NEWS OF THE DAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 106, 15 April 1931, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Dairy Factory Pay-outs The Eltham Dairy Company will pay out lOd lor March butter-fat, Ngaere paying 8d and Lowgavth Sd. Some Catch The second largest striped marlin swordfish caught in New Zealand waters, weighing 4511 b., was secured by Mr. Norman D. Campbell, of Canterbury fishing from the launch Dauntless, south of Mercury Bay. Tangarakau Tunnellers’ Strike Information from Tangarakau is to the effect that a strike of the tunnellers is in progress, the men refusing to work for ICs a day, which is the reduced rate of pay offered by the Public Works Department. Daylight Limited The daylight limited express service between Auckland Wellington, which was resumed to cater for the additional passenger traffic over the Easter period, has now ceased. During the Easter week-end the trains were well filled, but the number of passengers fell away steadily until there were only about 80 on the train which reached Auckland at 11 o’clock on Friday evening.

Stratford Fire Brigade Last evening the Stratford Fire Brigade engaged in practice in the southern end of the borough, testing the valves at the fireplugs. There was a good muster of members and excellent work was done. The sight of the fire engine coming from the outskirts later in the evening created the impression that a fire had occurred, and inquiries were soon on foot. Railway Train Time-table The mail train was seven minutes late leaving Stratford this morning on account of the nine o’clock mixed train from the north running late and not having arrived at Eltham when the mail train was due out of Stratford, Traffic was fairly light, as usual nowadays, and no doubt the mail would make up the time very soon on the journey. A Game Dinner To celebrate the opening of the fishing and game season on May 1 the council of the Stratford Acclimatisation Society have arranged to have a game dinner on Thursday, May 7, at Smith’s rooms. Trout, quail pie, roast duck and roast pheasant will figfure on the menu, with “fish stories” to follow, the anticipation of which should make all sportsmen’s mouths water.

Miniature Rifle Shooting The Miniature Rifle Club, under the auspices of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, will open the season at an early date In the Horse Bazaar in Miranda Street. The club has been very successful since it was inaugurated two seasons ago, several competitions having been held with other teams. The present season is being looked forward to with interest as challenges are already being mentioned.

Seagulls Protected “Isn’t it legal to shoot seagulls seven miles from the sea?” asked a member of the Stratford Acclimatisation. Society at last night’s meeting. The answer was given in the negative as gulls were strictly protected; yet it was stated that they were destructive birds. They picked the eyes out of lambs and fish, leaving the carcases to I’Ot.

Rumours of Burglaries According to rumours afloat in town burglaries have occurred at no less than five premises in Broadway recently. Sergeant Power, of the Stratford police, was amused to learn that so many cases were mentioned, and be assured the Stratford Post that as far as he was concerned there was no truth in them. Nothing of a serious nature had been reported to him on the matter.

Shooting Mishap Two young men, residents of Kaponga, were admitted to the Hawera Public Hospital on Sunday evening, each suffering from injuries to his left foot. One of the mien, Frank Litehwark, aged 23 years, was injured when he tripped with a pea rifle, the accident releasing a bullet, which passed through bis foot. The other patient is Denis Horgan, aged 27 years, who was injured in a fall from a motorcycle at Kapuni. Both men passed a comfortable night and their condition on Monday was satisfactory.

War Against Evil “Some little time ago 1 was talking to a woman who said: ‘Oh, you’ll never stop'wars. Men will always fight.’ Well, we want them to fight, and women, too. I believe the combative instinct in mandkind is due of the most valuable of all instincts. Let us have Avars by all means, but let them be directed against the right enemies—vice, misery, —Miss Andrews, at the League of Nations Union meeting held in Wanganui on Saturday evening.

New Game Regulation “No person shall use or cause to be used any aeroplane in connection with (he taking or killing of imported game or native game: provided that this conditiofl. shall not be so construed as to prohibit the use of any aeroplane for the purpose of travelling either to or from a rendezvous.” This is one of the amending regulations to the Animals Protection and Game Regulations recently gazetted. Similarly, the use of a “powerboat,” which means any craft propelled either wholly or partly by mechanical power, is prohibited.

Unlucky “If Your Worship has any feeling for superstition at all, you will appreciate the position of my client,” said Mr. W. J. Stacey in the course of a traffic case at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., was on the Bench. “This man purchased iiis <ar on Friday, March 13; he purchased it from Dr. Thacker, and, instead of pulling on the brake, you have to push it. The mishap occurred on the morning of the 14th — it was a long 13th for him.” Superstition apparently did not affect the magistrate, who fined Mr. Stacey’s client £2 and costs.

Fire Brigade Euchre The Stratford Fire Brigade last evening decided to hold euchre parties this winter on the same lines as last year. There will be two series of six evenings, play commencing on April 22 and fortnightly thereafter at the fire station. The prizes to be offered and further particulars will be published later in the Stratford “Evening Post.” Back to Work This morning 48 married men with dependents under 16 years of age were placed on work under the Stratford Borough Council scheme to assist necessitous cases during the fortnight that the Unemployment scheme is being suspended. Of the remainder on the unemployed list, 20 others, who evidently did not read last night’s Stratford “Post,” were unaware that work was offering.

Motor Driver’s Negligence

At the Eltham Magistrate’s Court yesterday, reserved judgment for £SB 10s and costs £9 9s in favour of plaintiff was given by Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., in the claim made by D. A. Weatherall (Mr. A. Chrystal) v. A. R. Gower (Mr. A. A. Stewart). The action arose out of a collision between plaintiff’s motor-cycle and defendant’s motorlorry outside the Eltham railway station yards in January. In giving judgment the magistrate said the negligence of the defendant’s driver was the whole cause of the accident. Security for appeal was fixed at £lO 10s.

Ranger Patrols Ratapiko Lake A Stratford Acclimatisation Society ranger out on the shores of Lake Ratapiko is doing his duty evidently, judging by a letter read at the meeting of the council last night. The Taranaki Society wrote stating that one of its members was accosted by a man who said he was a ranger, and they asked for confirmation of his claim. The secretary replied explaining that the man had been appointed a ranger 12 months ago at his own request. The incident afforded the members of the council some amusement, as they depicted the meeting of the t,wo parties concerned occurred at the lakeside. Work on Main Sewer The block iff the drainage main sewer in South Broadway was more troublesome to the Borough staff than anticipated and a second hole had to be sunk in the middle of the road near Opunake Road corner. J The cause of the blockage was unusual in drainage work, as a battered kerosene tin was located in the drain. When and how the tin came to be placed in the drain in unknown, but it is presumed that at a time when repairs were being effected somebody dropped. the article into the opening. In order to deal in a more satisfactory way with the drainage of this area in future, a manhole is to be built at the Courthouse corner of Broadway and Lear Street.

Traffic Interruption Woods’ bridge, over the Mangaehu stream on the Mangaehu Road, between Puniwhakau and Makuhu, collapsed during Monday night. The bridge is an old one and was probably weakened while the river was in flood recently. The collapse of the bridge means that direct communication between Makahu and Puniwhakau is broken, which constitutes a serious inconvenience to the settlers on each side of the bridge. In addition, the mail service, which has been doing the round trip from Strathmore through Makahu to Puniwhakau and on through Tututawa to Douglas, has been interrupted.

Ngaere Library Funds On Monday night an enjoyable euchre party and dance was held in the Ngaere Hall in aid of the district library funds. There was a good attendance. Credit is due the library committee and Miss A. Coleman (secretary) for the success of the entertainment. The winners of the euchre prizes were Mrs. Bonner and Mr. W. Moss. Consolation prizes were won by Mrs. Watson and Mr. J. Scott. The Monte Carlo and spot waltzes were won by Miss E. Mehrtens and partner, the lucky man waltz being won by Mr. P. Maxwell. Mr. R. McGarrigle was master of ceremonies. The music was supplied by Mrs. Attrill and extras were played by Miss Maxwell and several others.

Alleged Vicious Principle That the reduction in wages has been followed by slackenink on the part of some of the permanent employees of (lie Egmonl County Council was alleged at the meeting of that body yesterday. It was reported, however, that the 40 to 45 men engaged on unemployment relief work were on the whole doing good work, all exerting themselves to the best of their ability. No action was taken but it was made clear that the position will be closely watched by the engineer, and drastic action taken if any slackening was noticed. It was decided to reduce the salary of the assistant engineer by 10 per cent., and that the rate of wages for the coun cil’s permanent employees remain as at present.