NEWS AND NOTES

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3999, 19 September 1929, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES

The possibility of introducing pests into the Dominion in shipinches in length. The insect, whose evidenced by the fact 'that an In-' vorcargill fruiterer on opening - a case of. bananas from 'Niue Islands discovered a centipede about three inches in length. The insect, mhose bite is poisonous, was still alive though its movements were slow owing no doubt to the low temperature of the south.

There was at least one lady in Auckland who remembered that last Friday was the 13th day of 'the month (says the Herald). a Several days ago she booked a sleeping berth on the limited express for Wellington and the berth allocated to her was No. 12A. It was only on Friday that she realised that, in spite of departmental bowing to superstition, the real number of her berth was 13. It was bad enough to have to tout el at all on such an ill-omened day, she told the railway booking clerk, but to travel in that berth would be to court disaster. Luckily enough, the booking was not very (heavy and she was able to change her berth.

At the conclusion of the dairy factory manager’s conference in Auckland one might have been excused for a reflection upon the appetite of a connoisseur (says the “Stair”). The principal business was a round of butter-testing that lasted all the morning. That was followed' by a .luncheon, at which butter was again- eaten, accompanied by a. liberal addition of cream to the fruit salad. The members afterwards listened to speeches, again about butter grading stores. For the purpose of the grader, it should be mentioned a long grooved* blade they call a “trier” is used. This is thrust hilt-deep into a box of butter, and, by deft wrist work, a smooth golden tube is produced. Factory managers, armed with pocket knives, fall upon the sample taste, smell and feel it to .their perfect satisfaction. Then, for variety, they do the same with the cheese.

Clearing out old receipt files awajkens old and sometimes painful memories. Recently I came upon a receipted doctor’s hill for £3O. That was baby! Pinned to this was another for £i24 15/3, in payment of a lady called a “monthly nurse,” although she apparently stayed six weeks. Messrs Blank gratefully acknowledge receipt of £lO “to one dark blue perambulatofr,” and so it went -on. 'Before she was a few

iveeks old in this 1 world baby had a arge debit to set off against her rebate on the income tax (writes a

bartered accountant in the Lon

don “Daily Mjail”). And the initial cost is nothing compared with the maintenance charges, which now, in her third yeafr, are amounting appreciably. The. disturbing thought comes to me, how much will she have cost by the time she is 21? School bills considered, I doubt if the outlay will be less than £3OOO. W L hen one some distant day a nervous young map informs me that he wishes to marry my daughter, I shall, not ask him whether he can support her in a worthy state. I shall hand him a neatly docketed bundle of (receipted bills. “My dear fellow,” I shall say, “you can her by all means —at a valuation. Just cast your eye through these accounts, and you will see. that she has cost me £3OOO TB/10. I shall charge 2A per rent, commission only. Take her or leave her.”