Will nobody rid us of these turbulent engineers A mild sensation was caused in the Magistrate’s Court at Whangarci by a man declaring to the magistrate that he would not pay a fine, but would go to gaol. He was convicted on the information of the Health Department of having rubbish on his premises likely to harbour vermin, which was not removed forty-eight hours after notice to remove in twenty-four hours had been given. The defendant contended that he had worked early and late to obey the inspector’s instructions, and could not do more than his best. The tine was 10s and costs Ts. “In some cases it ought to be made a criminal offence for relatives to interfere between a husband and his wife,” said Mr Wvvern Wilson, S.M., at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, when dealing with a maintenance case in which the relatives of the parties figured somewhat largely. The Magistrate said that over and over again, in maintenance casesj he had seen the result of relative's interfering, and carrying tales backwards and forwards. Relatives should not 'lister, to the tales of a y< ung, couple but should leave them to tight their own battles. A remarkable case of canine fidelity is reported from Altikon.'in the canton of Zurich. Accompanied by three dogs, a sportsman was shooting game in a fox-est, when his gun accidentally went off. mortally wounding him. One of the dogs immediately returned to him home and attempted to attract the attention of the family by barking, but suspecting nothing, the servants gave no heed to it. Another dog ran to the house of a friend of his master and tiled to call attention in the same manner, but without success. The following day when a seai*ch was made, the body of the missing man was found through the plaintive barking of the third dog, which had remained faithfully guarding the body of its dead master.