TOPICALITIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18069, 17 March 1923, Page 9

TOPICALITIES.

Bv Gazette Extraordinary issued yesterday, Parliament, which stands prorogued to March 22, has been further adjourned till April 26.

To-day is St. Patrick’s Day, and it will be fittingly celebrated in many parts. In South Canterbury, however, the celebrations took place on Thursday when sports were held at Geraldine, and a St. Patrick’s night concert in Timaru.

Fishing at the Rangitata Mouth on Tuesday, Mrs T. Wilson, of Tinwald, landed a splendid bag of six salmon, ranging from 151 b to 211 b. Mrs Wilson has also been successful in capturing many good baskets of trout in the early part of the season.

Sir Joseph Ward announces that he is standing as a “straight-out Liberal.’’ And now people are wondering whether Sir Joseph is drawing a lino between “Liberal” and “Liberal-Labour,” the official designation of Mr Wilford s party.—“Eltham Argus.”

In spite of the march of eceincc the Chinese are most reluctant to part with their medicines and herbs. They will yield to surgery, but they like their own medicine best. —Mr J. Thompson, during the course of an address at the Lunch Club, Palmerston North.

A few years ago flaxmills iwere to be heard humming all over the province, but during tne last few years the number of mills lias dwindled (reports the “Southland Times”). To-day there are only about five mills operating in Southland, and the fibre export has dropped to a small quantity.

The score in the cricket match between South Australia and M.C.C., at the close of the second day’s play yesterday (states an Adelaide Press message) was: South Australia, first innings 495; M.C.C. 360 for nine wickets (Calthorpe 96, Wilson 78, Chapman 49, MacLean 37, Freeman not out 51, Hartley not' out 22, and Lowry 17).

Trouble is being caused by bees in the Morinsville School (states tho “Wanganui Herald”). About three colonies have located themselves in the lining and weather-boardings, and have been there for-several years. Repeated endeavours have been made to disperse them, but without success. Several children have been stung.

“I’ll guarantee that there is no place in New Zealand where you can have your leg pulled longer and oftener than in Parliament,” said Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., at the annual dinner of the Taranaki Master Builders’ Association, as he proceeded (relates the “Taranaki Daily News”) to regale those present with anecdotes of the lighter side of Parliamentary life.

A miraculous escape from death was experienced on Monday last (says the “Grey Star”) by a young man employed by Mr Hugh Gilmer, itaupo, who was riding a motor cycle to Greymouth. He reached the crossing above Totara Flat, and the next thing he knew was that he was being carried along on the cowcatcher of the train bound from Reefton to Greymouth. He received only a few bruises, and even his. motor cycle was not badly damaged.

An example of the high wages earned by women during the war was given at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court recently, during the hearing of a maintenance case. The complainant stated that prior to her marriage she had been employed in the office of the munition factory of Vickers, Ltd., at a salary of £7 per week. This salary was supplemented by her earnings ns a trained nurse.

The manager of a Marlborough carrying firm, givipg evidence at the .Arbitration Court, stated that tho up-keep of a big niotor lorry iwns very high. Benzine was a big item, whale the other day he had paid about £IBO for a set of two tyres, while six months previously he had paid £B4 for a pair of twin tyres. His Honour (Mr Justice Frazer): “I think I’d just as soon stick to the law!”

In conversation yesterday with & “Herald” reporter, Mr L. F. Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, said that the recent attempt made by his Department to catch salmon, by trolling, in tbe sea off the Canterbury coast bad not so far been successful. He attributed this to tho fact that the sea had been too rough for trolling. Salmon were plentiful in the Bakain, Waimakariri, Rangitata, and Wahabi rivers, and were providing good sport. There had been a big run of salmon m the Wahabi on Wednesday last.

A well attended meeting of tbe Timaru Women Citizen’s Association was held in tho Y.M.O.A. rooms yesterday afternoon, whon an address was given by Miss Henderson, late- general -secretary to the National Council of Women, for New Zealand. The vicepresident (Mrs George Webster) presided. Miss Henderson gave a very interesting and comprehensive address on matters connected with the National Council of Women, and social hygiene problems. Following the address a profitable discussion took place, and the meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Henderson.

Tho Chinese regarded tho Westerners as rude, said a traveller in an address to the Palmerston North Lunch: Club, and ho went on to refer to the manner in which the Chinese could not tolerate our music, which, of course, was reciprocated. As for dancing, the very act of men “dragging women round a ballroom” was regarded as immoral. The Chinese iwould not, in giving a present to a lady, dare to touch her hand. When in China the speaker said ho asked them why they bound the Chinese women's feet, but the question had been turned on himself with “Do not your women bind their waists?” (Laughter.)

A recent visitor from Gisborne to Tauranga was asked Ins chief impression of the Bay of Plenty centre. Ho said that two features had impressed him specially. One was the number of newly-built houses that were dispensing with tho ordinary fireplaces through the use that was being made of electric) power, and the other was the novel sight of cows grazing in the main streets. He wa3 informed that the Council granted this right on payment of a small fee. Several Gishornites sat on the foreshore fronting the chief business thoroughfare, and watched the traffic dodging tho cows. Two cows were seen in front of a publichouse, drinking from the water-table, tho water of which seemed to ho quite fresh. One cow stood for some minutes gazing at a shop window in which special bargains wore announced, but did not venture to cross the footpath.

It has just become known, through the ovidenee of a competent witness at an inquiry hold in Washington, that Mr J. D. Rockefeller, senior, no longer owns a single share of his original oil concern, the Standard Oil Company, of New Jersey. His holding in that company, of a total value of about 140,000,000 dollars, has been transferred to Mr J. D. Rockefeller, junior. The object of.this transfer is, of course, to avoid the necessity of paying an inheritance tax on these holdings whon Mr Rockefeller, senior, dies. It is reported that similar procedure has been adopted with regard to tho greater pari; of the Rockefeller fortune". The father, it is well known, has perfect- confidence in the integrity and" business capacity of the son.