Mt. Benger Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1934 Be just and fear not. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mt Benger Mail, 14 March 1934, Page 3

Mt. Benger Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1934 Be just and fear not. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr J. *S. Thompson, surgeon dentist, Dunedin, will visit Roxburgh professionally on Thursday, March 22, 1934, and may be con- . suited at the Commercial Hotel between Xi.3o and 6

For the week ending March 10, the amount of fruit consigned by rail from Roxburgh amounted to 9563 cases (127 tons 4cwt 3qrs). The largest daily load went forward on March 6th, when 2,652 eases (Batons lOcwt) were railed.

The records kept by the M«taura registrar for births, deaths, and marriages reveal an unusual state of affairs as far as the vital statistics for the month of February are concerned (says the Ensign). No births, deaths, or marriages were registered during the period named. Last year there were six births in February, but no deaths or marriages took place.

The opinion that paint spraying is threatening to wipe out painting as a trade, and the fact that the Railways Department has reduced a small army of operatives down to the rank of labourers, are mentioned in the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen’s Association journal. It is considered that, as many of the painters have up to 20 years’ service, some avenue should be found for using them in semi-skilled positions.

Whirlwinds of unusual violence were experienced in parts ol midCanterbury on Wednesday afternoon. At New lands the root ot a large stable and a cowshed on Mr Richard Carter’s farm was lifted bodily and dropped in a twisted mass in a yard just after the horses had been removed. Two oaten-sheaf stacks wen 1 scattered, and paper was stripped from the walls as the wind rushed through the house. On Wednesday night there was a severe thunderstorm with hail an inch and a-quarter in diameter. Fortunately it was only a few minutes duration. A sharp frost on Friday morning caused great damage to orchards and gardens.

This Master more than 400 residents of the dominion have made an-angements through the Meat Producers’ Board that friends in Great Britain shall receive a present of a new season’s firstclass New Zealand lamb. There have been times when something hhe “2000 of these presents from New Zealanders have been distributed among friends in Britain, and when it is considered that economic conditions arc not Net back to normal the number of these Master gifts is impressive.

: The third Dunedin wool sale, which was held on Wednesday, proved quite satisfactory, being characterised by a brighter tone and more animation than the previous sale. Although prices generally showed a slight decline on the previous sale prices, it was less than anticipated. The catalogue comprised* 2;>,249 bales, a big percentage being station dips, which arc always heavier in condition. Compared with hebruarv rat l s the market showed a decline of from Id to Ud a U> “it fine wools, 2d a lh on fine ciossbreds.

No local body in the Dominion is empowered to forego the 10 coiit. penalty incurred on overdue rates struck during the current year, 1933-34, acording to statements made at a meeting of tin* Mount Husk ill Road Hoard, the New Zealand '‘Herald” reports The chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr A. T, O’Donnell) reported that no provision for the rnnission of penalties on rates levied in 1933-34- had been made I)v Parliament. “Whether the omission was an innocent one it is difficult to say.” said Mr 0 Donnell, “The matter is of vital interest to local bodies. The omission represents only a small section tucked away in the Act, and it is possible that some authorities might be unaware of the position.”