NEAR AND FAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 November 1931, Page 4

NEAR AND FAR

"1she Fortune Chain.i! The usual fat-headed idiot is st'll apparently amongst us, for the "Fortune Chain" letter has again made its appearance iii Thafiies, ,;says the Thames iStar.' Ofiq Worild think that by this time the chilcfish idba with its prophecy 6f "good liick if Sent, and bad iuck if not sent!" would have abbut ruri itself out and returned to the "General of American Artillery in Flanders," who, it is alleged, started the hohsense. Apparently the said Gbneral had little else to do — which perhaps explains the fritility of the American artillery. The best thing when reeeiving bne of these absurdities is to place it firmly in the middle of the fire! Wandering Goat. Why a goat should find its way to the Municipial Chambers of all places — offers matter for thought, says the Eltham Argus. Such was the case one morning, when a straying "nanny" was diseovered in the sacred precincts of the Eltham city fathers. The animal attracted the attention of numerous small boys who spent a greater part of the morning play ing with it. At a late hour its fate was still undecided, but it was expected that it would join its fellows at the Eltham pound, two heing impounded during the week and marked for sale by auction. The goats were drily prit up under the hammer, but no bids were forthcoming, and the unlucky animals will shortly.be consighed to the destructor. Why they should come to such an ignOble end is a difficult question, unless there is a slump in goats in Eltham! Mixed Metaphpr. Asked by the oflicial assignee at Timaru to define unfair trading, a bankrupt confectioner stated that- certain Oheap firms had "swept the grass from under confgetioriers' feet." In addition, 13 to 14 persons hawked fruit, besides the shopkeepers already iri business. Many of these hawkers had. seasonal occupations and hawked fruit in their off seasons. They paid no rent.

Srengtii of Men. The short men who are heavily built are stronger than tall, slender men of the same weight, was the discovery made by the United States Public Health Service, which rfeeently suhjected about 500 meh, aged between 20 and 34, to weight-lifting, pulling, pushing and hand-grinipne;

tests. Mecca the Mysterious. About 200,000 pilgrims from all 'the Mohammedan countries visit lleeca every year at the pilgrimage season, said Mr. Eldon Rutter before the Manchester Geographical Society, recently. But if any hut a Moslem approached within 20 miles of Mecca at any time he did so at the risk of his life. No unbeliever, as such, had been to _ Mecca in the last 1800 yedts. In spite of the risk, several Eurbpeans, by first learning the Moslem ritual and customs^ had managed to get into the city* in disguise and to come safe- i ly out again. On the other hand, a considerable number of unbelievers appeared to have got into Mecca - and never to have come out again.

Masonic Benevolence. Two phases of Masonic benevolence have been brought to fruition in the Auckland district within the last few weeks— thd establishment of homes for aged members of the craft and their wives at Panmure, and the commencement of a series of . homes for boys at Papakura. Both have been made possible by the munificence of an Auckland citizen,- Mf. F: S: Potter; Ravish of the Radishes. Eltham has prbved the latest iri sneak thieves. This geritleman lias a penchant for radishes of all things: A night or two ago he swooped dowri Pn four rows of lucious radishes just ready for picking.ih ari Elthairi re'sident's garden and garnered the lot, save twelve. The owner of the garden desires to bring before the sneak thief's notice the fact that he has replaced the little plot! Fishing Tricks Forbidden; Tricks occasionally practised by Cook Island natives to erisrire good hauls of fish are banned by regulations in the Gazette. It ife provided that a fine of five poririds may be imposed on ariy petsb'n usihg. the plants "rakau papua/' "utu/' or "Mataora," oi* any other poisbri or stup'efying agent for catehing fish in Cook Island waters. Liberty is given to the Island Council to permit the use of "utu" or "mataora" if fish are- required for a special feast.

Albino Pigeo'h. A pure white native pigeon is indeed a rara avis, but the presenc'e of one, at least, in South Westlarid, is reported (says the Grey River Argus). A correspondent sfafes: "I saw a pufe white pigeofi at the outlr let of Lake Mapourika. The bird was perched on a tree quite ciose to the main road, and in the green foliage which surrounds one of Nature's beauty spots, looked the picture of loveliriess. Undoubtedly I was privileged in getting. a glimpse of this beautifril hird." " ' Unusual Acciderit.

A tramway overhead electric power line which fell iri Colonibo Street, Christchurch, last week, taught a Motor cyclist round the neek^ thrpwing him and a woman passerigef .who was on the pilliori on to the road) states the Christchurch Times. Both reeeived extensive injuries. The motor byclist, Mt. H. Hdrild, of Suriiner, was brunt about the face hy the electric current, which also badly damaged his clothing and burnt all down the back of the cbat of the pillion .rider, Miss T, Wright. . .. Both suffered mittof injririeS and were badly shakeri. The f all vrecked the motor cycle. ; * ? t ( Echo Answers. "The Goverriment builds a road and lets cars run 6n it at will," said Mr. H. de Lautour, CoalitioA cdfididafe,speaking at Gisborne on the railways; f'The the Government builds another road and puts rails on it and expec'ts" it to pay. If the roads do hdt AriVe to -pay interest on the whole of the money expended on fheiri, tAerirwhy shpuld the railways Kave to' pay interest?"