SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17982, 28 January 1924, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

UMAEU. Social and Personal, Mr G-. Eqcire and Miss Squire CFair-viev.-.i will leave this -week on a visit to the West Coast. Miss EfHe Knight, who has been the guest of the Misses Stevenson (Levels), returned to Timaru on Saturday. Miss Betty Elworthy lias returned from North Canterbury, where she was the guest of Mrs M." Bethell (Pahau Pastures','. Mr and Mrs BuJis. Dr. Bulls, the Misses Buils (3;. and Mr Bulls (Napier-) are at the Hydro. Mrs Harris and Miss Freeman hare returned to Turakina after spending some .weeks at "Opawa." Albury. Mrs Dalhy Coates and her daughter, who have been spending a holiday in Geraldinc, returned to Christchurch on Saturdav. *

On Saturday evening, at their residence, Sarah street, Mr and Mrs F. C. Jlyde gave n jazz party for their guests. Mrs McLay and Miss Ottrcv, and 1o bid farewell to Mr and Mrs A. T. Foster, who are leaving this week for Christchureh. Others present included: Mr and Mrs P. W. Rule, Misses Pfeicfer, Pope -(Kaikoura). and Abbott, and Messrs Fred Hyde. A. Heer, G. Blue, E. -Baker, and C. Thomson. Harbour Soundings. At the Harbour Board's meeting on Friday, the reading of a letter from the Marino Department, through which the harbour soundings were challenged, created some surprise. The secretary of Ihe Marine Department wrote that Mr J. P. Mawell, M.lnst. C.E., had called on him recently in order that he might view the plan of the Timaru harbour as it. appeared in the recently published nautical almanac. Mr Maxwell, when shown the plan, expressed the opinion that the soundings given, more particularly on the lines running out from No. 1 wharf on the one side and the north mole on the other, were probably incorrect, in that they showed practically no variation from the soundings on a plan dated 1907 or 1909. If this assumption of Mr Maxwell'* were correct, the Department was in the position of publishing information which was incorrect and misleading. The resident engineer to the Board reported on the 1920 soundings. The chairman said that it seemed an extraordinary thing that a man who had not been at the port for years should dispute the soundings in that way. The secretary staled that the engineer's report had been forwarded to the Department, but nothing further had been heard. Inquest. An enquiry into the death of Mildred Baynes,. aged 2<i years, of Clandeboyc, who died in the Timaru Hospital on Friday afternoon, was held in the Courthouse on Saturday, beforo the Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley. Harold Arthur Baynes, farmer, of Clandeboye, identified the body as that of his wife. She had been in good health up to January "3rd. Two or three weeks ago she went to see a doctor, but did not tell witness until afterwards, and then did not explain her trouble. Ou the 23rd she complained that she had fallen against a. verandah post and hurt herself. She was unwell throughout the night. There were two children, one aged two years and the other eleven months. Witness suspected that deceased had had a miscarriage, but she did not' mention it to him. About 3 a.m. on the 25th' deceased got worse, and a doctor was secured. After hearing medical evidence, the Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to sepsis and general peritonitis, caused by infection following the use of an instrument by the deceased for the purpose of securing a miscarriage. T/he evidence, the Coroner said, showed clearly that no blame was attachable to the husband. "Tliat's My Mistake." A charge of drunkenness was preferred against nu Indian in the Court on Saturday. Pronunciation of some of his words appeared to give him a lot of trouble.

Tho Magistrate (Mr ~£. D. Mosley, S.M.): Where do you come from? The reply gave tho souiid of the following letters: "Caratchitch." Tim Magistrate: Where were von born ?

"Carat-chileh," came tho answer again. •

The average man would take that as meaning Karachi, but, no, the Indian meant C'hristchurch! The Magistrate then asked the man why he got drunk. "Well, that my mistake," was tho answer.

Two first offenders for drunkenness scorned to have a great affection for tho prisoners' dock, and refused to stand anywhere else. "Let them stay there," said the Magistrate. They were each fined vs, iu default 24 hours. The Weather. The week-end saw a return to midsummer conditions, and on Saturday the heat reached 76 degrees iu th<!) shade at noon. Yesterday was hot, and iu the morning the water was thronged with bathers. In the afternoon bathing is barred. A Day of Picnics. The United Friendly Societies held a picnic at Fairlie on Saturday. The railway station did capacity "business, and the Mackenzie capital was the destination of a happiness-hunting army, which, on disembarking from the train, attacked the various catering establishments. The weather gave the proceedings a lift along by a return to summer conditions. At leas>t 2000 people left by the special trains, and quite a number joined en route. Motors also carried out a fair crowd of picnickers. The chairman of the Mackenzie' County Council, Mr C. J. Talbot, welcomed the people, stating that, it was eight years since the Timaru Friendly Societies held their picnic in Fairlie. " Mr Gi J. Wallace, Mayor of Timaru, who accompanied the picnickers, thanked Mr Talbot on their behalf for his welcome. He gave a little discourse upon Fairlie's eminent suitability for such an outing. The president of the Friendly Societies' Association, Mr T. Webb," offered his thanks to the Fairlie folk. Side-shows were in evidence for the entertainment of the visitors, and the children played the usual games. The Timaru Salvation Army Baird and the Timaru Pipe Band went, along also, and treated the Mackenzie Country to some bright melodies. ' " Timaru was not left out in the cold in tho waj- of picnics on Saturday, as a large crowd came from the Fairfield Freezing Works to disport themselves on the Bay and elsewhere. They came in swarms, and thoroughly enjoyed their day's outing. A great many spent tho whole day bathing, and the caretaker of the Municipal Bathing Sheds had a busy time issuing out costumes. The picnickers returned home by the 6 p.m. train. The Mystic Sign, The costumes issued at the Municipal Bathing Sheds bear the sign "Ti.C." One of Saturday's Fairfield visitors, a man of unusual height, and proportionate breadth, had a great deal of difficulty in getting at the meaning of tho inscription. "Say," he said to a pal, aaJhe ..donned .tua-nptfcpr uostiCDLfii-Jiii

« costume, "if- this T.B.C. means to bo | continued, I hope they'll shake it up. 1 These things are too short, and I want 1 3 dip/' A Toico from the next cubicle ! floated over the partition with an exi planation. which included the words i «'Timaru'Borough Council." i General Kcws. 1 At about T> p.m. .yesterday, smoke ' W3*s issuing from an old store near i No 1 wharf, used by the Union Steam i Shi'p Cocipanv. The building contained disused coal baskets, and a quantifv of straw and odds and ends. The qnickly on the scene with onc a and two" leads of hose were soon going. The fire was put out in half an hour or ao, but the store shed was gutted. Port of Timaru, Shipping movements at the Port of | Ti maru will be found in the Shipping Columns.

WAIMATE. The Knox Church Sunday School picnic was held in Knottinglev Park last week. A motor lorrv conveyed the children to the' park in~ the morning', and the adults in the afternoon. The- children were entertained with sports said games and a very enjoyable time was spent. An abundance of eatables supplied by the parents contributed to the general happiness. A dance, was held in Mukaroa Coronation Hall. Excellent music was supplied and was much appreciated by ibout fifty couples. Dancing was carried on until the early Hours. Extras were plaved by Miss N. Feall and Miss Grantham. Mr F. Henshaw ably carried out the duties of M.C., assisted by Messrs W. Henshaw, A. G'ruickshank and D. Wilson.

A well-attended meeting of the picnic committee of the Friendly Societies was held on Friday night. All arrangements have been made and the picnic promises to bo one of the largest ever held in Waimate. Hot water, tea, milk and sugar will bo ready as eoon as the first train arrives at Timaru. In the event of a wet day, arrangements have been made for the- school bell to bo rung. The sports committee have a great programme, which includes a, baby show, football match in. sacks and many other novelties. At Knox Church Sunday School picnic on Thursday, Eric Hendry had tho misfortune, when jumping, to fall on the back of his head. Ho was taken home by Mr W'\ Geddes in his car. A meeting of tho "Waimate Acclimatisation Society was held on Friday. Present: Messra Wilson (chairman), Flint, Mumford, Nash, Smith, and Dolphin. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote in connexion with the importation of birds and animals. Tho Society decided to recommend to tho Department that it bo aJi open season, and that grey ducic, spoonbill, pukaki, paradise duck and swan be allowed to bo shot, the hag not to exceed two birds in any one day. The Society decided to issue and print its own licenses. It was agreed to protect teal. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs wrote stating that th« suggestions that the. license fee for the shoot; ing of opossum be reduced to £1 Is and that a new 6tamping officer be appointed for the district, were receiving consideration. Mr J. Williams (Timaru) recomnvended that improvements be mado in connexion with tho sanitary arrangements at the Waitaki Reserve and that a life-saving apparatus bo installed at the beach. It ■was left to Mr Pollock to attend to the sanitary improvements, but the Society refused to tako any action, in the matter of life-saving apparatus. Tho secretary stated that at the request of tho Department of Internal Affairs, ho had forwarded a return of fishing licenses issued and revenue for the year 1922 'and 1923, as follows: —310 fishing licenses had been issued for tho 1923 season, the revenue therefrom amounting to £l7O. I»ast year the number of licenses issued wero 231, tho revenue amount to £l2B. This year's licenses were expected to exceed 1923 considerably. It was decided that tho opossum season open on July 31st.

. A meeting of ih© Waimato Racing Club was held at the A. and P. rooms on Saturday afternoon. Present: Meesrs T. Twomey (chairman), K. C. d'Auvcrgne, J. Dencb, J. Attwell, M. LeonandJ. Cooney* Mathesou and Balfour. The programme was submitted to the New Zealand Trotting Association and Canterbury Jockey Club and was returned approved. A letter from the secretary of the Racing Conference stated that it was thought advisable Ct> suspend the horse Pampela from competing. The suggestion was noted and received. 'The resignation of Mr T. Quirk was accepted with regret. An agreement between the club and the' caretaker of the grounds was read and approved. A sub-coiiimittco "consisting of Messrs T. Twomey and the secretary was appointed to make arrangements for the gate arid printing for the forthcoming race meeting. The secretary reported that an insurance policy amounting to £l5O had been taken out on the cottage, tli© outbuildings and garden on tho racecourse grounds. Tho Grounds Committee reported that a boundary fence was being repaired and alterations being carried out to certain parts of tho course. A man would bo engaged for—levelling tho ground where tho old buildings had stood. Mr J. Hampton (Waihao Downs) < wa3 elected a member.