NEAR AND FAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 59, 31 October 1931, Page 2

NEAR AND FAR

Rat's Fatal Mistake. An incident at a reeent Sunday night concert in the Stratford Town Hall created much amusement, not to say alarm, particnlarly among the female portion of the audience in the dress circle. While a band selection was in progress, a rat made an unwelcome intrusion, and members of the fair sex, with startled cries, leaped to their feet and srambled to a standing position on the seats. The commotion and laughter arrested the attention of the conductor of the band, who stopped the players and sought the reason for such behaviour. The capture of the rodent was the matter of moments anc! the excitement subsided, but Mr. P. Skoglund (Town Clerk) raised further laughter when he inquired if the wild beast had been. caught! Being assured that the position was norma!, the conductor once more assumed his baton and the selection was played to a finish. Christening of Glider. When the Heildelberg stndent glider corps, in Germany, invited the rector of the university to' oificiate at the christening of their new sail 'plane the question arose as to what would be modern and appropriate to use for the eeremony. Champagne is snitable enough for ships, they thought, but neither that nor water, nor even grape juice had much legitimate connection with the functions of a glider. Firially the logical fluid was hit upon — liquid air! When the name was spoken and the flask broken over the bow of the craft, a blue white liquid of unbelievable cold flowed out, evaporating and "boiling" with great clouds of white smoke, which ascended significantly. "Assessing" a Skeleton. A Swiss scientist returned from Australia with the skeleton of an aborigine in his baggage. The Customs oificials scratched their heads. Skeletons were not mentioned in the tariff, and they had never had to "assess" one before. They overcame the dilemma hy admitting the skeleton duty free, under the heading of "Artieles already worn." In Lion's Mouth. The danger of putting one's head in the lion's mouth is so evident as to have become proverbial. No one seems to have considered the lesser risk of thrusting a hand there. Yet that was what a North Rhodesian rancher did when attacked by a wounded lion. With great presence of mind the man gripped the tongue of the infuriated beast and held on till a companion rushed up and shot the lion just in time. The rancher, though severely mauled, escaped with his life. Don't Quarrel at Full Moon. "Don't quarrel with your wif e when the moon is at the full. It is a dangerous time." This warning is given by Mr. Henry J. Smallwood, who has been probation officer at Pointefract, , Yorkshire, for 20 years and is shortly retiring. Since 1911 he has dealt with 1349 marriage disputes and has effected reconciliations in 1036 cases. "The most serious quarrels in married life happen when the moon is full," Mr. Smallwood said to a reporter recently. "It seems to have j some effect on temperament, and j those quarrels take the most settling." Cherry Blossom Land. Many tourists visit Japan during April espeeially in order to see the cherry blossoms. Japan's cherryblossom season is like that of no other land. It lasts for only a few weeks in April, but during this short period the whole country seems a delightful garden. Japan, indeed, has been given the name of "Cherry Blossom Land." Japanese are trying to cultivate a type of cherry-tree which will blossom three times a year instead of only once. In this way it is hoped that Japan may be made even more popular as a holiday resort. They are passionate lovers of natural beauty, and the cherry-trees seen in every garden are grown for flowers and not for fuit. Laugh and Gow Fat. The spirit of despair seems to have spread like a blight over the world, and people are mournfully saying that civilisation is doomed, states an exchange. Rats! Just about 100 years ago people were saying the same thing and from the same causes; the dehacle following war. Prophets were gloomily announcing the end of the world, as if that mattered, for we all have to die some time; and that event would have put an end to all their troubles. Then came the great industrial boom, and the world laughed and grew fat. This pessimism is the result of swelled head; we have no reason to pray "The Lord gie ns a guid conceit o' oorselves." "What Did She Kick." There was a laugh in the body of the Court in Taihape recently during the hearing of an application for a ' separation case. The solicitor said to defendant: "You say your wife kicked. What did she kick?" Defendant, with a look of blank amazement and in a high pitched voice, replied: "Why me, of course! too right she did." Even counsel had to laugh, whilst the magistrate warned those in the public seats that he would have the court eleared, if there was any more laughter. Large Police Force. London's police force is to be increased by 400 additional constables, to meet the need for adeqnately policing the growing suburban areas. The problem of providing protection for these areas was discussed by Lord Byng and the chiefs at Scotland Yard for several months, and to some extent a solution was found by trans- . ferring men froni central stations where the need was not so great. It has now been foun^fgecessary to increase the force, whiclj numbers about 20,000 men. /Ebm iBtnhe Secretary approved the..j®c»eR»e." >'