NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Ballot For Appropriations. Two appropriations of £250 each in the group four of the Equitable Building Society of New Plymouth were disposed of by ballot at the annual meeting of the society last night. The successful share was number 196, the holder being W. G. Mayes, Wanganui. Refund to Hunt Club.

The application of the Taranaki Hunt Club for a refund of 2J per cent, on the totalisator turnover on its recent meeting has been approved by the Internal Affairs Department. This will amount to £l7O 8s 6d—a welcome addition to the club’s funds.

Special Meat Train. A special meat tram from Palea to Auckland passed through Stratford early yesterday morning. It is unusual for a special to be run direct between two such points, but in this case the load, 11 frozen meat wagons, justified the action. Avoiding Overlapping.

The question of overlapping of supplies to dairy factories is exercising dairy factory directors in Taranaki as in other parts of New Zealand. Directors of the North Taranaki, Waitoitoi, Uruti and White Cliffs Dairy Companies met at Urenui on Wednesday to discuss the question. Plans for Post Office.

Referring to the erection of a new chief post office at New Plymouth, which had been found necessary owing to expanding business, the Hon. S. G. Smith said in the Empire Theatre last night that he had the authority of the Post-master-General to say that the plans were being prepared and that as soon as possible the work would be started on the site acquired. 'The'.money was already available. That would clear the way for a comprehensive scheme for bringing all the Government departments together, including the courthouse.

Foxton-Lcvin Road Open. Advice from Palmerston North that the Foxton-Levin Roao. is now open to traffic, but that care is required in using it, was received yesterday by the Automobile Association (Taranaki). Australian Wheat for Japan. Commissioned to buy 500,000 tons of wheat for his company, a Japanese wheat buyer recently arrived at Melbourne. He stated that as the population was increasing and there was little possibility of further developing the wheat-growing areas of Manchuria, Japan would have to import more wheat. Fire at Inglewood. A flro was discovered in Mr. A. Thomason’s fruit shop in Rata Street, Inglewood, yesterday afternoon, but it was extinguished by the fire brigade before much damage had been done. The fire originated in a room used for ripening bananas, where a kerosene heater was used. This apparently exploded and set alight ’some sacks and boxes. Several boxes of bananas were burned and damage was done by smoke and water. Injury to Linesman. A linesman, Mr. Walter Grey, who was working with others on the Main Trunk line a short distance north of Okahukura Junction on Wednesday morning, was struck on the head with a block of papa rock, which fell from a bank. The slab fell on the line and rebounding struck his head, causing concussion and injury. Mr. Grey was taken to Taumarunui by motor-car and admitted to hospital. Grant to S.P.C.A. Monetary assistance from the Government has been granted to the Federation of S.P.C.A.’s in place of the free railway passes for inspectors, which the branches have been endeavouring to procure for some time. The New Plymouth branch renewed application at its last meeting and personal representations were recently made to the Hon. S. G. Smith by southern branches. Mr. Smith has advised Mr. E. L. Humphries, secretary of the New Plymouth branch, of the Government’s concession.

Nursing Sister Contracts Leprosy. In a report furnished by the medical authorities at the island leper station of Makogai it is stated that the Sister Superior recently had to perform the sad duty of informing one of the pioneer sisters who founded the hospital in 1911 that she had contracted the dread disease. “You cannot imagine how much it cost me to break the news to this dear sister and then accompany her to the compound for leprous women,” wrote the Sister Superior. “She showed marvellous courage and resignation and edified everyone by her cheerfulness and patience.” Parliamentary “Point.”

An example of clever repartee in the British House of Commons was recounted by Mr. G. E. Russell, Liverpool, who is visiting Christchurch. He said that a few months ago the Foreign Secretary when making a speech was interrupted by a member. He sat down while the interjector was speaking, and then stood up again and said, “That certainly is a point.” When his opponent seemed to show some gratification, he said, “I should like to remind the honourable member of Euclid’s definition of a point as that which has position but no magnitude.”

Champagne Standard. “It is difficult to bring the public from the champagne standard down to the level of plain beer,” said Mr. J. W. Heenan at the last meeting of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association when referring to the obstacles in the way of restoring amateur athletics to the favour the sport once enjoyed at Wellington. “I do not think,” he remarked, “that the importation of overseas athletes alone will bring the public back. We had the Canadian schoolboys and an English team here last season, but they did not’ draw because we had no one to pit against them. He urged that everything possible be done to develop local talent.