MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, 21 April 1922, Page 1

MISCELLANEOUS.

1 — An Otago man who has been in these parts during most of his long lifetime, generally working hard, is said to he the heir to a Scottish estate, shortly to be administered, valued at considerably over a million sterling. “Auckland is the squalling baby of New Zealand," said the Mayor, Dr. Thacker, M.P., at the civic reception extended to- the delegates of the- Dominion conference of Oddfellows m Christchurch. “Auckland always reminds me ol a baby that lias had its dummy taken away.” Improved prices for New Zealand wool are predicted in a cablegram xeeeived by the Wools Committee from the managing director of the BritishAustraliun Wool Realisation Association. Sales are now exceeding .production, and “a period ol definite scarcity approaches.”

It is stated, despite the lateness of the season, that nearly forty persons crossed the Tarurua ranges during the blaster holidays, while for the season some 150 have made the journey. A party, including ladies, reached “I he Forks ’ ’ on Monday, having left Greytown on Good Friday. Despite snow the trip was enjoyed. Two boys were also among one party that crossed at the week-end. All speak well of the line condition of the track.

Who was the meanest man? Mark Twain said he lived in Hannibal, Mis souri. He sold his son-in-law the half of a very line cow, and then refused to share the milk with him on the ground that he had only sold hint the front half. Tho son-in-law was always compelled to provide all the cow’s fodder, and to carry water to her twice a day. Finally the cow butted the old man through a barbed-wire fence, and he sued his son-in-law for damages. That a kilowatt is roughly a horsepower and a-third was stated at last week’s meeting of the Canterbury Progress League in the course ol a discussion as to whether the limit ol Lake Coleridge is 24,1)1)0 horse-power or 24,000 kilowatts. The president stated that the estimate was 24,000 kilowatts, and on this basis it was reckoned that the fake would' generate 32,000 horse-power.

It may hardly be believed that in that it contains practically seven bundays. Sunday tell on ihe second ol the month, and it also comes tour more times within the thirty days, the last day of the month being a Sunday. This makes live Sundays, and in addition there are Good Friday and Anzac Day, also 10 be. observed as Sundays. This brings the total to seven.

All unusual ieatuie of ilic present month (says an exchange; is the lact ! these days ol mechanical excellence in dealing with wool that there is an old resident ol Uannevirke who does her own scouring, her own sorting, the various other processes, and her own spinning, and tiien uses herseii the yarn site has made —and a very fine sample, too, it is said to he. How many of the younger generation would be bothered with ail trouble? But then times have changed and what grandmother did doesn't appeal to the modern maiden. A farmer in the Ciydevale district recently had a very galling experience (says the Cluiha Leader,. He secured the services of three lahouieis for harvesting, but owing to the weather conditions they lived on his generosity for three weeks, generally putting in their time with cards and [kindred pastimes. With the return !of -better .conditions on Sunday lie (announced that lie would commence j operations on the following day, hut Jto his disgust he found those whom he had befriended had taken to the | road during the early hours oi MonIday morning. Evidently the prospects of work had proved too much for them to contemplate, hence their hasty "exit.

| The arrest oi two men, who were j caught in the act of robbing a store iat Paparoa, in the north, and who were subsequently committed to the (Supreme Court.for this offence, and have been remanded on charges of !the theft of goods from launches in the Auckland Harbour and the theft "of a motor-car at Hamiltoa. is due j solely to the sagacity of a fox terrier. In order to gain entrance to the store the men broke a window, and on getting inside found the dog on watch. The animal, while not responding to

friendly advances, did not resent the intrusion, but, when the attention of the burglars was concentrated on the rifling of the premises, made its escape 'through the broken window, and aroused the owners of the store. The result was that the two men were caught red-handed and held until Constables Smith and Bogne. of Maungaturoxo ana Waipu, arrived.