LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1930, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

■ The oil bore derrick at Omata was brilliantly illuminated last night, making a very conspicuous beacon visible for many miles. The breaking of a high tension wire near Oaonui yesterday disorganised milking in a portion of the Opunake Power Board’s district. Repairs were effected and the power was switched on about five o’clock.

An elderly woman on the terraces at Pukekura Park collapsed during the Anzac service yesterday morning. Assistance was given by Dr. P. C. Davie. Several members of the girls’ corps, while drawn up on the sportsground were temporarily overcome by the heat. The need for a suitable municipal hall in New Plymouth was emphasised by Mr. C. H. Burgess at the reunion of exservicemen in New Plymouth yesterday. He was referring at the time to the fact that: St. Mary’s Hall was too small to accommodate properly all who attended that day. He pointed out that the Maym; had no proper place in which to entertain distinguished visitors.

The question of using some of the Taranaki Scholarship funds for bursaries at Massey College for boys training to be farmers was discussed by Professor T. A. Hunter, of Victoria College, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., and Mr. W. 11. Moyes during the visit of Professor Hunter to New Plymouth. The suggestion was made that a Taranaki deputation should wait on the University Senate to explain the proposals. While waiting for 2YB broadcastingstation to switch over to the Hawera Opera House for the boxing relay on Thursday evening enthusiasts were idiy listening tb indistinct gramophone music when suddenly from among the roar of the static came hte familiar clang of the gong. Immediately all clustered round the set thinking that the switch over had been made, but no description “came over.” The gramophone music went serenely on. The “gong” was merely a “side effect” ori the record being played. “•He told me that he had 53 head of cattle, including two horses, on a farm of 50 acres near Stratford ” said a member of the New Plymouth Ayrshire Cattle Breeders’ Club at the annual meeting yesterday, “’and that he had already a test of well over 4001 b of fat. I did not like to tell him he was untruthful, but I should like to see his farm.” “Of course, he may have had 50 head of cattle on his farm, calves and so on,” said Mr. e Hall. Alost Ljk* Iv he was not exactly untruthful, but probably he was not handling the truth, too carefully.'*

A good golf story comes from Hamilton, where a tournament was held at Easter. After a player had driven from the tee of a hole of which the bogie is five a cow wandered on to the course and, picking up the golf ball in its mouth, chewed away at the novel delicacy with great contentment. In vain the golfer tried every means‘he could think of in an attempt to make Blossom give him back his ball. He then started to belabour Blossom with his club. Down the fairway she thundered with the golfer in hot pursuit all the way.’ Returning good for evil she dropped the ball on the green, and though it was by this time in a mangled condition he was able to hole out with one putt and thus complete the hole in two. The others golfers are still asking themselves whether or not it was a legal performance within the rules of golf. A suggestion that medals should be worn on a brooch was made by MajorGeneral Young at the reunion of exservicemen in New Plymouth yesterday. He thought the Returned Soldiers’ Association might arrange to have this done. “And a lot of the ribbons are getting a bit faded,” he added. “Ribbon is very cheap and we have rolls of it in Wellington.” He knew they were all proud of their medals. Shabby, ribbons did not look well and it was worth, replacing them. He reminded them, too, that lost medals could be replaced at a cost that, was not very great. “You can get them at the pawnbrokers, too,” someone interjected. “I don’t believe it, 5 retorted the general. “I know there are medals of other wars there, but I have never heard of such a z thing happening to the medals of this war.”

The Taranaki cricket team which returned from Hamilton this week after a match against Waikato are laughing yet over an incident of the tour. One of the members of the Taranaki team who somewhat resembles Tommy Donovan was taken to a dance and on the spur of a bright moment was introduced by a member of the Waikato team as the redoubtable boxer from Taranaki. Another member of the team was introduced as Lou Bloom, his sparring partner. Th© impromptu impersonation' met with an amazing reception, and in next to no time “Tommy Donovan” was the centre of an admiring multitude that pressed upon him from all sides. He was asked to shake hands with the orchestra but modestly declined on the grounds that he did not care for too much limelight. He had no difficulty in securing dancing partners. In fact, they wore showered upon him. Describing his last fight to an admiring audience he said the 13th, 14th and 15th rounds were the worst. He was not sure when his next fight would be, as he was having some difficulty in signing up the articles. But the climax of hospitality came at the end of the dance when a particular hero-worshipper of Tommy Donovan handed, over his partner to th© Taranaki cricket player for the latter to take home.

At St. Andrew’s Church, New Plymouth, on Sunday night, there will be the usual service of remembrance. As in previous years this will be taken wholly by the returned men themselves. Lieut. Judson, M.M., D.C.M., V.C., and Captain Hartnell, president of the New Plymouth Returned Soldiers’ Association, will give the addresses, and Sur-geon-Captain D. Brown, 0.8. E., and Captain J. McQueen, M.G.S., will take the lessons. The choir will sing as anthems "The Long Day Closes,” ;an<J Woodward’s “Crossing the Bar.”