TOPICALITIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18062, 7 March 1923, Page 9

TOPICALITIES.

During the absence of Mr H. G. Smith on a visit to London, Mr Herbert Filmer will represent the Phoenix Assurance Company as Deputy Manager for New Zealand.

There are already .410 children on the roll of the Juvenile Library in Timaru, and fresh applications are being received for membership every day. The Juvenile Library has been open less than three months.

At a meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society it was stated that the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, proposed to visit the Hunter Valley next month on a deer-stalking trip. The society decided to make arrangements to provide Lord Jellicoe with guides during his visit.

A four-year-old daughter of Mr McIndoe, a well-known farmer, got caught in a,reaper and binder, on her father s farm near Ohakune. The child e leg was nearly severed below the knee. She was brought to Raetihi hospital, where nmuptation was performed. The child is progressing favourably. Mr A. J. Blakiston, Orari Gorge, reports that the rainfall in that district during February totalled 3.57 in., rain falling on lifteen days. The maximum fall was 1.18 in., on February 18. The rainfall in February of last year was 4.11 in. The total fall at Orari Gorge since January 1 amounts to 16.28 in.

Yesterday the weather was beautifully fine, and while it pleased town dwellers, farmers rejoiced over the way the stooks dried, and harvesting operations were pushed on with all possible speed. Last night, however,, there came another unwelcome change when a cold wind from the south sprang up and there were indications of further rain.

“It would appear that there was a certain fraternal feeling among tho land agents of this town,” said counsel for the defence in the Invercargill Supreme Court (states the “Southland Times”). “They all appear to have tho same idea of rents. 5 “They are not so fraternal as my friend would have us believe,” retorted oooascl for the plaintiff.

In view of Mr A. C. MacLaren’s remarks that some of the members of the combined team which met the Englishmen at Nelson did not know the blade of the bat from the handle, one of the Nelsonians at Motueka the other day took no chances, and he appeared at the Park with a tag on his bat plainly indicating the difference. Fortified with this knowledge (says the “MaiL”), the player batted to such good effect that he obtained top score in the match!

Notification has been received that the King’s Police Medal has been awarded to Constables R. J. Wilson and F. J. O’Donoghue, of Waiiganui. The decoration is awarded only for exceptional courage and skill displayed by policemen or firemen in the Empire, and the two constables have received the award as the outcome of the arrest of two armed shopbreakers at Wanganui in May of last year. On that occasion the two constables were summoned to Mr J. A. Thomson’s store in the avenue, and affected the arrest of two men named Donovan and Allen despite the-fact that the men used firearms.

“You know I have been in Auckland 62 years now so you will have to excuse me if I am continually stopped by acquaintances,” said a gentleman of the cloth, who was walking down Queen Street with a “Star” reporter. “If lamin a great hurry,” he added, “I generally take a tram in order to reach my destination quickly. 1 You know I don’t remember all the people who greet me, but I soon recall them after a short chat. It’s funny some of the reminders I sometimes receive. One man asked me if I did not remember him the other day because I buried his father 32 years ago. I officiated at a wedding recently when the bride thought it was quite a proper thing that I should kiss her because I had baptised her when she was a baby!”

Tile ske\ch design of the Primatial Cross, which it is intended to present for Jhe use of Archbishop Julius and his successors in the office, has now been completed by Mr Guernsey, ,and is going the round of the Bishops for jtheir. approval, says the Church. News. The Archbishop has approved the design, and if it passes the ordeal of the other Bishops the committee will have it put in hand almost immediately. The Cross itself is not very large-—indeed the idea is to avoid its being Cumbrous. It will not he more than 9in. at widest, broad bands of beaten silver, with insets of greenstone, and the figure of our Lord in gold upon the centre. 'lt;-will, be the headpiece of a shaft 1 of New Zealand oak, the whole designed for easy carriage.

The restoration of the historic church at Russell has now been completed, states the Church Gazette. The Bishop reported to ' the Standing Committee that the work has been thoroughly well done. In fact, us a person approaches the church, he would hardly know that anything had been done atall. This is the best compliment that could he paid to the work of the architect and contractor. Tlio character of the church has not been changed. It ,is the same old building, restored and strengthened. It should now last another hundred years. This will he good news to church people throughout New Zealand.

If there is anybody more capable of getting to his destination, quicker than Percy Coleman, tlio clover young Palmerston 'North motor cyclist, lie has yet to materialise, and receive tlio laurels of a speed .king (states the “Ma.nawatu Daily Times'’). Fresh from smashing tlio world’s record for the mile on a grass track, Mr Coleman, was interviewed by a “Daily Times” representative. “Yes. it was a good race.” lie said somewhat diffidently, “arid the track was in pretty good, condition.” Air Coleman said that the world’s record for the milo was officially put up in 1.9.17, by himself at Marton in the- time of 51 3-sscc, and that record stood until 1920, where, on the Takapuna track, at Auckland, lie again lowered it to 49 3-ssec. Then that very excellent rider “Steve” Whitehead made a bold bid ancl still farther lowered the record to 49 1-5 sec. “I .felt that it would bo worth while trying to cut a bit off that time,’', said the motor cyclist, “and succeeded in doing tlio distance in 48soe. dead.”

When the express from Christchurch stopped at Timaru yesterday morning Constable Irwin, wb,o was on duty at the Railway Station, was called upon to remove one of the passengers, who had imbibed too froelv. The man, though, refused to budge, and it was onlv by superior strength that the constable got him away from his carriage. The inebriated one fought every inch of the way, and progress, though sure, was at first slow, the constable showing more consideration for the man’s feelings than be deserved. Finally two onlookers went to the assistance of tlio constable, and, each taking a leg, while the constable took his bead, they applied the “frog march” to the obstreperous one and put, him into the mail van per medium of which lie was soon lodged in the “cooler ” !