SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18549, 26 November 1925, Page 3

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Social and Personal. Miss Vlrich ' (Ducediu) is the guest of Mrs E. L. Orbell (Park Lane). Miss Moira Hickman (Church street west) is in Dunedin. Miss M. Macdonald (le Cren's terrace) is in Christchurch. Mrs and Miss Matheson C\Tai-iti road) have returned after a fortnight in Christchurch. ■ Mrs Charles Cresswell (Lismore) is the guest of her mother, Mrs John Matheson (AVai-iti road;. Sir George and Lady Clifford and Miss Dennis arrived in Timaru from Christchurch vesterdav for the races. Mr and Mrs J. C. Miller (Orari), Major AY. X. Bond, Miss Bond, and Miss AVood (Mount Possession) are with At rs Arthur Elworthv (fiolme Station) for the races. Archdeacon and Mr? ,T. A. Julius (St. Mary's Aunrage) are spending a fetv days in Christchurch with Mrs Croasdailc Bovren before returning to Tim&ru at the end of the week. A isitors to Timaru at present include Mr and Mrs Allan Cambridge (Salisbury), Mr aid Mrs R. P. AValli.i (Gore), Mrs K. C. Bishop and Mias Bishop, Mr and Mrs U. L. Minson, and Mr K. H. Parker (Christchurch). The Weather. Changeable weather conditions have prevailed in Timaru since Sunday. After a fajrlv clear night on Tuesday, further rain fell in the early hours of yesterday morning, but by midday the sky :iad agaiu cleared, and the ■ sun shone in the afternoon. Magistrate's Court. Vl "' w " A considerable number of theft cases, :*»nd also one of arson, were heard at the Magistrate's Court before Mr E. I'. Mosley, S.M., yesterday. Several of the accused were young lads. Stanley Gilbert Taylor and George Spencer Pcarce were charged with the theft of a safe, £l4, and several articles, the property of Edward J. C. Jensen. They were further charged with breaking and entering the premises of E. J. C; Jensen with intent to commit a crime. After evidence had been heard, Pcarce had nothing to say, but Taylor said he had been on the beach drinking, and he was not aware of what, he was doing. Both accused pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court at Timaru for sentence. Taylor and Pearce were further charged that, on November 11th, 192i>, they did break and enter the premises of the Canterbury Shoe Company and steal one pair of shoes valued at 2'w, the property of the company. Several other charges of breaking and entering, theft, and wilful damage were preferred against Pearce. Both accused pleaded guilty. Taylor was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard-labour, and Pearce was convicted and ordered to be detained' in the Jnvcrcargill Borstal Institute fcr a period of not less than three years. Five charges of breaking and entering and theft were preferred against Trevlvn George Guilbert and Eric Reginald Smith, both of whom pleaded guilty, and were convicted and ordered to be detained in the luvercargill BorstaL Institute for a period of not less than two years. Norman Edgar Arthur Thomas was charged with breaking and entering the premises of the Canterbury Shoe Company and stealing one pair of boots valued at 30s. Accused was convicted and placed on probation for two years; on condition that-he found employment in the country. He was also ordered to keep out of. the company of the accused already before the Court, and was to come into town only when permission was given by the probation officer. Arson. • . George Spencer Pcarce, who had been previously charged with - several offences, was further • charged with wilfully setting fire to the Canterbury Shoe Company's factory. Accused was represented by Mr J. Emslic. Percy C. Vinnell, manager of the Canterbury Co-operative Shoe Company, said that on November 12th he left the factory at 5 p.m., and at that time there was no sign of any fire or light of any kind. AVitness was informed of the fire about It' p.m. The damage was estimated at over £3OOO. The indications were that the fire had started in the store-room. There were •boxefe of shoes in the storeroom, but it would necessitate a good dcial of paper to set the shoes burning. To Mr Emslic: Accused had been in the employ of the eompa'nv previously, and apart from' this instance had given every satisfaction. Constable lle.rroJi said he accompanied Detective le Sueur when enquiries were being made, rind he heard accused admit having set tire to the building. Accused had said that he had Visited the premises accompanied*by Guilbert and Thomas, and in order to cover up traces of the thefts committed they, had set fire to some paper, so as to burn, that part of the building where the goods had been stored.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Timaru for sentence. ____ GERALDINE. At the monthly meeting of the Geraldine branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr D. Lewis was in the cliair. The chairman said he had received notice of an important meeting of the executive and ho asked for suggestions. Mr Vernall suggested that the Government should take control of -wheat sales. It was a case of that or a iree market, though there had been no open market, for there was only one buyer. It was decided to take no action, though, in, the event of tho Government assuming control, it was decided to ask that prices be fixed' as early as possible. The wool situation was then referred to and disappointment expressed that the sales throughout the country were all crowded into a space of about three months, leaving so little time between sales for grading the wool. Mr Lewis was asked to try and get the January sales (which had been cut out) reinstated. Mr Walton said that a Timaru paper charged 12s a year for delivering the paper by»sie rural mail while the Christchurch papers, which gave farmers more information, made no such charge. On his motion it was resolved to ask the Timaru company to cease charging for deJivet-y. Mr M. G. Greig, Business Manager, Railway Department, and Mr Chambers, stationmaster, Orari, attended the meeting. Mr Greig gave an address on the transport question. He said they were going oat amongst the farmers and others to find oat what they wanted, aind. if possible, to fall in with their wishes. had not had a fair share of the Geraldine business. the reason being that tie town was Si miles from Orari and to obtain that bnsmess, -which went largely by road, the Department had tried to make arrangements with the local carriers, but without Baccess. Tenders were then called and they had been able to make satisfactory arrangements. In tbejpaet two-months-these*

arrangements had worked very satisfactorily and at the same time they had been able to reduce the cartage rates, which were now down to 6s per ton, the result being a large increase in the business. But they wanted not only cartage from" the town to the 'railway, but from the farmers of the district. They wanted to go to the farmers ajid lift their wool and other ■produce' and to cart lime, manures, etc., to them. He pointed out that the charges could b© further reduced if farmers arranged for getting out their requirements at the time they were sending in their produce, thus saving''two journeys, and he suggested that to accomplish this, two or three neighbour farmers might combine.' They had to make, the railways pay per cent, on cost, and the people must help to, make them pay. . He was promised an increase of 7000 bales of wool this year. The chairman said they should support the railway as. far as they c °nlo. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Greig, which was carried. ORARI BRIDGE. At the Orari Bridge Miniature Rifle Club's annual wind-up social there wasi a good attendance of dancers. Ihe following clubs were represented Four Peaks, Pleasant Valley, Baling, Rangitata, Arundel, and Rangitata, Island. Music was supplied by Messrs <j. Coulter and E. Burko. Mr .0. MoDonald was M.C. During the evening songs were sung by Mr Bishop and air J. Hamilton, ,'ihe following were present : —Mesdames H. Coulter, E. Pratt, C. McDonald, G. Tagg, J, Burke, G. Coulter, Misses M. Scully, South, B. Lysaght, E. Stonehouso, E. Sybal, M. l'orsyth, M. and J. South, B. Markhain, O. Ford, E. Pratt, E. Lenilian, N. McDonald, B. Mallinson, M. Vance, Waters, Messrs F. South, W. Ford, F. Pratt. G. and H. Coulter, N. Burke, C. McDonald, "W. Morris, Scully ("2), W. South, Qaantock (2), F. Lysaght, W. Forsyth, J. Hamilton, K. Smith, J. South, W. Crottv, X. Pithie, McDonaJd (3), C. Raws ton, J. Markham, P. Scott, C. McXab, G. Martin, J. Murphy, J. McKay, J. Smith, Palmer (2). Bishop, li. and K. Wooding, 11. and F. Elery, <J. Quigley, S. Oibbs, L. Medilvrey, J. Richardson, 11. Helen, Arnst, "VV. Harris, and. J. Thomson.