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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 6 (September 2, 1935)

Variety in Brief

page 64

Variety in Brief

Three men were recently having a drink in the bar of one of our city hotels. Becoming increasingly jovial they ordered another—and another. During the garrulous conversation the barman gathered they were bound for the express, so, with commendable disregard for further business he suggested that if they wished to catch the train it really was time they were making tracks. They consequently ambled out of the bar to find the tram had just departed, so there was nothing for it but to cover the distance of a quarter-of-a-mile or so on foot. Arrived at the station, what was their disgust to find the train just pulling out. However, two of their number just managed to scramble onto the guards-van—the third collapsing on his face on the platform. The solicitous stationmaster, anxious to do the kind Samaritan act, tried to help the man up, but what was his amazement to find him helpless with laughter! Regaining his composure to some extent he sputtered—“Thosh two—hic, hic—came—hic—to shee me off!”

—“Jasmine.”

* * *

Just off the main coast road from Whakatane to Tauranga, in the Bay of Plenty, there is what appears to be a small meteorite. Whether or not it is a meteorite is not known, for its composition has never been definitely determined. However, it consists of very hard material which is an excellent medium for sharpening tools, knives, etc. In fact, it is stated that long ago Maoris used to come from the Waikato and other distant parts to sharpen their spears and other weapons, and to use the stone for utility purposes. The rock, or meteorite, is deeply scarred, as if spear heads had been rubbed continuously over its surface.

The cutting properties of this mineral are not too drastic, for a keen edge can be put on a knife with half a dozen rubs. In the past, attempts have been made to dig out the stone, but it is too deeply embedded. The trench where the early diggers worked is still to be seen. Also, it requires considerable effort to chip off even a small piece. Even to-day farmers in the vicinity make use of this natural sharpening stone for putting keen edges on blades of all descriptions.

—G.D.M.

* * *

Original advertising methods are employed in the Old Country by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. For instance, on a Wednesday morning recently over eight hundred happy children were given a free cinema display in the Majestic Theatre, at Blackburn, Lancashire. They were competitors in the New Zealand lamb painting competition. Several interesting films illustrating life in the Dominion were shown, together with other suitable pictures, which were greatly enjoyed by the youngsters. The twenty-three fortunate winners of cash and consolation prizes received their awards from the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board's representative during an interval.

About this time two silver championship cups, measuring twenty-one inches in height, were open to local butchers for the best shop window displays of New Zealand lamb.

—“Pohutu.”