NEAR AND FAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 205, 22 April 1932, Page 4

NEAR AND FAR

Bullock Charges Car A Dannevirke motorist, Mr .D. McKenzie, had an exciting experience with a two-year-old Polled Angus bullock near Tikokino. Mr. McKenzie was driving along- in a small car when ihe noticed the bullock standing in the middle of the roadway. He soimded his horn, but this apparently infuriated the bullock, who lowered his head and charged for the car. To avoid a head-on crash the driver edged tbe car on to tbe grass and the animal's head crashed- into the middle of the righthand side door. The car almost capsized. When the di-iver had -proceeded some distance he loolced back and saw the bullock hurrying off in the opposite direction. Indian Hockey Team ~ The Indian Hockey Federation* has decided to reject New Zealand's latest offer to play matches in that Dominion on the return of the Indian team from the Olympic Games. Arrangements are being made for the team to return via New York and Europe, playing exhibition games on the way. Interference With Meters Strong criticism of the action of certain consumers in tampering with their switchboards, with the object of procuring electricity without charge, was made at the monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board at Te Aroha. It was reported that the board was losing much revenue from this source, and although several offenders had been detected, there was evidence that the practice was widely prevalent. The engineer stated that appropriate action was being taken in the matter on consumers caught interfering with meters and fuses and they would be dealt witli severely. Freak Fish Capturecl What is stated to be a freak fish was eaptured by Mr. R. Whiley, of Kokatahi Road, Hokitika, while cutting a drain tbrough the swamp on his section. It is a creamy white coloured eel about 18in. in length, and is almost transparent. The fish is in .all respects, except eolour, like an eel. Inquiry is being made as to whether the fish is a freak in colour only, or if it belongs to some established species of fish, hitherto not met with in Hokitika. Awkward ! To break the key of his car when he was endeavouring to unlock the door after coming from a Stratford function on a recent evening. was the experience of a Hawera motorist. It was only after about a quarter of an liour's patient work that the motorist was able to force up the floor boards of the car and, with the aid of a stick, to push over the safety latch so that the door could be opened. Shooting of Pigeons Recently complaint was made by the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society of the low fines imposed on people who shot pigeons on the West Coast, and a letter received from the Depax-tment of Justice in this connection stated that the tendency of modern legislation -in New Zealand was to treat first offenders leniently. A magistrate had said that in ten years there was no instance of an offender coming before him on a second charge of killing pigeons. Unsettled Australia An ex-Taranaki man living in Sydney writes as ;follows: — "Until such time as the political atmosphere clears over here things generally will remain unsettled and I would not like to prophesy when normal times will return to this country. Many people would like to get out, but find it impossible to do so. Even witb tbe return of prosperity if tbe Labour Unions continue to dominate tbe country and bring about continuous strikes tben Australia is doomed to remain perhaps the most backward country within the British Empire. It makes sad thinking that sucb a bountiful country sliould be so terribly mismanaged.''

"Further Taxation Fatal" "I tlxink it will be absolutely fatal if any further taxation is placed on motorists," declared Mr. F. W. Johnston, at a meeting of tbe execntive of the Canterbury Progress League, wben discussing tbe allocation of motor taxation. Some people were just tossing up whether to put their cars away, he said, and others were curtailing mileage for picnics and week-ends, and would be cutting down the consumption of petrol. Any further tax would mean that revenue would be less than at present, as so many people would be over the border line. The reduced tax would be put on people in. trade with vans and other vehicles. The tax would then be unfair in its incidence, as it would fall on those who conld not do ' without motor vehicles.