Provincial Section

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 290, 2 September 1933, Page 16

Provincial Section

RIVER TO BE BANKED Big Manawatu Protective Scheme COMMENCEMENT MONDAY Dominion Special Service. I Palmerston North, September 1. Arrangements having been finalised, the Manawatu Drainage Board’s scheme for extensive improvements to be made to the banks of the lower Afangaone River will be commenced in earnest on Monday, when an additional 20 unemployed men will be placed in positions under the scheme. It is expected that the total may be increased to 100 as the work progresses. The scheme, more comprehensive than was at first mooted, entails the erection of 13 tajles of stop-banks, and is the outcome of the survey of the stream by the city council engineer some years ago. A portion of the work has already been done, but many of the stop-banks are uneven, and the present scheme is to level those already erected and to clean the course where necessary. The stop-bank-ing will be done from Foxton line to Setter’s line, a distance of GJ miles on both sidese of the stream. Issue of Boots Palmerston North, September 1. It is estimated that another 300 pairs of boots will be required to meet additional demands from the district's unemployed. Residential qualifications have been somewhat modified to enable the local authorities to meet deserving cases. The footwear supplied has been highly satisfactory and l served an essential purpose. . . ■ ■ - ENTERTAINMENTS PAT.ACB THEATRE, PALMERSTON. The current attraction at the Palace Theatre, Palmerston North, Is the evergreen play, “The Flag Lieutenant,” with Henry Edwards and Anna Neagle in the star roles. Very few pictures can equal ‘ the record ol “The Flag Lieutenant." Written by Lleut.-Colonel W. P.. Drury and Major Leo Trevor, the play ran for 400 nights at the “Playhouse,” London.- It was revived at the “Haymarket,” and held the stage for 200 nights. It was also honoured by « Royal command, and was played before the King and Queen. Then as a silent picture Its enormous success is well remembered. Now as a talking film' the Press of Britain proclaim It to be “the best film play ever made in this country.” “The Man They Couldn't Arrest.”

The big feature of the programme beginning next Wednesday at the Palace will be “Seamark’s” most papular novel, “The Man they Couldn’t Arrest." The long cast is headed by Gordon Harker, Hugh Wakefield. Nicholas Hannen, Garry Marsh, Robert Farquharson, and Renee Clama as leading lady. The strength of thia dramatic hit lies In the plausible Ingenuity with which the successive stages of the hero's evasion of the police are developed, in the swing of the story, and utter absence of padding, In, the mounting, suspense and excitement, and In the way in, which it has been directed and acted. A special set of British short subjects will precede the main feature. _ REGENT THEATRE, PALMERSTON. The programme at the Regent Theatre, Palmerston North, Is headed by a very well-produced comic war film, "Diggers," which features Pat Hanna (formerly of Wellington) and George Moon. The picture opens with a commemoration dinner, which serves to Introduce a throw-back to mud-enveloped Flanders, with the war in full blast. Pat Hanna as Chic and George Moon as Joe, the long and the short of it, are shown in the full panoply of war, but not the serious side of.lt. They are continually in trouble, and, with the way the “Aufesle” soldiers had, skilful In getting out of It. “The Match King.”

“The Match King,” which open® at the Regent Theatne on Wednesday, is. a powerful dramatisation of the life and loves Of a character who stole a billion dollars, forged a government's bonds, and was a power behind a dozen thrones. This story of gigantic financial deals and political intrigues In one man's attempt to control the world is the epic of the generation. The role is played by Warrea William, with Lili Damlta as one of bio many enamoratas. KO'SY THEATRE, PALMERSTON.

Life at the bottom of the ocean, one of the features,’of “Below The Sea,” the picture showing now at the Kosy Theatre, Palmerston North, concerns a hunt for gold in a sunken submarine, and It gives the cameraman a grand opportunity to get some marvellous shots of the wonders that exist below the waves. Through the windows of the diving bell he photographs the unending variety of swimming and crawling under-sea Inhabitants and fantastic plants and flowers, and the result is presented' In the picture In their beautiful natural colours. This picture is. just one of the features of the film, which Includes a thrilling fight with a vicious octopus and numerous undersea manoeuvres. The romance is handled by Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray. Next Change—Wednesday. “The Woman Accused/’ written by ten world-famous authors, commences at the Kbsy Theatre on Wednesday, with Naney Carroll, Cary Grant and John Halliday in the leading roles. The action of the film centres around Miss Carroll, who faces a murder charge on her wedding day, as the result of an encounter with a former lover the night before. The latter, demanding that she return to him, threatened the life of Grant, her fiance, and Nancy, to save him, had committed the murder. On her wedding day she flees aboard a steamer making a pleasure cruise, Grant with her. Halliday, a friend of the slain man, follows, and attempts to secure evidence incriminating her. But Grant, in a dramatic climax, frees her of all guilt.

REGENT THEATRE. MASTERTON. Richard Tauber’s “End of the Rainbow” will come to the Regent Theatre, Masterton, to-day. “At the End of the Rainbow we find a crock of gold.” In the Bavarian Alps, we find the singer who startled the world. Disguised as an Innkeeper called Toni Lechner, he is none other than Richard Tauber, who not so long ago came out of his mountain fastness to astonish the world with a voice that has since won for him the proud title of “the world’s greatest living tenor.” Ton! is happy, perfectly happy among the peasants of a tlnv mountain village. He is in love with the pretty Leni, who serves beer in pewter pots for him, and he leads the village in their festive songs and hymns of praise. Into Toni's life fate brings an Impressarlo who. hearing him sing, quickly recognises the pure gold that lies hidden In such a voice and arranges to. take him to Berlin to have his voice trained. Swiftly we pursue his colourful career through vicissitudes of worldly triumphs, raptures of love and agonies of despair. The story Is simple; It Is an every-day life story, and In Its simplicity Iles much of Its charm. A cast of International stars brings bravely forth this story of a great man’s romance, but It is the great Tauber himself who dominates everything with his cheerful personality and bls golden voice, "the Golden Voice of Romance,” as It Is termed by the world's foremost centres of music.

WOMEN BEFORE COURT Charges of Shoplifting WAIRARAPA JOTTINGS Dominion Special. Service. Masterton, September 1. Two married women, Alice Sim and Rhoda Mosen, and a single girl named Florence Boswell, were charged in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr. J. Miller, S.M., with the theft of goods from the shop of Messrs. Allan and Co., and Hallenstefn Bros., Ltd., and were remanded for a fortnight. Sergeant T. H. Dyer stated that a quantity of other stolen property had been recovered, and said it would take time to get the goods identified by their owners. Bail was fixed in each case at £5O, and in the case of the defendant Alice Sim a surety of £5O was also fixed. No Bankruptcies in VVairarapa.No bankruptcies were recorded in the Wairarapa during August. Masterton’s Vital Statistics. The vital statistics for Masterton for the month of August are as follow, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses:—Births, 23 (22); deaths, 8 (18) ; • marriages, 8 (5). The vital statistics for August at Carterton were:—Births 6, deaths 4, marriages 3. Billiards and Snooker. Playing in the billiards and snooker competition for the Masterton Y.M.C.A. Cup last evening, the Catholic club’s A team defeated the Y.M.C.A. representatives by 7 games to 3. On Tuesday evening Daniells will meet Druids. Walker-Clark Wrestling,Match. , Arrangements have been completed by the Wairarapa Wrestling Association for a match between George Walker and Jack Clark, to be held in the Masterton Opera House on Tuesday. September 5, A match was to have been staged between these two matmen last Friday night, but had to be postponed owing to . Walker’s inability to fulfil his engagement. Popular Boys’ Band. The Masterton Boys’ Band played a programme of selections in Hall Street, next to the Post Office, this evening. A fairly large crowd gathered round, and, judging by the comment, was very favourably impressed. Following on the street concert the band played an item on the stage at the Regent Theatre. Members of the band were the guests of the management of the theatre at the performance. . Successful Ingleside at Masterton. There was a'large attendance of members of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society and their friends at the'third Ingleside of the season, held in the Masonic Hall last evening. Music was supplied by Minifie's Orchestra, and extras were played by Miss F. Polson and Mr. West. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Mr. J. Henderson, and the supper arrangements were attended to by a women’s committee under Miss Pickering. Boxers for N.Z. Championships. The Wairarapa Boxing Association has nominated the following boxers to compete at the New Zealand amateur championship tournament, to be held at Blenheim on September 6: —Heavy, S. Reid; light-heavy, M. Spring; middle, M. Spring; welter, O. A. Cadwallader; light, T. Carroll; bantam, J. Cadwallader; fly, A. Martin. Mr. H. H. Dawson has been appointed as delegate to represent ■ the local association at Blenheim. Accountancy Students’ Modi Court. Proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act, carried out in strict accordance with legal procedure, formed the basis of a mock court held in the Masterton courthouse last evening by the Accountant Students’ Society. The proceedings centred round an action by a financial agent and alleged bookmaker named Einstein (Mr. H. A. R. Dunderdale) against Jeffery Blenkinsop (Mr. W. M. Sellar). Mr. I. A. Hart appeared as counsel for the defendant, and Mr. N. G. Whiteman for the plaintiff. Mr. C. O. Marsack acted as judge. Club Members at Play. Members of the Masterton Returned Soldiers’ Club paid their annual return visit to the Grey town Working Men’s Club last evening, when billiards, snooker, and cards were played. Greytown carried off the honours in the billiards and snooker match, winning by 10 games to 6. The evening proved a thoroughly enjoyable’one, and at the conclusion Mr. Mclntyre, president of the Masterton club, thanked the Greytowh members for their kind hospitality. The president of the Greytown club, ' Mr. H. W. Feast, suitably replied. ,< ,

Nireaha Tennis Club. It was decided at the annual meeting of the Nireaha Tennis Club to open the season on Labour Day, October 23, and to hold a dance in the evening. In view of the increasing support of the public and the enthusiastic note struck at the meeting, it is anticipated that the season will be a most successful one. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron. Mr. J. Dumbleton; president,' Mr. H. W. J. Pryde; club captain, Mr. O. B. B. Lozell. Tug-of-war at Eketahuna. Following on their recent successful boxing tournament at Eketahuna, the Catholic Social Committee staged a very successful tug-of-war contest before another capacity house. The winners of the trophies offered proved to be two Kaiparoro teams. The successful skips were Messrs. G. Hansen and K. Hansen. The tourney was held in support of the district’s candidates in the North Wairarapa Jubilee Queen Carnival, Miss Violet Edge. CYCLE ROAD-RACING Wanganui Club Event * Wanganui, September 1. ’ The Wanganui Amateur Road Cycling Club will hold a 36imile road race tomorrow. The race will start from the Royal Hotel, at 2 p.m., and the riders will then circle the Kaimatira block twice. After finishing this part of the race they will make for the Wangaehu Hotel, where they will turn, to finish at the boundary at Putiki. The following handicaps have been declared:—J. Wade (scr.), J. Alp, G. Constantine, and W. Pidwell (45sec.), E. J/avidson, L. Couchman, B. Hodson, H. Hodson, R. Orlowski, T. Pidwell, J. Forsyth (3min. 20sec.). S. Hewgill, C. Loveridge, T. Renshaw. B. Bills, and C. Wadman (Grain.), E. Madder, and J. Young (Grain.), D. Coles, E. Tamihana, L. Georgetti (llmin.), L. Garner, G. Whakarau, E. Danielson, and D. Dawson (15min.). THEFT OF POTATOES Two Men Before Carterton Court Carterton, September 1. In the Carterton Police Court to-day. before justices of the peace, two men pleaded guilty to the theft of four sacks of potatoes, the property of a farmer at Dalefield. Both were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon during the next twelve months. They are to pay the court expenses, and to return the stolen goods to the owner. The justices ordered their names to bo suppressed.

SMALL FARM SCHEME Purchase of Hawke’s Bay Property BEGINNING OF BIG PLAN The purchase by the Unemployment Board of 30 acres of land in the Karamu district for small farm 'settlement has been announced by the Mayor of Hastings, Mr. G. A. Maddison, who states that the decision was made after Mr. J. S. Jessep, deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, visited Hastings and met the Small Farms Committee appointed in connection with the Mayor’s Central Relief Committee.

The purchase of the area, which is part of Mr, R. Holden’s estate situated on the Hastings side and adjacent to the Karamu bridge, is the first of its kind in this district. The area was bought, said Mr. Maddison, at a very satisfactory figure, and if other land was made, available on a similar basis, then no doubt further immediate purchases would be made.

‘‘The decision to take over this land is one of gre,at importance to thd” district,” said his Worship, “It is the first real success that the committee has attained in its long drawn-out negotiations and representations to have . the small farm scheme brought in actual operation in this district. I most earnestly hope that it is but the first step toward a big settlement scheme conducted on extensive lines in this district. It is the hope of all that this will come about, for then it might be possible to give permanent’and productive occupation to all relief workers who are adapted to small farming pursuits. < ' . “Although the area is a somewhat small one,, it will provide homes for probably six relief workers and their families,” added Mr. Maddison, who pointed out that in the erection of the houses and the carrying out of the improvements that must be effected' in the subdivision of the area, a considerable amount of work would be provided for many classes of trades and occupations. Mr. Maddison stated that he understood that the whole of the improvements would be carried out by the board, and that the occupier would be called upon to rent the small farm on a basis in accordance with the interest on the capital expenditure. In. addition a sustenance allowance of 20/- per week would be paid by the board until‘such time as the farm was productive. Questioned as to the number of applications for small farms to hand, Mr. Maddison said that a big number had been received. The applicants, he said, would be selected by a special board to be set up. This board would' probably be representative of the Small Holdings Board and the Hastings unemployment committee. Hastings men ■ interested in the development of the’ land would supervise the development of the areas. “The utmost thanks and congratulations are due to Messrs. R. Paynter and H. R. French and the other members of the committee on the success that they have gained, by their efforts to have the' small farm scheme put into operation in this district,” said his Worship. “The present decision is a reward for their "persistence, and it is hoped that it will be but a stepping stone to something bigger." ’ WOMEN’S GOLF Manawatu beat Da'nnevirke Palmerston North, September .1. A challenge from the Dannevirke Ladies’ Golf Club for the Rapley Cup was unsuccessful, the Manawatu ladies’ club representatives defeating the visitors at Hokowhitu yesterday afternoon by 6 matches to 1. one being halved. Results are as follow, Manawatu players being mentioned first: — z Mrs. Collinson beat Mrs. Russell, Miss M. Garner beat Miss Robertson, Mrs. Feld beat Miss Roberts, Miss W. Scott halved with Miss Knight, Miss E. McMillan beat Mrs. Houston, Mrs. A. E. Ekstedt beat Mrs. O’Hara Smith. Mrs. .Brooker lost to Mrs. Dorrington, Mrs. A. Kegg beat Mrs. Fowler.

ERECTION OF BRIDGE

Good Progress Being Made

Palmerston North, September 1. Good progress is being made with the erection of the new bridge over the Manawatu at Fitzherbert. Fifty-seven piles have now been driven, and the fourth pier on the southern side is in position. Two more piers have to be built before the bridge will touch the edge of the water, where the main activities will commence. False work has been done on the first two spans at the far end of the bridge, and steel reinforcements have been laid for the beams. The concrete will be poured in when the third span has been similarly treated.

TO-DAY’S HOCKEY !

Bush to Play Wairarapa

Pahiatua, September 1. The following men’s team has been selected to represent the Bush Hockey Association in a match against the Wairarapa representatives, to be played at Woodville, to-morrow:— Goal, R. Harris; backs, R. Piper. E. West; halves, H. Worthington, S. Lett and K. Fulton (captain) ; forwards, K. Strand, D. Ruakere, J. Hutchison, H. Ward, and B. Lett. Emergencies: T. O’Brien and M. Howat. SUMMER SPORTS Terrace End Club Meeting Palmerston North. September 1. The annual general meeting of the Terrace End Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club was held- this evening, Mr. S. H. Snell presiding over an excellent attendance. The election of oflicers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. J. M. Gordon; vice-prssidents. Messrs. W. H. Skinner, S. H. Snell, G. Mills; hon. treasurer. Mr. W. J. Pearce; hon. auditor, Mr. J. J. O’Shea; green supervisor, Mr. J. Davidson ; assistant green supervisor. Mr. G. Eckersley; committee. Messrs. K. Snell, M? Scott, C. Isaacs (tennis section), J. Davidson (croquet section), L. Collier, S. Morris, and B. C. Wallace (bowling section).

A big decrease in the mortality rate is shown in the vital statistics for Palmerston North for the past month, there being only 26 deaths as against 40 for August of last year. Births have increased from 42 to 45, and marriagqs from 22 to 26, in comparison for the corresponding month of last year.

TOWN AND COUNTRY “Pakeha” Not a Maori Word TOPICS OF INTEREST Everyone in New Zealand is familiar with the word "pakeha,” used to denote a white person. It was not generally known, however, that this word is not a true Maori word, but was developed by the Maoris in. the early days from a particularly objectionable swear word, much used by the early whalers. The true Maori term for a white person is kiritea (white skin). Condition of Injured Boxer. The Taihape boxer, E. Dillon, who collapsed a week ago at the Wanganui boxing championships, is still confined to hospital, but is making fairly satisfactory progress, . Dairy Division’s Experiments. “The trouble with the Dairy Division is that it experiments with the whole of the country’s output instead of just a small portion,” observed a shareholder at the annual meeting .of the Newman Cheese Company. Last year, he added, the tejnperature on the boats was raised, and the cheese certainly seemed to suffer. He considered that if the division experimented on a small portion of the output it would be much safer. “Look Pleasant, Please.” “Look pleasant, please,” said the photographer, and 15 stalwart members of the New Plymouth police force threw out their chests and put on their best expressions in a vacant plot beside the police station, the while passers-by stood and gazed in . wonder. One pedestrian risked offending the majesty of the law by an impertinent comment, but the law was too busily engaged. The photograph was taken, for private purposes only. Unexpected Landing. That the Milson aerodrome is not the only available landing field in the vicinity of Palmerston North was proved .this week when a plane arriving late from Wellington mistook its destination and alighted in a field, near Bunnythorpe. Flares had been prepared at the aerodrome. but owing to the poor visibility the pilot was unable to pick them up, with the result that he passed on to,a less orthodox landing ground. However, in spite of high tension cables surrounding the paddock, he made a successful landing, and lost no time in coming into town by car. Wanganui Customs Revenue. , . Customs'.revenue collected at the port of Wanganui for the month of August shows a decrease compared with the same month last year. The returns, with last year's figures'in parentheses, are as follow: Customs, £3431/7/4 (£3835/16/5); beer duty, £309/13/9 (£377/11/-); tire tax. £157/8/- (£98); ngtrol tax, £6lB 10/6 (£l3lO/6/-). The sales tax for August, totalled £9785/15/2. Standardised Cheese Wanted. A suggestion was made at the annual meeting of the Newman Cheese Company that the factories should combine and employ their own grader as against the Government graders, with a view to having a standardised cheese. “What we want is to export one quality of cheese,” stated a shareholder, who quoted a case where a sample of standardised, cheese had found full favour in the Home market. . “We cannot export one quality under the present grading system,” observed another shareholder, adding that it was time they put up a fight to get things done properly. Lifting of Fruit Embargo. “The partial lifting of the embargo on •Australian citrus fruit is really of little use,” said a New Plymouth fruiterer this week. “What we want is complete raising, without any quantitative restriction.” He explained that as only South Australian oranges were allowed to enter! New Zealand, and as such fruit would be of little value within about a. month, the' season there being practically finished, the effect of the lifting of the embargo would be almost nil. With the restriction of imports at about 12,000 cases a month, for the whole Dominion, too, any reduction in the price of, say, oranges would be really out of the question.

Dealing With Radio Trouble. Although it ie less than three months since the rooting out of causes of radio interference was commenced by a special officer attached to the telegraph engineer’s department at Napier, the trouble generally has been greatly reduced, and consequently much better results are being obtained by set-owners. As an instance of the valuable work which is being done, it may be pointed out that since the beginning of last month, approximately 400 "complaints h?ve been attended to by the radio inspector, the figure in July alone being 278. This, of course, includes applications for assistance received from Hastings set-owners. In the Napier district there are roughly 1200 persons holding radio licenses, a fact which emphasises the necessity for the presence of an officer to deal with faults as they occur. • .

Fishwmon’s Loans Task. On Wednesday the launch Wave, belonging to Kapiti, with the owners, Messrs. Watson Bros., and Mr. Johnston on board, put into Manawatu Heads to enable the crew to “bait up” and spend a night’s rest on smooth water (says the Foxton “Herald”). The fishermen left Kapiti earlier in the day on a fishing trip but found fish scarce off Kapiti and proceeded north along the coast. “Baiting up” was carried out and proved a long and tedious job, 3000 hooks having to be baited. The fishermen report fish right along the coast scarce, and they are nowoperating ten miles out from the mouth of the Manawatu River.

BUILDING SUBSIDY Palmerston Nearing the £lOO,OOO. Mark FIRMS FEELING BENEFIT Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, September 1. The excellent response to the Government’s No. 10 scheme, sulxlising wages on building, continues to be evidenced by increases in the applications for the subsidy in Palmerston North, th total since the inception of the scheme up to the end of last week being £86,000, and it is confidently anticipated that the *£loo,ooo ' mark will be attained within a few weeks. ( The applications to’ date involve a total of £35,000 in wages, on which the amount payable by the Government is £lO,OOO. Of the 235 applications received, 184 have had official approval. ■* The applications include 74 for new residences, the sum of £41,000, including £ll,OOO for ■ wages, being involved, and all but seven have been finally approved by the Unemployment Board, which will meet the wages to the extent of £4OOO. • Six applications for commercial buildings have been received and approved of, the total cost being £28,000, which carries a Government subsidy of £3OOO on the £BOOO for labour. The bulk of the applications come under the heading of alterations and renovations, and 111 of the 155 applications in this respect have already been passed. Of the estimated total cost of building under this classification, which is £5831, the wages wall amount to £2OOO, the subsidy being £685. , The value of works actually approved is £74,635, and the total subsidy amounts to £8205.0f the £20,928 wages bill. Palmerston North firms are naturally feeling the benefit of the boom in building, and are able to employ skilled tradesmen who would otherwise be a drag on the Unemployment Board. The. most pleasing feature of the activities is that though the application? already come to an extraordinarily high figure, numerous other interested persons and parties continue tb flock in with applications, and there does not, as yet, seem to be any end to the present building boom in Palmerston North. INCREASED Nireaha Cheese Company Eketahuna, September 1. An increase of 82 tons on the previous season’s output was reported at. the annual meeting of the Nireaha Cheese Company. It was stated that during the season the company manufactured a total of 529 tons of cheese, and 7273 crates were sent forward on consignment, of which 4062 were .white and 3211 coloured. • - The chairman, Mr. A. E. Bell, observed that the season was a most favourable one for production, but unfortunately the price realised on the produce was very low, being in one case the lowest in the history of the company. Prices obtained ranged from 37/-, to 63/-. The retiring directors, Messrs. C. Connor and E. Terry, were re-elected, and Mr. T. Bedding was reappointed auditor. Mr. Bell ' was ' re-elected chairman of directors. Woodville, A.ugust 31. The eighteenth annual-meeting of the Woodville Co-operative Barry Company was held to-day, the chairman of directors, Mr. S. Mclntosh presiding. He stated that the output had been increased by 23 tons. Prices averaged 48/- per cwt., and production costs had been reduced as much as possible. The company averaged 4.5 as a milk test for the season, the figure being higher than that of 25 other companies whose reports were to hand. The cost per lb.’ of butterfat in getting the company’s cheese to London was 5.785 d. Further payments, involving a total of £1321/4/10, are to be made as follow:—Payments of 2d. per lb. on butterfat for March, April and May (£593), ld._ per Jb. for February (£125/7/3), |d. per lb. from December, 1932, to July, 1933 (£38770/6), a dividend of 5 per"cent, on paid up capital £156/13/3), stores reserve fund £4B/11/2), leaving a balance of £lO 12/8 to be carried forward. The retiring directors, Messrs. S. McIntosh and C. W. Squires were re-elected. Riverbank Company Woodville, August 31. An increase of 39 tons on the previous year’s output was recorded in the report of the Riverbank Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd. The season’s output was 4094 tons of cheese, and the average grade per crate was 91.48 points. The company benefited to the extent of £2530 10/- from the exchange, while manufacturing costs hard been decreased. The retiring directors, Messrs.'. J. Hanary and H. D. Lovell were returned unopposed ’■ ' • 7 SHOOTING SEASON WANTED Pukekos Causing Damage

Palmerston North, September 1. A meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night decided 'to request the council of the association to open the first two weeks of the shooting season to pukekos. who were considered-by the meeting to be causing much ravaging among wild duck eggs.

THEFTS BY EMPLOYEE Bakery Firm Defrauded CHARGES ADMITTED Dominion Special Sekvice. Masterton, September L, A. married man, aged 28, Percy James Minifie, was charged in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr. J. Miller, S.M., with having on various occasions between June 6 and August 6 received from various. persons sumo of money totalling £5O, in terms requiring him to account for them to the Champion Bakeries, Ltd., and fraudulently converting them to his own use. The accused, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and ordered to be detained for one year for reformative purposes. Sergeant T. H. Dyer said that accused had been employed by Champion Bakeries, Ltd., as a bread carter, until August '•5 last. On July 31, Mr. Fairey, managing director of the firm, visited Masterton, and on checking through the books, found deficiencies in the accounts collected by accused. When questioned, Minifie had admitted the thefts, and in a statement he had admitted that the toal sum was £49/3/6. He also admitted that about six months ago he had stolen £3O belonging to the firm, and on proraising his employer to make restitution he was not dismissed. After making restitution .he heard from another employee that he was going to be dismissed. Accused was then heavily in debt, and commenced stealing again and betting with bookmakers. He had been a resident of the district since a youth, and had never previously been before tbs court on a charge of dishonesty. The .magistrate said he could not help feeling sorry for the accused in regard to family sickness, but could not reconcile his statement that he took the money for his sick child, as most of it seemed to have been udßd for betting. Accused had, however, had a previous chance, and he could not treat him as a first offender. Regarding the use of poisoned grain a» a deterrent to birds picking up seed front newly-sown land, “Mercutin/’ of the “New Zealand Herald/’ waxes somewhat sarcastic. “A Hawke’s Bay farmer claims to have been successful in warning birds off his newly-planted seed beds/’ he writes. “After sowing he scatters a second lot of seed, poisoned this time. Once the birds discover the seed to be poisoned, he says, they leave the bed severely alone. Everyone will understand them doing that. Usually, of course, once birds grain to be poisoned, they leave it and everything else severely alone—from necessity, not from choice. Apparently it is not so in thia instance. But if the Hawke's Bay birds are so knowledgeable, why does the farmer go to the expense and trouble of scattering poisoned seed? Why not a conpls of conspicuous notices announcing ‘Poison laid here’? That ought to serve equally well. On the other hand, of course, the birds may know him too wqll to take any notice of a transparent device like that."