NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2868, 7 April 1925, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

One thousand and fifty dozen eggs were despatched from the Levin Poultrykeepers Association’s depot this week, an increase of ten dozens over last week’s figures. Said to be little if anything inferior to the “Kilminister” head, the best red deer trophy ever secured in the Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s district, an English sportsman, Mr. W. A. Daffarn, of Wink'lunore Hill, London, on Thursday, brought into Levin, a magnificent lOpointer head, secured on the Ohau river at the back of Mf Narbey’s property. The most remarkable feature of the splendid trophy is the thickness of the antlers, the circumference at the cornet being no less, than 9 inches, whilst the measurements in every other respect are almost equally good. The Auckland Zoo shows for the financial year just ended a profit of £IO,OOO. The excellent financial result of this municipal venture goes to show what a high place it lias won in the interests of Auckland people. An unusual accident occurred at the South Otago Freezing Company’s works last week, when a section of the roof of one of the freezing chambers collapsed, due to the strain of the hanging carcases. Fortunately, no one was in the chafnber at the time. A eonsideriible quantity of frozen mutton was damaged by the pumice and other falling debris. The manager, Mr. Sillison, expects to have the roof repaired and the chamber in operation before the end of this week. An tmusual piece of salvage was performed by the steamer Waimea while hound from Westport to New Plymouth (says the News). Five miles off the coast south of Cape Egmont, a model yacht with all sails set was seen gaily sailing over the rolling sea, and her trim lines so appealed to Captain Fowior and his crew tlml the ship's course was altered to bring them alongside. The yacht was hauled aboard and brought to New Plymouth, where it was haiided over to its owner, Mr E. Inch, who thought he had seen the last of it when his small craft, a model of the Reliance, which defeated Shamrock 111. some years ago, headed out to sea from the port, where he . had been sailing it.

A white bird, a stranger to New Zealand, was recently found at Emulate, and forwarded (o the local museum authorities for identification, says the Southland “Times.’’ The bird lias a big wing and tail development, indicating strong powers of flight, and although viewed by many local bird lovers, they were unable to identify' the stranger. The carcase was forwarded north for identification and word has now been received that it was a cuckoo whose native habitat was Queensland. liow the bird reached these shores remains a mystery, and its appearance is the first recorded in New Zealand. It is stated that a company promoted in England, and with a large capital, intends to exploit the sand deposit at Awanui and to manulacture glassware and crockery at Kioreroa. The English promoters have secured in, Norway a broadbeamed Diesel engine-driven centre board ahij> capable of carrying 500 tons of sand from the bank to the deep-water berthage at Kioreroa, and the representatives declare that good water, coal, burned lime, cement and bricks being within reach, the Whangarei Harbour port is an ideal site for the business. An application is to come before the Whangarei Harbour Board next meeting for a long lease of about 50 acres at Kioreroa as a site for glassworks. A young farmer out West mere vay recently bought a new ear and lie was very proud of it. When he gained some confidence he thought lie would ask a neighbouring farmer to take a ride with him. The latter stepped in and the motor started off. Somehow tile young driver did not do so well that day and the drive became rather exciting. Passing a man with a milk buc.kel oil bis arm. lie nearly carried it away with him. At last the inevitable happened. Something went wrong and the car came to a standstill abruptly against a tree. Fortunately tlie ear was not damaged, and the passenger farmer was full of enthusiasm. ‘*’Tis extraordinary —so it be,” be exclaimed. “We sui t inly went apace. But wliat ticks me thougli is how you stop the darn thing where there ain’t no tree.”

('ircmnsl a nccs sometimes lead l<> strange I >«■< t ina I es. l-'oj- insl a me, a. man may retire to lied in a reputulilts hotel and wonder whether lie has dev«doj)e<l prickly heal or some other form of shin disease and when he hurriedly switehes on the light, suddenly discovers a, host of hugs scampering- up the wall. A Wanganui business man had an experience recently which he is not likely to forget. lie was a guest iii a cluh along tin 1 coast where sleeping accommodation is provided. All went splendid until next morning, when he awoke and found blood smears on the lied clothes, lie was somewhat confused at lirst and not a little alarmed lest a tradgedy had been enacted in his room while he slumbered. Closer investigation, however, relieved his mind considerably when he. discovered that he had only, been sleeping on some young mice about a day old. In his hurried retirement on the previous evening he had not noticed innv snugly mother mouse had catered for her offspring. This was evidently another clear-cut case of the best-laid plans of mice and men going all agley.