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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 79, 2 March 1929, Page 8

A five-seater motor car, the property of Mr J. E. Carr, was discovered in flames on Ihumatao ltoad, Auckland, shortly after eight o’clock the other evening. The car, which had been removed from outside Windsor Buildings, Anzac Avenue, was practically destroyed by the flames. On board the steamer Middlesex, which arrived at Auckland the other morning from Liverpool, are a black retriever dog, a brown retrieser and seven rabbits consigned to southern ports. These passengers, with one monkey, four cats, and one canary, which are ship’s pets provided plenty of amusement on the voyage out. “Have you a car?” an applicant for his discharge in bankruptcy was asked in the Supreme Court at Wanganui. “Yes, I have a car, and it is valued at £5,” was the reply. Later, witness remarked that he had driven the car into town that morning, and that it wanted a new hood. “It appears to want more than a new hood,” said counsel. A witness who was being examined in the Supreme Court at Wanganui ventured to define the respective merits of solo whist and poker. “If you have a friend,” he said, “and beat him at solo whist, and meet him the next morning he will shake hands with you. If you play him at poker and beat him, he will never shake hands with you.” “That is sound philosophy,” commented counsel, 'as the Court indulged in broad smiles. The first annual award of the Massey Memorial Scholarship, which has been established as Franklin’s memorial to the late Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, has been made, the recipient being Norma Forrest, of Papakura. The scholarship is of £lO per annum for two years, and is tenable at the Pukekohe Technical High School, where agriculture is one of tire subjects which the holder of the scholarship is required to study. Competition for the scholarship is limited to children born in the Franklin County or attending schools situated in the present Franklin electorate, or in districts which were previously included in tire electorate 'when it was represented by Mr Massey in Parliament. Tho Manawatu Centro of tho Royal Life Saving Society has arranged . for a visit from the Maranui Surf Life Saving Club’s champion surf team, and demonstrations will bo given at Tangimoana on Sunday next, 3rd in?t., at 12 noon. The arrangements aro advertised in this issue.

The tJlimaroa left Sydney for Wellington ui one o'clock yesterday afternoon.

The Municipal Conference will bo held at Wanganui on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday noxt. During Fobruary. four building permits of an estimated total valuo cf £.'1903 wore issuod by tho Mnstorton Borough Council. Twonty-throo building permits to the value of £3602 wore issued by the Wanganui City Council during February.

The Palmerston North Garrison Band, which has been competing' at tho New _ Zealand bund contest at Wanganui, will leave the rivor city at 3 o’clock to-morrow afternoon and is expected to arrive in the Square ut about five o’clock.

Spinal injuries were sustained by Mr Aver Cullan, an Ashliurst farmer, on Thursday when he slipped while carrying a post, which struck his back. He was admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital and is making satisfactory progress. A report is current in Dunedin that requests may be made to the Government to withhold permits for the keeping of Chinchilla rabbits until further measures are taken to make it absolutely certain that none can get loose, /nid start a new race that will become a pest. Mr G. Dawick presided over the weekly meeting of members of the Y.M.C.A. Optimists’ Lunch Club held yesterday. There was no address on this occasion. Messrs G. Dawick and W. H. Wilson rendered humorous recitations and members took part in community singing.

On Sunday morning at All Saints' Church, Mr Oscar Monrad will unveil a brass memorial tablet to the late Mr Owen Sandilands Tyerman. Mr Tyerman was a very active worker for All Saints and was also at one time a vestryman. The tablet has been erected, by his widow. Evidently four and five leaf clovers are common in this district, judging by the number of specimens left at the “Standard” office since the' publication of the Auckland message dealing with the occurrence of the extra leaves in that district. In most cases the plant, stem and leaves to be of greater size than in the case of the common variety.

A plea for greater freedom among the University teachers in New Zealand so that they can concentrate on one particular branch of a subject instead of covering the whole range of that subject, as the system in vogue at present decrees, was made by l)r. J. B. Condcliffe, Research Secretary tf tho Institute of the Pacific relations in the course of an interview at Christchurch yesterday. This, he contended, would assist the Dominion’s system of academic instruction to keep abreast of that in other parts of the world. A young lady engaged in home mission work in the Raetihi district commenced her duties some months ago with tlie aid of a push bicycle. In her scattered circuit s}ie had to travel about 30 miles over difficult roads, and the work was strenuous. To solve the transport problem she decided to repair an old motor cycle which had come into the possession of the Church authorities, and has since been using the machine with much • atisfaction. A speaker at the Methodist Conference at Auckland said that the motor cycle had been christened “John Wesley,” and the president remarked, amid laughter, that *£llo young lady intended to take round the successor of John Wesley on the pillion seat when he made a visit to the district.

That decisive action will be taken by tho Agricultural Department in connection with the fireblight menace in the Wairarapa seems to be indicated in a letter received by tho secretary of the Smallholdings Association, Masterton, from the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. G. W. Forbes). The letter reads as follows: “I have to acknowledge receipt of your recent letter referring further to the desire on the part of tho Wairarapa settlers to have fruitgrowing areas declared in and around Masterton and Carterton. 1. notice also that the executive of the Farmers’ Union has unanimously decided to support your request. In the circumstances I have to advise you that the matter will be gone into with a view of giving effect, if possible, to the wishes of the association, with as littie delay as possible.”