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Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 12

A young Wanganui man states that lie had a unique experience on New Year’s Eve (says the Wanganui ‘ Herald ’). When he cleared the mail he noticed a letter addressed to himself in what he took to bo the handwriting of a lady. On opening the letter he found that he was being addressed in terms of endearment by a lady residing in the country and inviting him to come and visit her during the holidays. In addition a bank note was enclosed to pay his expenses. Up to the present he is not quite sure whether he has ever met the lady, and is in a quandary as to whether it is a case of love at first sight on the part of the writer. In the meantime he is holding the bank note awaiting further developments. Lieutenant M. Dickinson, who is at present acting as the Samaritan officer of the Salvation Army in the absence of Adjutant Wood, states that the Army relief depot is still functioning. She wishes to make an appeal for potatoes, vegetables, and bread, and points out that, if supplies could be obtained daily no family need go hungry. After a strenuous winter the Army is not at present able to provide groceries through depletion of the funds. Donations of any kind may be left at the office at 37 Dowling street. The suggestion that some of the unemployed might very profitably be engaged in eradicating the noxious weed ragwort has been made by Mr 0. H, Clinkard, M.P. for Rotorua, to the Prime Minister, the Minister in Charge of the Minister of Lands, and the Minister of Agriculture. " I regard ragwort as the greatest menace to the future settlers of this country,” says Mr Clinkard. “ While I recognise that it is the duty of the landowner to destroy ragwort as well ns every other noxious weed, and while I agree that he should, if necessary, be compelled to protect his own and his neighbour’s interests, at the same time I know of no other use to which the activities of unemployed men can be directed in which results of equal value can be achieved. It is futile trying, as we are, to increase production unless this greatest of all despoilers be effectively repressed.” In Mr Clinkard’s opinion no other land pest approaches the ravages of ragwort. Not only does it impoverish the soil, but it detrimentally affects the milk of a dairy cow, and if consumed in quantities may cause the death of horses, cattle, and sheep. There appeared to be an apathy abroad to-day which had allowed the weed to spread in all directions.

Four hundred and fifty people were carried by aeroplane at Timaru during the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to Captain J. C. Mercer, instructor to the Canterbury Aero Club, who returned to Christchurch on Thursday. Out of fourteen days spent at Timaru Captain Mercer was aloft on thirteen days. Plying a Moth plane, he made the journey from the south in seventy-five minutes. The memorial arch at the entrance to the soldiers’ cemetery at Karori has done much to improve its appearance. The care of the cemetery for returned soldiers at Karori is part of the activities of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association. During the past winter, from funds supplied by the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, winch were subsidised by the Wellington City Council, further work was completed in connection with the necessary extensions. Under an Order-in-Council published in the ‘ Gazette ’ last night, the regulations relating to combined secondary and technical schools are amended (says a Press Association telegram) to enable the inclusion of the New Plymouth, Nelson, and Napier combined schools. It is also provided that in every combined school there shall be not more than one full-time assistant for every twenty-eight pupils on the rolls. The salaries of instructors are also fixed. A further Order-in-Council gives details of the new examination for _ the admission of teachers to training colleges and also details of the examination and the certification of teachers. The well which is being constructed on the converted whale chaser Taratahi is for , the carriage of fresh oysters, not fish, as previously intimated. It is claimed that oysters may be kept fresh over long distances in such a well. At the Police Court this morning Jack Paris, a statutory first offender for drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. An organ recital will be given by Dr V. E, Galway in the Town Hall tS-mor-row evening. The recital, which will commence at 8.15 p.m., should prove of particular interest not only to local residents, but also to visitors to Dunedin. Tlie organ items will include Baynon’s ‘ Triumph Song,’ Beethoven’s ‘ Overture to Egmont,’ and Mendelssohn’s incidental music to ‘ A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ By special request Dr Galway will play his own arrangement for the organ of the old Scottish lament, * The Flowers of the Forest.’ Vocal items will be rendered by Miss Bertha Rawlinson and Miss Dora Drake. There will be no charge for admission to the recital. A reader writes to ask if the Union Company has had more than one steamer named Wanaka. Records show that a vessel of that name was built for the company in 1876, while in 1887 the Liddesdale was constructed and afterwards renamed the Wanaka. There is no available record showing what became of the first Wanaka, but the second was engaged first in the Calcutta trade and then in the Bluff-Auckland run, afterwards being laid up at Auckland and then scuttled. Herbert Thomas Gilchrist pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to charges of using indecent language in a public place (Burlington street) and to behaving in a disorderly manner. Sub-inspector Cameron said that shortly after midnight the accused, accompanied by his wife, _ was coming down Burlington street in a car which was driven by the latter. An altercation arose, and his wife alleged that the accused struck her while she was driving. Both got out and left the car running till it ran to the foot of Burlington street. When spoken to by postal officials the accused used the language complained of. The Magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) said that it seemed that neither the accused nor his wife should be in charge of a car. On the charge of using indecent language the accused was fined £3, in default forty-eight hours ’imprisonment. On the other charge he was convicted. Lambs are at present being rushed into the Wanganui Freezing Works from all quarters of the district, and motor lorry drivers who cater for the transport of lambs are experiencing a busy time, working long hours. The lambs are lifted at the farms and whirled into the works from long distances, with only a few hours on the road, and by this means arrive there in first-class condition. So far _ the butchers have been working practically full time at Imlay. The Government now announces by advertisement that the tenders called for the Dunedin Post Office are not now required. The postal authorities advise that the Maunganui left Sydney for Wellington on Friday with 118 bags of English and Australian mail and eighteen parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should reach the local office on Wednesday afternoon. Notifications of Sunday services as enumerated below appear in our_ Sunday services advertising columns: —Anglican; St. Paul’s Cathedral, All Saints’, St. Peter’s. Presbyterian: First Church, Knox Church, St. Andrew’s, Caversharn, South Dunedin, Chalmers, Musselburgh, Maori Hill, St. Stephen’s. Methodist; Trinity, Central Mission, Mornington, Roslyn, Cargill Road, St. Hilda, Caversharn. Baptist: Hanover Street, Caversharn, Northeast Valley, Mornington, South Dunedin, Roslyn. Congregational: Moray Place, United. Church of Christ: St. Andrew’s, Roslyn, North-east Valley, South Dunedin, Filled Street. York Place Hall, Playfair Street Hall, Salvation Army, Christian Science, Theosophical Society, Spiritualists, Orange Hall. A feast of music will be provided patrons at the Palais Dansant, Concert Chamber, to-night, when Arthur Frost and his band and the Savonia Dance Band (late Dagg’s), specialists in old-time melodies and dances, will supply continuous music. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V, Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age. [Advt.] S. E. Ferguson Ltd., Consulting Opticians. 8. E. Ferguson, G.P.O.C. ,* Miss E. Ferguson, P. 1.0., N.Z., 45 George street, Dunedin. If" your eyes trouble you consult us.— [Advt.]