TIMARU AND SOUTH CANTERBURY NEWS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19918, 3 May 1930, Page 4

TIMARU AND SOUTH CANTERBURY NEWS.

TIMAEU.

HARBOUR BOARD.

The Timaru Harbour Board met yos terday, Mr G. Dawson presiding.

The harbourmaster, Captain D, McDougall, reported that the arrivals during March were 37 steam vessels with an aggregate of 48,(343 tons, and the departures 37 steam vessels with an aggregate of 46,074 tons. The engineer, Mr F. W. Clarice, reported that since the last meeting tho dredge finished dredging in the channel, and on the 2nd instant started work in the bay cut. The quantity of silt, etc., removed was 2000 tons in the channel and 29,000 tons from the bay cut. The length dredged in the latter was 550 ft. With the Easter holidays and other stoppages the working time of the dredge for tho period under review had been considerably reduced. The Taniwlia had been put on the slip for cleaning tho hull and tarring and other maintenance work necessary for the upkeep of the vessel. Since tho last report good progress had been made with the quarry work. Tho total quantity of stone delivered to date is 33,300 tons, being 2500 tons since last meeting. Another shot of 83001b of blasting powder was fired on the 14th instant, with very good results. Probably about 7000 to 8000 tons of good stone would be available. Two additional end tip trucks had been put into commission, and a new one is being built.

Wireless Interference, A noise which commenced at 10 a.m. on Monday last, stopped at mid-day on Thursday, uud continued from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m on Thursday, has puzzlod wireless enthusiasts in Timaru, and so far no definite reason has been ascribed for its presence. The noise is such that reception is almost impossible. It has been suggested—and it seems to be quite feasible—that it is caused by beam wireless, for it is similar to the noise caused >vhen recently Signor Marconi, from his yacht, lying off Genoa, coinmunicat 1 with Sydney. Tho conversations conductod between England and Australia very recently have heen on the same system as that used by Signor Marconi, and it is ® curious fact that if n line is drawn on the map from England to Canberra it continues straight through Timaru. A local wireless enthusiast stated yesterday that he was of the firm opinion that tho beam was the cause of the Timaru disturbance, both during tho actual conversations and dur< ing testing periods. The noise is similar to that caused by a D.C. motor.

Shooting Season. Tho shooting season open In South Canterbury with some promise on Thursday, one of the best bags being 39 ducks secured early in the day by a party of four, whiob included tho president of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Mr T. R. Maekay. The party shot near Winchester, and enjoyed a very successful day. Largo numbers of sportsmen are out, but they state that so far tho atmosphere has been too bright, also that the absence of wind has a tendency to drive tho birds seawards once they have boon disturbed.

GERALDINE.

AERO CLUB VISIT. Captain J. C. Mcrcor, Mr P. R. Climie, Miss Aroha Clifford, and Messrs Bur. bridge, Grigg, and Sampson, members of the Canterbury Aero Club, paid a visit to Geraldine on Thursday afternoon with the object of enrolling members for their club and stimulating interest in aeronautics in the Geraldine district. The Mayor (Mr «J. Kennedy) gave them a welcome, and Dr. R. W, Hislop, on behalf of the Town and District Association, said he hoped the visit would help to develop art air sense in the people. Mr Climie said the club had contemplated visiting Geraldine before, but had had a very busy summer. Their operations were not confined to Christchurch, for the whole of Canterbury was none too large for them. The journey up from Chrjstchurch had not occupied an hour. Captain Mercer recalled having visited Geraldine by air nine years ago, when aeroplanes had come up from Timaru for joy-riding. It was their present intention to visit the smaller centres. They had with them two Moth machines and Miss Clifford had flown her own Avro-Avian machine.

During the afternoon a largo number of flights were made, circling the Downs, the Native Bush Reserve, and the suburb of Raukapuka, and some fifty members who joined up were given free rides, Mr Grigg in his Moth did many hair-raising stunts. Croquet Club. A presentation of the trophies won during the season was made to the winners on the club's lawns on Thursday afternoon by the president, Mi's W. Broad. A competition oame was won by Mrs Grindel, with Mis W. A. Sherratt runner-up, The presentations were as follows: —Senior championship, Mrs McKenzie (Mrs Board's trophy); Mr Kirk (Mrs McKenzie.'s trophy) junior championship, Mrs Webb (Mr Griove's trophy); doubles champion■shin, Mrs C. Stock and Mrs Webb (trophies by Mrs Neutze ana Mrs Mac Donald); best fo\ir breaks for last sjfx weeks of season, Mrs McKenzie (Mrs Webb's trophy); two best breaks for each month during ' the season—senior, Mr Kirk, junior, Mrs Webb. A presentation (a fancy dish) was made by the club to Mrs Webb for her valuable services during the season. Personal. Mr E. Hardcaetle, a former Mayor of Geraldino, is at present paying a visit to Geraldine. He is the guest of Mr G. F. Piper, Geraldine Downs. The Director of New Zealand Air Services (Wing-Commander S. Grant Dalton) paid a visit to the Geraldino district on Wednesday afternoon. He had with him Captain Borrell as pilot. Mr Cousins, Government Poultry Inspector for the South Island, is at present on a visit to Geraldine. Dr. Carrington Mail, of Geraldine, is paying a visit to Mount Cook and i« staying at the Hermitage. Tennis. At a meeting of the tennis club, he!d on Thursday evening, Mr D. J. Lack in the ohair, it waa decided to hold a dance in the Town Hall, a committee consisting of Mesdames B. Bennett and Q, Christophers, Missos L, Cowe, M. Kennedy, and P. Sharpe, and Messrs G. Plumer. D. J, Lack, F. H. Fish, R. Murchison, and D. Callanan was set up to make arrangements.

TEMUKA.

THE MONTH'S RAINFALL.

Mr W. Goodman, reporting on the rainfall at Temuka for the month of April, states that 201 points fell, and that 18 points foil on Thursday. Rain fell on 6even days, as follows: April 6th, 7 pn'nts; Bth, 93; 9th, 4; l#th, 4; 11th. 8; 21st, 76, and on the 29th, 9 points. To show how much the rainfall varies in gaugos over a short distance apart, the following figures supplied by Mr G. L. Twentyman, of Seadown, are of interest: The total rainfall for the month was 1.61, rain falling on eight days, as follows:--April sth, .06; 7th, .01; Bth, .87; 9th, .08; 10th, .07; 11th, .04; 21st, .62; 29fch, .02. The rainfall in Temuka in April, 1929, was 184 points. Hockey Dance. The Temuka Ladies' Hockey Club held its annual dance in* the Catholic Club rooms on Wednesday night, there being a large number of visitors present from Geraldine, Temuka, and surrounding districts. Dance music was supplied by a Temuka Orchestra, Afr R. Honre playing an extra. Mr W. Seelcr was M'.C, A lucky spot waltz was won by Mrs J. Fisher and Mr D. Horgan, and the winners of the Monte Cario waits were Miss Ethel Curry and Mr Fitzgerald. Following were amongst those presentMesdamcs R. .famieson, W. Searle, J. Fisher, J3. Smith, 6. Hastie, and Misses P. Stephonson, H. Colling, V. Hobbs, F. Smith. N Stephenson, M. Webb, E Smith, P. Pierce. G. Kidd, E. Smith, D. Sheen, N. Sullivan, Lee, PelJett, E. Curry, M. Hannifin, A. Hannifin, M. Healey, N. Noonan, K. Spillnne, Fitzgerald (3), R. Woodham, M. Spillane. C. Hope, D. Wobb, E. Stephens, B. Reid, R. Green, C. 01liver, Cameron (2), and Messrs McMiU lan (Timaru), W. Sceler, W. Searle, E. Wheeler, 8. Olliver, A. Lister (Timaru), C. Kidd, N. McGarva, E. Norton, B. Kidd. G. Pierce, Aker. E. Sinclair (Timaru), 6. Cross, R. Honre, M. Crannitch, W. Manning, o. Harvey. Naughton (Kerrytown), F. Kaye (Timaru), D. Collins, H. Bond, K. Selwyn, J. Leonard, T. Ivos (Timaru), T Small, R McCully, G, Horgan (Milford), W. Columb, K. Blyth. A. Gaffaney, M. Kulland, R. Arnold, J. Fisher, and T. Gaffaney.

Personal, Mr and Mrs R. Lee, who have been on a holiday visit to Hanmer, have returned to Temuka. Mr James Maddren (Chriateliurch) is stavinp? with Mr and Mrs R.. Maddren (Winchester). Miss M. Gaaon (Temuka) has gone to Hawarden to upend a holiday. Mrs W. C. Barrett (Winchester) is spending a holiday with her daughter (Mrs E. Hayinan, Ashburton).

WAIMATE.

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the Walmate High School tho chairman (Mr 8. L fitch) presided. The Rector (Mr D. S. Chisholm) reported tho roll number wa» 108. Miss Errington was acting as relieving teacher during Miss Robertson's absence on sick leave. T. Healey, a pupil of the school, had won the Otago boy#* tennis championship at Dunedin. It was decided to make application to the Director of Education for twenty new desks.

The secretary reported that the wool* classing classes, now under the control of the Board, were in thorough working order. The exact roll number was not available, but there would be over thirty, of which twenty-one had paid fees amounting to £36. The chairman reportod on the results of the deputation to the Borongh Council in connexion with the beautifying of the streets in the vicinity of tho school. He stated that the Council had received the deputation very favourably, and he believed the scheme outlined by Mr W. P. Black, who was with the deputation, would very likely be put in hand* The Director of Education advised that grants of £lO for stools for the use of girls in the laboratory and £lO for a platform in the Assembly Hall had been approved. The Department was prepared to consider an application for a reasonable sum to cover the cost of shelving for the school library, but the only assistance towards the purchase of books which the Department could give was by way of subsidy on voluntary contributions. The chairman reported that he had authorised the installation of electrio light and heating in the old armoury, Which was now being used, as a clapsroom. The appointments as members of the Board for a further term of two years from March 31st last of Messrs Lindsay and Whatman were advised by the Canterbury Education Board and the Waimate Counjty Council respectively. The Director of Education wrote approving that the staff consist of three A, B, and C grado teachers and three D grade. Personal. Mr Chas. Eade, of the Post Office staff at Samoa, who has been spending four monthi' leave of absence in New Zealand, a portion of which time he spent with tyis parents in Waimate, Mft on Tuesday for Auckland, where he joins the Maui Pomare on his return to Samoa. Miss Arthur, of Tuatapere, Invercargill, who has been visiting Mount Cook, spent a few days in Waimate before returning to her home. Miss G. Mumford has returned to Waimate after spending a holiday at the Hermitage, Mount Cook.

WINCHESTER. The first shoot of thfc season for the Winchester Men's Miniature Rifle Glut w as held on Monday evening, when there was a good attendance. Some of the members struck good form for the first night, scoring 78 and 79. The following are the best scores for the evenly.—Wm. Waple 78, W. B. Pearce 77, J. Cripps 74, Eon Moore 73, H. J. Hopkins 72, C. Higinbottom 72, W. Jackson 71, A. W. Reilly 78, A. H. Opie 70 W. J. Anderson 77, F. Dobson 76, W\ Hawke 74, A. Cripps 73, W. L. Gudsell 72, O. S. Priest 73, A. B. Scott 76. Miss Mary Barker (Winchester) is spending a short holiday as the guest of Mr and Mrs P. Barker, "Ben McLeod." Mrs W, C. Garrett is visiting Asaburton, where she is the guest of her daughter, Mrs E. Hayraan. Mr James Maddren (Christchurch), who is the guest of Mr and Mrs R. Maddren, is on a short ' visit to .Winchester, ~

ORARI. - One of the best-attended meetings of the Qrari Branch of the Women's Institute was the one hold on Wednesday afternoon in the Orari Hall, when nearly eighty ladles were present to welcome Miss A. Stops, Dominion organiser for the movement, who is at present is the district arranging iot the opening of further branches. Mrs G, A. M. Macdonald, president of the Institute, introduced Miss Stops, who gave an address on "Arts and Crafts." Miss Stops had on view a collection of j handwork, which has been sent out to |

New Zealand as a loan from the Women's Institutes of England. She explained many of the pieces of work she had with her, and gave demonstrations on the manner of carrying oat one or two of the handcrafts shown. On Monday afternoon advantage was taken of Miss Stops'» visit to the district to invite her to address a gathering of women at Gapes The meeting was held in the Gapes Valley Hall, and Mrs Barker presided over an attendance of 28. The meeting listened enthusiastically to Miss Stops, who impressed on them the ideals of the Institute and the work it performs in the lifeof the district. It was unanimous-

Women's Institute," officers wen etoctod>^|Mjj^BMßj Barker; secretary, M»»V treasurer, Mrs A. MacK3MHB^BM W. Talbot, and Miss