TOPICALITIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18069, 19 March 1923, Page 9

TOPICALITIES.

Pakira Haeata was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at Master ton, on Saturday, for having committed actual bodily harm to James Kendrick. The dance held in the Bay Hall on Thursday evening for the benefit of the W.C.I7U;, in aid of the Sailors’ Rest Imilding fund, resulted in a profit of £7 5s lOd. Mr J. H. Scott acted as supervisor in his usual capable manner. “An unscrupulous Chinese Emperor filled the powder magazines with coal dust and pocketed the difference between that and explosives,” said tho Rev. J. Thompson when lecturing to the Palmerston North Luncheon Club.

A Wellington Press message states that St. Patrick’s day was celebrated by a procession through the city to Newtown Park, where a successful sports meeting was held. In the evening a concert was held in the Town Hall.

The Port Adelaide Race Club introduced cinematography of the finish of races to aid the judge in arriving at decision in close finishes. Reproductions arc ready a few seconds aftoi the finish of the race.—Press Association.

A Tauranga Press message states that tho nominations for the , by-elec-tion will close to-ciav at noon. Only one. has jbeen received so far, that ot Sir Joseph Ward, who was nominated l<v Messrs R, King (Te Puke), -W. G. Kennedy (To Aroha), and J. G. Green and B.‘C.. Robbins (Tauranga). ’

At the lecture on “Secrets of- tho Sun 1,” Mr FUR. Field said it might seem strange that his solar discovenes could throw light on the subject of the godwit’s flight, from New Zealand to Siberia, or on the connection between New Zealand flora and fauna, and those of. South America. Yeo it was so, and this may also be applied to Egyptian problems.

“What is a fresh egg-” is a question that puzzles many housewives, grocers, and egg-farmers/ Speaking on the question of the egg-pulping industry at Nelson recently, Dr T. Fletcher Telford remarked: “I would define a ‘fresh egg’ as one hot more.than a week old, gathered as soon as possible after laying, and stored under suitable conditions of temperature, dryness and shade.”

j A general protest against the GovernI merit’s . intention to protect stoats, j weasels, and hawks, on account'of the | rabbit nuisance, is being made by acj olimatisation societies throughout New ! Zealand. Letters of protest were received by the Auckland Acclimatise j ation Society, from similar bodies at : Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, Fielding and Opotiki. The Director-General of Agriculture notified i the ■ Auckland l Society that cafeful consideration was ; being given to the protests. The Mfiyor of Christchurch (Dr I Thacker) is anxious that Unawo. Island, jm Akaroa ha ruoiir, should be made a national reserve ior afforestation purposes ancf to serve as a sanctuary for birds. At tho present time part of the ismnd is privately owned, and part is reserve. Dr Thacker is communicating with the Government on the subject, and is suggesting that, if necessary, other reserve lauds, less, suitable for afforestation, should be given in exchange for Onawe Island.

Ministerial recognition of the heroism of-the Blackball miners in the recent fire was made at the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, when the inspector of labour, Mr G. F. Grieve, informed Mr W. Meldrum, SAL, that he had been instructed by tho Minister for Labour to withdraw the charges of illegal striking made against about 120 Blackball mmers. “This- case was heard sortie months ago, when one man, whoso case was taken as a test, was. fined,” said Mr Grieve. ‘.‘An appeal was lodged, hut when it came before the court at Wellington last week it was withdrawn. In the circumstances the department will now waive the right to claim the penalty from the men.”

“What is; the position if a teaohor 'finds that a child’s teeth require attention?” asked a member of the Terriaco End School Committee, Wellington. “Can ho have them attended to without the consent of the parents?” The chairman replied that the teacher had power to have effected any attention a minor nature without first consulting parents, and added: “Of course, dental treatment will be up-fo-date when the clinic is established, as expert:treatment will be given.” The question was asked for the benefit of parents who were unaware of the liberty possessed by in this respect. The form of artchitecture adopted in a sketch plan of the Dominion pavilion at the Empire Exhibition does not meet with the approval of the Dominion Advisory Council. It was stated in a letter considered by the Auckland committee that tho design was in no way indicative of the Dominion. It should make the New Zealand court distinctive from all tho other British courts. Tho High Commissioner has been asked if time will permit of the preparation of a frontal design by local architects which would be descriptive of the Dominion’s national character. It was considered that a building distinctively Maori in its art design would be most suitable,

A road map of Southland, which should become popular with motorists, has just been received by the Southland League. Tho map (states the “Southland Times”) is founded on an aerograph of the province, and the roads shew out prominently. All the main thoroughfares can bo followed with remarkable ease even by those who are unaccustomed to finding their iway about by the air! of n map. It is almost impossible to mistake the roadlines, so clearly are they shown.

“The cost of building is now lower than at any time 6inco the war,” stated a passage in the New Plymouth Master Builders’ Association annual report. It was added, however (says the “News”) that owing to the burden of increased taxation imposed during the past few years, and higher rates of interest prevailing, building material and labour were still comparatively high in price, though there had been a big decline in cost since the building boom in 1920. The spectacle of persons remaining seated during the playing of the National Anthem is rare at Greymouth, but an incident of this nature occurred at the Scottish concert at the Opera House recently (states an exchange). A man and woman, newcomers to Grevmouth, did not stand up for the Anthem, and thn's called forth the indignant remark from a local resident behind them: “And these are the people our sons died for!” There was no answer from the seated couple.