LOCAL AND GENERAL

Southland Times, Issue 19102, 21 November 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A married man named Alexander Lees, 39 years of age, died in the Dunedin Hospital yesterday. He was admitted to the hospital on November 13 suffering from a fracture of the left leg. He left his home on that day, and when assisting his brother to find a horse fell over a bank and broke his leg.—Press Association. At the meeting of the Gore Borough Council on Monday night a letter was received from Cr. Wallis asking leave of absence. The leave was granted, and it was decided that a letter be forwarded to tfie councillor expressing sympathy at Mrs Wallis’ illness, and hoping for a speedy recovery. The Rev. Dr. J. Kennedy Elliott remarked at the Wellington Hospital Board’s meeting on Friday, that he was glad to see Dr. Wilson looking so well on his return from America, “despite the fact that he had been sojourning in a dry country.” “That’s a misnomer,” said Dr. Wilson. The Hickson Mission, opened yesterday in Trinity Church, Greymouth, attracted a large attendance of afflicted persons. The usual addresses and laying on of hands took place but no “cures” were apparent. One woman claimed to be cured of longstanding deafness. Fairti-healing efforts will be continued.—Press Association. Mr F. E. Ward, of the Agricultural Department, on visiting a farm in Oamaru district was much impressed with the value of peas and potatoes as crops to precede wheat in the matter of rotation. He found (says the North Otago Times) that wheat growing on areas which last year were in peas and potatoes, was of a distinctly better colour than that growing on areas which had been under rape. At the Council of Christian Congregations, at Christchurch yesterday, the Rev. J. J. North, speaking of his experience in the Old Country, said daylight saving was an inexpensive reform, closely connected with the health and happiness of the community and on the Continent was almost universal. A motion was unanimously carried urging daylight saving in summer months.—Press Association. The unusual spectacle in South Canterbury the other day was a covey of nine grey partridge in a young wheat field just alongside the railway line between Morven and Willowbridge. As it was thought that it was impossible to acclimatise partridge in New Zealand and several importations died off, it would be interesting to know where the covey came from (says the Oamaru Mail). “ I think the prospects for the Central Otago fruit-growers this coming season are in every way satisfactory,” said a gentleman interested in the fruit industry to a Southland Times reporter yesterday, “but in my opinion the growers should aim more for quality rather than quantity. If they were to do this and cull out their poor trees I am sure that they would secure much better returns than they are likely to get under their present methods.” Sincere regret was expressed yestetday among a wide circle of friends and acquaintances when it became known that Mrs Hawton Jackson had passed peacefully away at the East Gore Hospital. The deceased (nee Miss Williamson), was a.native of* Browns, and was teaching in the Eastern District some three years ago. Later she married Mr Hawton Jackson, then on the staff of the East Gore School, and the couple afterwards removed to Gorge Road. Mrs Jackson was a very popular young lady, and was but 24 years of age at the time of her death. The mature opinion of Mr J. Armstrong, headmaster of the Devonport School, based on 40 years’ experience of intimate association with over 14,000 young New Zealanders, is as follows: “Boys and girls are pretty well the same as they were thirty years ago,” declared Mr Armstrong; “their behaviour is identical and: as for their size, I would unhesitatingly refute the possibility of the race degenerating into dwarfs and pigmies, for my recollection carries me back to other boys who as men were admired on the battlefields of Europe as fine specimens of humanity.” , • Mr J. Fowler,. Farm Dairy Inspector, told an Oamaru Mail reporter that the dairying methods of the Waikato were on an average very much better than those adopted in Otago. This was mainly attributable to the fact that in the North dairying was looked upon as a primary industry, whereas in the South it was merely a minor adjunct to farming operations. In the Waikato, where the herds were big, not only the byres but also the yards were very generally concreted, making for much more sanitary and comfortable conditions, but in Otago the lesser importance attached to the undertaking had stood in the way of such desirable improvements. At the recent Dimhoola Show in Victoria, which is held in one of the central Clydesdale breeding districts of that State, the Southland-bred horse, Douglas Chief, was again successful in carrying off championship honours. Douglas Chief was bred by the noted Western District breeder, Mr Robert Kennedy. At the Mt. Egmont Show, held at Hawera last year, another Clydesdale bred by Mr Kennedy, also carried off the championship. This was Prince Imperial, which like Douglas Chief was also sired by General Douglas, imported. The Mt. Egmont Show provides one of the leading exhibitions of Clydesdales in the North Island.

In the Police Court at Auckland at Saturday Richard Gibson (aged thirty years) and Bert John Christian (twenty-twoyears) pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain money from ..Mr C. E. MacMillan, M.P., for Tauranga, by representing that they came from his district and were in financial difficulties. Mr MacMillan, who had already given 22/6 to another man who told the same story, communicated with the police when Gibson appeared, and the police found Christian waiting outside an hotel door. The accused were ordered to come up for sentence if called on, and were ordered to take out prohibition orders against themselves and get work immediately.

A social and dance was held in Mr Pullar’s barn, Otautau, on Tuesday evening last, the occasion being to farewell Mr and Mrs J. K. Carrick, who have sold their farm and are leaving the district. There was a large attendance of settlers and friends, the function being a thoroughly representative one. The Rev. A. Macdonald during the interval made the presentations to Mr Carrick of a well-filled wallet, and to Mrs Carrick of a handsome rose bowl, suitably inscribed, the recipients being musically honoured. Several speakers referred to the good qualities of the guests, both as neighbours and friends. They would carry with them the best wishes of the residents. Mr Carrick, in returning thanks said they would always look back with pleasure to the happy years spent in the district, and would be pleased to see any of their friends wherever they made their future home.

The fine weather of the past few months has been a boon to the Public Gardens, and Mr W Smith and his staff are busily preparing for the summer display. The long days of sunshine have brought the flowers and shrubs on rapidly, and a display to succeed the splendid spring array of blooms which have been on view for some time is assuming definite form. In the hothouse calceolarias and cinerarias still hold pride of place, but begonias, giant lilies and fuschia will soon be ready to take their places. The house has had numerous visitors lately, and it is easy to understand the attraction. Outside, th(T gardens are equally pleasing to the eye, and when the full bloom of summer is reached should compare more than favourably with the hio-h standard reached in former year®.