Every minute of daylight is precious to the farmer, who cannot spend much time in visiting his neighbours, however much he may desire to do so. An illustration of this fact has been brought under notice. At the present time there is no telephone service between Mataimoana and Kapara, in the Upper Waitotara district, neither is there any wireless station, and yet messages are transmitted frequently in a most novel manner. Mr George Mee, of Kapara, is the possessor of a very fine cat named Sandy, and the cat pays regular visits to Mr and Mrs James Smith at Mataimoana, a distance of over four miles, and these two settlers are in the habit of fastening messages to a ribbon attached to Sandy’s neck, and sending him out on his errand. Recently assistance was wanted for mustering, the message was sent by Sandy, and the help duly arrived the next morning. Christmas greetings were conveyed by the same medium, and thanks returned. It is probable that this was the most singular way of conveying the season’s greetings in any part of the dominion.
• "Has the age of chivalry passed away?" is (states the New Zealand Herald) a question that might well have been asked by those who stood on the northern side of the Karaka railway cutting on Saturday week. The passengers by the crowded north-bound Main Trunk express which reached the slip about 8 o’clock had walked over the ridge and to the number of many hundreds assembled alongside the line in readiness for the arrival of the train to convey them to Auckland. There were many women with children in the group, including not a few with infants in arms. Some of these had been on the trains since leaving Wellington early on the previous afternoon. It was evident that the train would not contain sufficient seating accommodation for all the waiting passengers. It might have been expected that the "men" would have shown some regard for the women, particularly for the mothers who had had a journey which under the best circumstances is a wearying one. Those, however, who looked for such an exhibition of gentlemanly conduct were disappointed. Almost before the train had come to a standstill it was rushed by a number of young men.
"Now then, ladies first!" exclaimed an elderly military officer, as he saw what was about to happen. His words fell on unheeding ears, and one of those to whom they were addressed lost no time in clambering into a carriage in front of the officer and a number of women.
"Come out of that, you rotter!" shouted the indignant officer, but his words were disregarded. It is needless to say that the many passengers in khaki required no reminder of the rule of "ladies first" — ODT, 3.1.1917.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
