NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3953, 8 June 1929, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

“I just rang. to say your new numibeir (plate is upside down. Please correct it 'before 'driving your car again.” An astonished Wanganui motorist, home for the midday break, received that telephone message the other day. Investigations proved later that the city inspector Avas not responsible for the instruction, but that there was soline truth in the 'assertion that the plate was not right. The number Avas GO —869. Turned upside down it read 698 —69. “From measurements taken all oyer the Avorld the fact has emerged that the 'New Zealand boy and the New Zealand girl of 15 are the tallest and best developed of any in the Avorld,” said the Hon. H. Atimore, Minister of Education, in an address to the Auckland Advertising Club. 'That faic-t was not so very surprising, the (Minister thought, for the stock from Avhieh New Zealanders had sprung was probably the best that had ever left the shores of Great Britain. The Minister further believed that Ncav Zealand Avas uoav noticeably developing a type of its oavii, and the various component parts —(English, Scots and Irish —were not so much in distinctive evidence as Avas the case some years ago.

The Maori race keenly follows horse-ralcing, and at carnival time there is possibly some excuse for their thoughts turning to hoi-se and horses’ names. A collector for the Plunket Society received a rebulf from .a Avahine at Onehunga (Auckland) recently, because of the latter’s suspicion that her mission was to “raise the Avind for a plunge" at Ellerslie. “What for te box?” asked the dusky maiden when approached by the 'collector. “For the Plunket Society,” Avas the reply, then seeing that she to Avhom the appeal was imade did not comprehend, “For the hospital.” “Oh, lie boss, eh? You think he A\ T in?” was the rejoinder. The lady Avith the box, after much patient explanation, made her mission known, but the Maori dismissed her minus a contribution by remarking: “Oh, tc babies, eh? No tanks for me; won’t have one.”