NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3758, 23 February 1928, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Figures relating to the losses involved by the slump in the West Coast timber industry show that no less than £2OOO per week in wages was lost by the timber workers last year owing' to the mills ceasing work owing to the lack of orders. The sawmillers of the district paid out approximately £96,000 less last year than in previous years.

“People walking along the road simply stood and gaped at him while motorists gave him a very wide berth,” said Constable Anson in the Lower Hutt Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when a young man, Wilford George Truscott, (of Masterton), was charged with being found in charge of a motorcycle while in a state of intoxication. Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined £3 and his license was cancelled until March 31 next. He was also ordered t 6 pay doctor’s expenses. Accused’s request to be allowed to di’ive his cycle to his home town was granted. A brace of prisoners stood in the dock not so long ago in Sydney (says the “Sun,”) when a new judge made his first appearance in the judicial capacity, and received the usual congratulations. First, the leader of the Bar, then the leading solicitor, then the foreman of the jury had their say. The Judge was about to reply when—“ Your Lordship,” said the senior prisoner, “please accept on behalf of myself and my fellow prisoners our heartiest congratulations on your elevation to the Bench!” The Judge was flabbergasted and could say nothing, and so proceedings collapsed in embarrassment. With those holiday-makers who , enjoy sea fishing, the various bea-

dies to the north of New Plymouth are particularly popular, and stories of big catches are being circulated (says the “Herald”). One of the best concerns a party of three, who caught 50 schnapper in an hour from a launch near the White Cliffs. A member of this party related that on throwing his line out for the first time he commenced to fill his pipe. The bites came so thick and fast that at the end of the hour he had not come to the stage of lighting it. Good catches have been obtained from the rocks as well as from boats.

Lorries carting heavy loads of wool on.-back-country roads in the Waitotara County have provided a new problem for the County Council, now that it has been discovered that damage to the extent of £2OO has been done to bridges. Summonses were issued against two firms, but were withdrawn on representations that farmers had had to send out large loads in order to cheapen the freight on their wool. The council, however, pointed out that damage to roads and bridges meant greater expense to the settlers in the long - run.