LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 125, 8 March 1935, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There was a good attendance in the Domain ffi evening when the Ashbur- *« Salvation Armyß«d ,*£%*& thTrotSa. The selecSweie"greatly enjoyed by those who attended.

-To have retained the respect and affection of my pupils throughout then school days and in Ijtorß.- a gold n casket for me," stated Mr C. 0. Hills, the retiring headmaster of the Longburn School, Manawatu, at a public function at Longburn the other night. "No greater reward can any man expect," he added.

A suggestion by Mr C. J. McEachen that seats should be placed in the East Street reserve opposite Baring Square and the Post Office was received by the Advance Ashburton Association last evening. Mr McEachen said those erected nearer the shopping area were much in demand in the hot weather. It was decided to keep the question in view for next summer.

'•There is a conservatively optimistic note among the business people of Sydney and Melbourne, and there are great signs of prosperity in both these State centres," stated Mr G. H. Bennett to a "Manawatu Evening Standard" representative recently on Ins return to Palmerston North after a short visit to Australia. He added that there was extensive building going on. Business firms reported a better trading year, and generally regarded the outlook as very favourable.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that the formation of technical libraries for the use of detective staffs at each of the "four main centres is now nuclei- way, stated the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. 0. Wohlmann). "We are doing everything possible to enhance the efficiency of the police force," Mr Wohlmann remarked, when stating that the series of lectures by authorities on various subjects associated with the science of detection and police work generally, which is now being conducted, is proving highly successful.

"Although New Zealand has felt the depression to some extent," said Mr J. W. Collins, Trade Commissioner to Canada, at the Wellington Rotary Club luncheon, "it is easy to see that you have not suffered as they did in North America. You, too, are very much more optimistic as to the future than they are in the United States and Canada. I sincerely trust that your optimism is justified."

"What's the time?" asked a man in the body of the Ashburton Courthouse of one of the counsel engaged in a case this morning. The question was put in a loud voice during a brief interval, and, unabashed by the silence, he added, "Is it dinner-time yet?" He was sternly reproved by the Magistrate (Mr C. 11. Orr Walker), who reminded him that the Court was in session and silence had to be maintained.

'UOuring my long period of service many attempts have been made to improve our old system of free education," stated Mr C. C. Hills, retiring headmaster of the Longburn School, at a public function tendered to him at Longburn the other evening. "The greatest change," he continued (says the "Manawatu Evening Standard"), "has come in the attitude of the teacher to the child and the child to the teacher. The teacher is now the friend and the confidant of the pupil."

Mr Justice Blair gave some advice to counsel about to ask Detective Mciklejohn in the witness-box at the New Plymouth sessions of the Supreme Court why ho had not called a certain person as witness for the Crown. "Don't ever ask a policeman a question beginning with why. I used to make that a cast-iron rule for myself when I was at the Bar. You invariably get the answer you don't expect, and frequently it is an embarrassing answer.*' And, again, to counsel labouring a point he had already made: "Don't run after a bus when you've already caught it." .

Apparently some New Plymouth fisherman had an unexpected catch on Sunday, states the "Taranaki Daily News." Although the details of the occurrence are a deep secret, Mr Justice Blair revealed at the Rotary Club luncheon on Monday that he had been hooked in the nose on a Sabbath fishing expedition; but, with his customary dry wit, he remarked that he expected the "shot" of anti-tetanus serum given him by the doctor who extracted the hook would be effective and that lockjaw would not develop soon enough to interfere with his talk to the club. At the end of his address he remarked that perhaps the serum had not been as effective as he had expected !

When a case was called in the New Plymouth Supreme Court the other morning (says the "Taranaki Herald") only one of the parties to the matter was represented by counsel. On an intimation that counsel for the other side had not put in an appearance, Mr Justice Blair said: "Very well, I can get on quite well without him." It was explained that although the case had been set down for that day it had not been expected it would be reached quite so early. His Honor left the Bench temporarily with the observation, "I'll sit again in five minutes, and if Mr is*not here then I'll go on without him." The Jate arrival of counsel was explained to be the result of an understanding that the case had been set down for a definite hour, which had not been reached when the case was called.

Late on Saturday evening a light English car was stolen from Ashtc-n Street, Gore, and as the result of information received, Constable J. Potts on Sunday evening took up a. position in Redmond Street, to the south of the town. About 2.30 a.m. a car answering the description of the missing vehicle stoppecT near the end of the street to let down passengers. The constable proceeded quickly on his bicj'de to the car, and so startled one of the passengers that he dropped a beer ke*g. Leaving his bicycle, the constable dashed over to the already moving vehicle and flashed his torch into the car in order to identify the driver, and as it was passing he 'flashed the torch on the number plate, which corresponded to that on the stolen car. Constable H. McPherson in the meantime had been lying in wait at the other end of the town. Constable Potts joined him, and it was net long before they heard footsteps turning the corner and approaching the spot where they had concealed themselves. Then the footsteps halted and no further sound was heard. A moment later, however, a dark shadow was. seen moving along the footpath. The constables darted out and arrested the suspect, who was creeping homewards in his stockinged feet, with -his shoes under his arm. He offered no resistance, and was taken to the station, the car being recovered later. As a result of further information, the constables set out at 5 a.m. and arrested another suspect, both being interrogated concerning their alleged complicity in a series of motorcar conversions and breaking and entering exploits. A number of charges, it is understood, will later be preferred against them.

The feat of drilling a hole from end to end of an ordinary pin one and onesixteenth of an inch in length has been accomplished by Mr C. W. Flighty, a Hastings watchmaker, states the "Hawke's Bay Tribune." Mr Flighty was prompted to attempt this feat as the result of a wager arising from a discussion in which several Hastings watchmakers were - talking over an article relating how a Yorkshire watchmaker had drilled a hole along a pin 1 3-8 inches in length. The Yorkshireman's feat was described'as "a minor wonder of the world," and it was stated that the feat had been performed only once previously. Mr Flighty selected a pin measuring one and onesixteenth of an inch in length. It was five-sixteenths of an inch shorter than the pin used by the Yorkshireman, and proportionately thinner. He made a drill, and bored the hole from end to end in an hour. The diameter of the pin was twenty-four one-thousandths of an inch, and the diameter of the drill seventeen one-thousandths, making the thickness of the wall seven two-thousandths, or only half as thick again as a fine human hair. If the Englishman's accomplishment was considered to be a. "minor wonder of the world," Mr Flighty's achievement goes to prove that New Zealand workmanship is bv no means inferior to that of the" English, as is sometimes supposed. A man to whom the pin was shown related an interesting story of a similar accomplishment by an English needle-making firm for whom he used to work. A German firm of needlemakers, he said, once sent to their English rivals, as a sort of tacit challenge, their finest needle. Some time afterwards the English firm returned it with three of their own needles contained inside it.

Enough to make a Chief Justice laugh was" a slip made before Sir Michael Myers by a witness in the Wellington Supreme Court last Friday. The witness (says the "Dominion") was telling in narrative form the story of a ship held up for repairs. At one stage counsel lost his drift and asked: "Well, where are you now?" "In the dock, sir," the witness replied. Quickly he amended his position to "in the floating dock."

"Because of the embargo upon Australian citrus fruits, some 200 or 300 New Zealanders at Norfolk Island have been left high and dry,." said Mt Harvey Turner at a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. He added that because of the embargo the shipping service was cancelled, but he understood that it would be revived if the embargo were lifted. It was decided to ask the Government to exempt Norfolk Island from the embargo (says a Press Association telegram).

Eels are proving very trdublesome in the rivers of the Te Kupiti district at present, this probably being due, to the scarcity of feed and the lowness of the water level (says the **\King Country Chronicle"). Heavy inroads have been made, in fact, only one bird remains, the eels having accounted for the remaining 1.5 birds and their progeny. Near the schools the eels have been seen to take the young ducks down, .while in one instance an attack was witnessed on a fully-grown bird, which, however, managed to free itself. From the Mangapohue Stream has come the largest eel caught in this district for many a day—it is said that it weighed in the vicinity of 401 b.

There was a very good attendance at the fortnightly meeting oil the Loyal Ashburton Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., last evening, when 'the N.G. (Bro. A. Dellow) presided. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Bro. Rev. J. Cocker was carried in the manner customary in the Order. A letter of recommendation was granted to a member who is about to leave for an extended visit to Great Britain. Three candidates were elected and three were initiated. Sick pay amounting to £22 8s 4d was passed in favour of 17 members. Delegates to the district annual conference on Saturday, March 23, were elected as follow :_P.G. Bros. R, H. Biggar, E. H. Childs, A. A. Craighead, J. H. Stevens and W. K. Waters, and Bro. a. Dellow.

The St. Andrew's branch of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union held its opening meeting for the year in St. Andrew's Hall yesterday afternoon, the president (Mrs R. S. Watson) presiding over a large attendance. A letter was read from Mrs W. Mawson, of Auckland (formerly a member of the Canton Villages Mission staff), giving an account of the work of the Auckland Chinese Mission under the Rev. Y. G. Chan. In spite of many difficulties, the mission was shown to be a flourishing institution, and an interesting description was given _of a Chinese service in the Mission'Hall. The annual appeal was made for left-off clothing for the Maori mission. Parcels would be received at next meeting, and would be forwarded to Maungapohatu, where the need for warm winter clothing was urgent. The study period was devoted to Maori missions, with special reference to the work of the late Rev. H. J. Fletcher, of Taupo, the Turakina Maori Girls' College at Marton, and the Maori Mission Birthday League, the funds from which were sufficient, it was stated, to pay the salaries of lour Maori mission workers. The meeting was closed with the Benediction, and afternoon tea was served.