NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1933, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

A small quantity of liquor was stolen from the Taranaki Club in Queen Street, New Plymouth, on Sunday night The intruder obtained entrance by forcing the bar window. The lake in Pukekura Park was the centre of attention by the official party engaged yesterday in the search, for Mr. Edgar Carryer, who was last seen at 1 p.m. on October 11. A private party searched the beach. Neither was successful in locating any trace of the missing man.

A young man was arrested at a farm at Rahotu yesterday on a charge of alleged theft at Okato. He had failed to appear on subpoena at the Magistrate’s Court, New Plymouth, on Wednesday to answer three charges of alleged theft, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

A breach of the terms of his release on probation at Wellington on June 29 was charged against Gordon David McKeon in the Police Court at New Plymouth yesterday. Detective P. Kearney was granted an adjournment till Wednesday in order that papers could be obtained from Wellington. Clematis has been growing profusely throughout the Koru-Kirihau district this year. It can be seen in nearly every patch of bush along the Kirihau Road, while on fine days, although the hills are over a mile from the road, sections of the ranges appear white under masses of blooms.

The Relief Workers’ Sick Benefit Fund has received £57 10s, the allocation to it from the proceeds of the recent Mayoral ball. The money has been placed in a bank account under the trusteeship of the nominees of the Mayor—Messrs. F. Baird, H. Falk and B. Thome. Relief workers who are in distress will receive assistance from the fund irrespective of whether or not they are members of the Relief Workers’ Union. They are most appreciative of the efforts of the Mayor and those whose work for and support of the ball made the grant possible.

An urgent plea for support for the book committee of the Victoria League was made by Archdeacon F. G. Evans and Mr. J. A. Valentine at the annual meeting of the league last night. Speaking as a member of the Taranaki Education Board, Mr. Valentine said he could appreciate better than most the value of sending literature to settlers in the hinterlands. All the Education Board could afford for such a purpose was one penny pef enrolment, a sum that would not go far. The work of the league was well worth while and he would ask all who had books suitable for children that they could spare to forward them to the league for distribution.

Mr. Sidney Lawson, who was reported to the police at New Plymouth as missing on Thursday, t returned to his home yesterday morning. Payment by the 21 dairy companies represented at New Plymouth amounted to £48,775 for the supply in September. Advances were made on the basis of 9d. and lOd. a lb of butterfat. The annual athletic sports might dislocate the work of the school a little but there was no doubt that they were well worth while, stated the president (Mr. G. A. Lyall) at the annual meeting of the Primary Schools’ Sports Association last night. “I am sure,” he said, “that we all see the great benefits that the children derive from them and we should make an extra effort to further this sport.” “I notice that we have reached the 1,000,000 mark in the export of lamb from this port—an important milestone in the development and progress of the port,” remarked Mr. P. F. Higgins at a meeting of the Napier Harbour Board in reference to the report of the secretary in connection with the exports and imports of the Napier harbour for the past twelve months. Apparently doomed, to death by disease a year ago, the old oak tree in St. Mary’s churchyard, New Plymouth, has now taken a new lease of life. The change came as a result of efforts by St Mary’s vestry to check the ravages of oak scale, which until recently threatened to kill the magnificent specimen, a giant 65 years old. A parasite of the scale was supplied by request from the Cawthron Institute and has in less than a year effected an apparently complete cure. A suggestion that the primary school sports should be held on the anniversary of the province, March 31, now that it had been declared a school holiday, was made by the chairman (Mr. C. O. Berg) at the meeting of the West End school committee last night. Members were unanimous that the proposal to make the day a holiday. Many children In Taranaki did not know the date of the anniversary. It was mentioned that years ago the day was observed as a holiday but the custom had fallen into disuse.

What might have been a serious accident was narrowly averted on Saturday, when a lorry coming down the Koru Road with a load of slabs plunged into ft shallow ditch by a gorse-covered bank. Fortunately, the .driver, whose attention had been momentarily diverted by a rattle at his feet, was driving fairly slowly, and as the vehicle lurched was able to apply the brakes quickly. Tire services of another lorry were secured and the first was soon on its way again. The possibility of cleaning operations at the Tiritea dam having to be stopped in the near future on account of the trouble being caused to stock by the silt, was mentioned at the last meeting of the Palmerston North City Council by the city engineer, Mr. J. R. Hughes. Mr. Hughes said stock had ■ been drowed in the mud from the reservoir which had lodged seven feet deep in pockets on the lower reaches of the stream. Unless this mud was washed away by a fresh, cleaning, operations would have to be stopped. Eighteen men are being employed on the work. There was .a clash of opinion at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board when the matter of the strengthening of the harbour moles, a work which is now being carried out by contract, was under discussion. Mr. R. R. Dawson, engineer to the board, contends that the stone should be laid from the shore outward and the work strengthened as it progresses. Captain F. E. Naylor, the harbourmaster, upon whom rests the responsibility of the safety of the ships entering and leaving port, suggested that the work commence at the deep sea end of the moles and be brought inward. The board decided that the question be referred to the works committee. In the meantime the engineer will use his discretion as to what method will be followed.

A car from New Plymouth was taken to Kahui Road on Wednesday for demonstration to a farmer. As it was being driven on to the road again one of the rear wheels missed the culvert, which was overgrown with grass, and the decayed wooden decking collapsed under the other. The services of a lorry were enlisted to supplement the efforts of the car to raise itself out of the ditch, but no impression was made on the vehicle other than to make the wheels spin in their trap. It was then that a very ancient, obsolete method was employed with entire success. It was a team of sb: bullocks from a neighbouring farm. With deliberation amounting almost to indifference a horse drawing a gig in Opunake Road, Stratford, on Tuesday pulled itself up on the roadside and there on the fresh grass that it liked so well in life lay quietly down and died. It might be said that it died like a gentleman, uncomplainingly. The horse had shown no signs of distress, being in splendid condition and of a frisky disposition. Up to and just prior to its death the horse had been carefully driven by its owner, Mrs. W. A. Wiggins, Opunake Road, Stratford. The horse was a great favourite with residents of Opunake Road. \

The farmers of certain parts of the United States are in a serious plight according to a letter received by a Hawera resident from relatives in America. Writing from St. Paul at the end of July the writer stated that the crops of Dakota had largely failed owing to dry weather and there was a serious shortage of feed for cattle. As the farmers had no money they were unable to buy food for their stock. On the other hand eggs were selling for only 9 cents a dozen and butter-fat at 17 cents per lb. The National Recovery Act had been of considerable benefit to the workers, but the farmer felt that it was no benefit at all. The farmers of this particular State considered that there would be no good times for them until they grew good crops.

In a letter written to the Napier Aero Club, Mr. lan H. N. Keith, instructor to the Western Federated Flying Club, compliments the members of the Napier club on their action, in developing as far as possible the ground with which they have been provided on the Napier inner harbour area as the result of the earthquake upheaval. “Even with the compartively small amount of crosscountry flying in this country at present,” the letter says, “the need for suitable landing grounds is increasing daily, and, speaking from the point of view of one engaged in aviation instruction, I venture to suggest that a time will shortly arrive when any town that is not able to provide adequate facilities for flying will regret that this matter did not receive attention earlier.” Another 'private experiment besides that being carried out by Mr. E. F. Healy, M.P., at his property, The Wilderness, Canvastown, is being conducted in Marlborough in the cultivation of soya beans (reports the Marlborough Express). Mr. J. F. Neal, of Lucknow, Seddon, has lately planted small lines of 19 varieties of soya beans which were sent to him from America by his son, Mr. Percy Neal, of the Wisconsin University staff. Mr. Neal, who holds, the position of plant-breeder at tire university, mentioned, in sending the beans, that he felt sure that some of the varieties would succeed in Marlborough. Mr. J. F. Neal stated that the seeds varied to a remarkable extent in size and colour, ranking from white to black, and some were early and others late varieties. Mr. Percy Neal has forwarded a supply of two main varieties of the beans to Lincoln Agricultural College, Canterbury, where he was formerly a student, the college staff being desirous of conducting an experiment