GENERAL NEWS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3480, 14 December 1926, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

At the end of November there were at 4 subscribers to the Municipal library.

The children from the Turakina health camp will be returning home on Thursday next by the train arriving in Palmerston North at 3 p.m.

At yesterday's meeting of the Munawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board the engineer (Mr W. A. Waters) reported that during the month 126 now consumers had been dealt, with.

“I think it is time there was a bylaw prohibiting sill vehicles from pulling up closer than 30 feet from intersections.” reported Traffic Inspector Patton to the Borough Council last evening. It was stated at yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board that telegraphic advice had been received that the steel towers for Einton crossing were arriving in Wellington this week-end. It was mentioned at the meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board yesterday that the second poll of ratepayers at Gisborne decided to scrap the Edison storage battery trams, by 1143 to 910 votes. Fishing in the Waikato River above the Arapunl hydro-electric construction works a few days ago a party of anglers landed 18 trout, all in good condition. Another party secured 11, nearly all of them on the fly.

The Borough Council has decided that no action be taken In the matter of compelling school committees and church authorities to license Sunday school rooms and public schools used occasionally . for public entertainments.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board it was stated that contracts had been let by the Public Works Department for turbines, generators, switchgear, transformers, and pipe lines from VVaikaromoana during the past month.

The goods traffic by rail from the West Coast to Canterbury last week was a record, a total of 12,815 tons passing through the Otira Tunnel. Timber and coai formed the great bulk of the freight. Compared with the figures for the corresponding period of last year there was a substantial decrease in the number of passengers carried.

Blood poisoning is not to be played with. A resident of Otaki plucked some roadside bracken to clean his car. The fern made a scratch on his finger which, in tho course of a few days called for surgical care. In a fortnight the trouble had apparently disappeared, but some weeks later without warning, alarming symptoms followed. The forefinger was removed at the knuckle just in time to save tho arm.

Catapults or "shanghais” aro in vogue again, as cyclists found in certain portions of the town yesterday when coming to work. Suddenly through tho air and with unerring accuracy small pellets came in a fusilade that would have done credit to a machine-gun expert. Then as the cyclist dismounted there was a scampering of feet, and the juveniles fled before the angry rush of tho victim.

Owen Olds, aged three years, is probably the youngest swimmer m New Zealand, it is claimed in Dunedin. This youngster is a favourite with many who frcnuent the baths, and his skill in the water is really remarkable for ono of his years (says the Times). It is almost a laughable sight to see such a diminutive piece of humanity making a fair pace through the water, and doing better than many others who arc his senior by several years.

Windy and showery though yesterday proved to be, it was nevertheless very close, and a day that should have been popular for swimming, but the opening of the Municipal Baths did not cause much of a ripple in swimming circles. Two small boys were on the scone for the opening at six in the morning, and later the number of swimmers rose to half-a-dozen. However in the afternoon the schoolchildren rolled up in fair numbers and had their first “dip” of the season.

On tho recommendation of the Abbattoir committee, tho Borough Council has decided to forward the following remit to the Municipal Association Conference:—"That the following addition bo made to Section 27 of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act 1908:—“That any Freezing works adjacent to an abattoir district, selling, or exposing for sale, any meat for consumption within an abattoir district, shall pay to the controlling authority of the abattoir such fees, as may be agreed upon.'

Tho question of improving the condition of IVerguson Street West was again before the Borough Council last evening, when it 'was decided, owing to there being insufficient money left in tho Reading Loan to carry out the work required, that tho cost be spread over a period of 3 years .and be met out of ordinary revenue. The work is to be undertaken in the following manner: —Ist year, laying down of foundation; 2nd year, metalling; 3rd year, tarring and sanding.

An amusing incident happened at the recent sitting of tho Magistrate's Court at Waipawa. A Maori was sued for debt, and, asked as to his prospect of paying the amount, he replied that he would pay in less than a month; in fact, ho would pay £4 at once. The lawyer for the defendant took the money and gave a receipt. In live minutes another solicitor informed His Worship that a comedy had been enacted, inasmuch that the wrong man had been sued. The Maori ever since has worn a broad smile.

Forty-one head ol! stock were Impounded by the borough ranger during November. Foes received amounted to £3 16s 3d.

The Town Clerk has been authorised to inform defaulters that the additional charge of 10 per cent, will bo added to all rates unpaid at the expiration of 6 months and 14 days from the demand thereof.

Tile Borough Council, at last night's meeting, authorised the engineer to expend the , money in hand in placing the cycle tracks in Church, Fitzherbert. and Broad streets in good order and condition.

“The electrical revenue for the month shows an increase of £575 17s over November of last year,” stated Mr. J. W. Muir, electrical engineer in his report to the Borough Council last evening. “This is very satisfactory, considering that the charges for lighting current were reduced Id per unit. The month was an exceptionally good one for new power installations, 166 h.p. of new motors havinb been installed."

“A suggestion was made by the Council of the Chamber of Com-, mcrce,” says tho annual report of the Chamber, “that all land from tho present railway station to Princess street bo acquired by the Borough Council, and a boulevard formed with parking areas for motor cars. Tho Chamber recognises that as the town grows, facilities should be given to visiting car-owners to park without inconvenience, as the development of Palmerston North in the future , depends to a great extent on motor cars.”

“Next year tUo Palmerston North Boy’s High School celebrates Us twenty-fifth birthday, the 17th of February. 1902, being the day on which the District High School started work in St. Andrew’s Sunday School,” states the school magazine "Tho Palnierstonian.” “Since that date, tho happy touch of prosperity has been apparent in tho town and district, and also in tho School. Faces have come and gone, bearing away high hopes and tingling reminiscences; the Virginian creeper riots for its brief season across the School, then dies away.”

“For the first time in my long experience, lam disheartened,” said the Rev. Jasper Calder, Auckland City Misslonor, when discussing the Christmas prospects of the many poor families fr whom he is trying to provide. “This has been the hardest year I’ve ever known,” continued Mr Calder. “The present unfortunate position is largely due to unemployment, and, unless a miracle happens many families arc going to have an exceedingly dull time this Christmas. 1 have over 300 families to cater for, and I honestly do not know how I am going to do it.” That the old superstition that it is lucky to touch a sailor can be fraught with potentialities for tho reverse of good luck was illustrated in Hastings street the other afternoon, when two Napier maidens swung past a bluejacket, each giving him a pat on the hand in passing. This was all right as far as it went, but, unfortunately a freshly-lighted cigarette was dangling loosely from one of the tar’s hands, and the playful pat administered by one of tho girls sent the “fag” into the gutter. The sailor’s muttered anathemas were hardly such as one might deem to be the harbingers of good luck.

"As the dimming of lights is no doubt a dangerous practice, the next best thing is to have all lamps properly adjusted,” reported Traffic Inspector Patton to the Borough Council last evening. "Por this purpose I suggest that a by-law be framed that all lamps are to be set go that the main beam of refloctgd light projects no higher than 3 feet 6 inches from the ground at a distance of 75 feet from the vehicle, the Council to provide the necessary place to adjust them.” —The Council held the matter over pending receipt of copies of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin by-laws.

An interesting case was brought under the notice of the ManawatuOroua Power Board at its meeting yesterday. Two farmers were suing the Taranaki Power Board for several thousand pounds compensation owing to an 11,000-volt line being run through ? their property adjacent to a peat swamp drain. This drain had to bo freshly dug from time to time, as the peat sank, and owing to the proximity of the lino the Power Board objected to the farmers using gelignite to shift the logs and stumps in the peat—hence- the argument. The Judge had adjourned the case to talk it over with counsel.

Many Dunedin boys have earned e little silver money for Christmas by capturing hedgehogs and taking them to the Government office, where hal£-a-crown per head was paid* The offices of the Entomological Division of the Agricultural Department wanted hedgehogs for the purposes of experiment. One hundred and sixty were delivered, and the entomologist has released them in an Alexandra orchard to fight down the earwigs. It is not yet certain whether the introduction of hedgehogs will absolutely control this pest, but the Department has sufficient knowledge of the subject to warrant a trial.

“I think that a race meeting is the best way to entertain the Duke of York,” said Mr. R. M. Macdonald, at a meeting of the Royal visit reception committee in Christchurch. Mr. Macdonald said a race meeting would bo more entertaining for the Duke than a garden fete, and it would give more people an opportunity of seeing him. The Mayor, Rev. J. K. Archer, who presided, replied that the programme committee had already considered and discarded the idea of a race meeting. After other speakers had expressed approval of the suggestion the question was referred to the programme committee for further consideration.

The Tokomaru Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., yesterday passed a resolution favouring tho abolition of the “preference to unionists" clause in all awards.

The Mayor proposes to call a meeting of public bodies and others interested at an early date, to discuss proposals in connection with tho jubile of tho town next February.

“X didn’t know wo had such brilliant men amongst our employees, with such power of speech,” remarked Cr. Edwards after hearing a deputation of Council workmen at last night’s meeting. “1 was amazed,” he added. “I am almost persuaded we have better men working for us than are on the Council.”

More was heard of the recent borough inquiry into the administration of the public office, at tho Council meeting last evning. The Mayor stated that he had since received certain suggestions regarding rearrangement of tho staff, but in fairness to tho men concerned, he thought tho matter should be dealt with in committee The Council agreed to do this. The return oj stock slaughtered at the Abattoirs during November is os follows:—Cows, 234; heifers. 73: bullocks, 136; calves, 47; sheep. 1804; lambs 260, pigs, 887. stock condemned: cows 12, sheep 3, pigs 18. Fees received £290 Is.

At the Christmas Festival of the Lunch Club to-day, children of All Saints’ and Willard Homes will be entertained and provided with fiftyfive Christmas gifts which the members will bring along during the morning to hang upon the Festival Tree.

The by-law making it compulsory for drivers or motors and riders of motor cycles on approaching a stationary omnibus to sound a warning and slow down to a speed not exceeding 10 miles an hour is to be rigidly enforced by tho Borough Council.

Judging by the vagaries of the Otakl river there must have been an abnormal rainfall in the higher ranges of tho Tararuas. An up river settler advises us that the water became a muddy torrent in an hour and subsided as quickly an Sunday afternoon registering one of the highest floods this year.

Last evening the Borough Council decided to permit .the use of mechanical signals indicating the direction in which a car is about to turn provided such a device Is approved by the traffic manager. A by-law permitting the use of such signals is to be included in the next set of amendments.

"Compared with the same period of last year there was a decrease of £22 IGs lOd In revenue from the Municipal buses, although the number of passengers carried showed an increase of 95. This Is no doubt duo to the Id fares for children and tho increased use of concession tickets.” reported Inspector Patton to the Boroaigh Council last evening-

"The Palmerston North borough is to be congratulated on its hearts of Departments,” stated the Mayor last evening in wishing them the compliments of the season. “It Is our desire to help the Council to make Palmerston North one of the most up-to-date cities In the .Southern hemisphere.” remarked Mr. J. It, Hardie (Town Clerk) in reply. The engineer (Mr. J.. E. Hughes) reported to the Borough Council last evening that for the past fortnight four men have been engaged on removing a projection of rock at Eocky point, between the filters and picnic flat on the main road to the reservoir, and where two large slips occurred a few months back. This point has alway been a very dangerous bend to traffic, and the widening of the roadway will be greatly appreciated by the large number of people who use this road during the summer months.

In spite of the fact that the Borough Council, by by-law, compelled cyclists to attach red reflectors to their machines when using them at night, motorists complain that they, arc unable in many cases to pick them up owing to the reflector in use being too email. In reporting to the Borough Council on the subject last evening, Traffic Inspector Patton suggested that an improvement would be effected if a 3J inch white disc were set at the rear of the reflectors. The matter is to be further considered.

Dannevirke does not seem to be completing its education musically states the “News.” Concert artists come with reputations—but that makes little difference. They might draw a payable house jthey may not; it’s a big gamble. The Notariello Concert Company last week had bad luck. Patronage was by no means up to expectations and without prolonging the agony by waiting for the crowds which would never como the chief artist appeared to applause made a brief speech in which he announced that owing to the smallness of the house he would not sing that night, and after getting their money back (those who had paid), patrons wandered off into the moonlight.

Many motorists have found that a; dog is an excellent guard against car thieves, and now-a-day 3 it is no uncommon sight to see a specimen of the canine family peacefully but watchfully caring for his master’s car. However, one motorist has found that there is a decided disadvantage in the training of a dog for such a purpose. He had bought the car, but found that the dog refused to recognise him as the new owner, the animal even going as far as to make a round of the garages to find the car, and when the new owner came to take possession there was a one-sided dispute. In desperation the owner called upon the master of the dog and exclaimed "Come and call that dog off, it won’t let up on me." A pow-wow has been held, and now the dog grudgingly recognises the chan'Y in ownership*