GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 30 May 1923, Page 9

GENERAL NEWS

For the first time ladies were , nominated at last night’s meeting of St. Mary’s parishioners for election to the vestry. ' Mrs Huddleston and Miss Suimaway were two of the eighteen nominees to go to tlie ballot, but neither was successful. .

“That criminality is more a question of environment than of nature was a lesson I learnt in the Army,” said Mr P. B. Fitzherbert, at tlie re-union of South African veterans at New Plymouth. He had known one man with criminal propensities who “should have been shot” —he was shot afterwards—but lie had been a very fine soldier nevertheless.

A business man resident in Taranaki, and wlio also lias been over 60 years in New Zealand, lias a family of 10 children and 24 grandchildren. All are living and in good health. His age is 84 years, his wife 82, and they will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary in July. He went to the Crimean War in a merchant ship when a boy of about .14 years, later fought in the Indian Mutiny, and then in the Maori wars in the North Island.

At the annual meeting of St. Mary's Parish last night Archdeacon Julius referred to the crowded meeting of children held in Christchurch Cathedral last Sunday, when there was a representative present from most Sunday Schools. Tlie collection taken up was for foreign missions, and altogether the handsome sum of £l9O was gathered in. Timaru had its representative, who subscribed £3O of tlie total. This was irrespective of £3O collected previously during the year.

The familiar designations of many great British Prime Ministers of the past were referred to by the Mayor at the reception to Mr and Mrs Massey at the Auckland Town Hall (says the “Herald”). Tliev had had, lie said, “Billy Pitt,” “The Duke,” “Pam,” and “Dizzy.” ’ Mr Gunson remarked that without seeking to be irreverent be might extend the list by adding “Bill Massey.” This observation was greeted with a storm of appreciative applause. ’

An ’absent parishioner of St. Mary’s, last night sent in his criticisms in writing to the annual meeting, and the document formed entertaining reading. The writer put in a plea for the deaf, and suggested some telephonic or other arrangement for “listening in.” Many people stayed away from church, it was stated, because they could not hear, yet could hear at a telephone, and by this means they might _ be enabled to benefit from church services.

Thei water supply to the tank at the Taihape locomotive sheds having become interrupted an investigation was made, and revealed the presence of a trout about 18in in length, and in good condition, blocking the inlet valve at the- tank. The presence of a trout of such a size is bard to explain, but it is presumed that the fish was pumped up from the Otaihapc Stream. Even if this be correct (says an exchange), the ifrout would have to pass through five valves before reaching the position in which it was 1 found.

Mr It. S. Forsyth has received intimation from the Shaw, Company that boats would be put on the loading berth in London to bring cargo direct to Timaru in July and November next. In making this announcement at the meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night Mr Forsyth said that this indicated that the shipping companies were anxious to do their part in the matter of giving Timaru a direct service from Home. The hope was expressed that importers would so arrange their orders that every directboat which offered would have the required quantity of cargo to bring here, the minimum being 750 tons.

Like a Diogenes searching for an honest man, Dr. H. Davies, director of the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide University, recently took a stroll down Collins Street, Melbourne, looking for an absolutely care-free face amongst an endless stream of pedestrians (says the “Age”). He did not need a lamp, for he made his search in broad daylight, yet—so he told an. audieuce at the Independent Hall —his task was almost in vain until he went into the Town Hall to conduct community singing Then there was a change. Under the spell of old British folk song the faces of the impromptu singers reflected the power of music in banishing care to the mental background, and inspiring at, least a period of temporary enjoyment.

Yesterday afternoon Messrs T. B. (' m-.-ii'lr W T Brosnalian, G. D. bei [fie and C.‘ E. Kerr (members of the Levels County Council), and Mi 1Black (County Engineer), went to Raincliff and inspected the damage done by scour, at the junction of the Opihi and Opuha rivers, a few chains below Raincliff bridge. Erosion has been going on for some time at this point, and the object of the visit was to see how best to deal with the trouble. The damage was found to extend for about a chain and a half, the protective works having been scoured away for about a chain, and the bank cut into for several feet. Hie indications are that unless something was done the river would get in behind thei protective works, and so on to the mam road Having seen tlie state of affairs the Council will discuss at its next meeting what action to take.

The minds of farmers during recent weeks have been agitated by a discussion on the destructive or other qualities of the rook, says the “Hawkes TKav Herald.” Instances have been quoted of where rooks have ruined whole crops, and done other damage, until eventually, the New Zealand Farmers’ Union took the matter up, and a recent meeting of the Hnwkes Dav County Council requested that body to take action against the pest. Members of the council expressed the up to a certain point rooks were" beneficial, but beyond that their, tetrnrtivo *****•"• sidered'tbat* the council should not aim at having the bird. £ SlTo trirnccessap steps to have the present protection on tne birds lifted, so that endeavours could be made to keep them in checx.

A humorous touch was given to the debate on the question of teachers appointments at the annual conleie of the New Zealand Educational -y - stitute by Mr H. F. Penlington, wiio related the experience of a certain rural school committee which desired to fill a vacancy on the staff of the local school. ■ There were five applicants, and from these was selected a comely young woman who, within a short time of her arrival, was carried off by a young farmer of the district and installed mistress of his abode. The position was again advertised. This time there were 15 applicants. The new appointee was a good-looking specimen of her sex, and within a few months she in turn fell a victim to the matrimonial lure of another young farmer. Again there was a vacancy. This time there were 28 applicants. Tho same thing happened —another marriage in l.ho district.' The chairman of the committee, in desperation, went to the Education Board office and said—“ For heaven’s sake, send us the oldest and plainest applicant you can get, and a the grading list.’!