GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 9 June 1924, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

\ meeting of A lO creditors of Joseph Wallis, of Washuyke, will be held in Timaru to-morrow.

Mr Andrew Macfarlane, a retired grocer, died in Dunedin on Saturday at the age of 81 years.—(Press Association.)

The heaviest quinnat salmon landed during the season, which has just closed, was secured recently by Mr J. B. Brown, of Ashburton, it weighed 411 b and measured 49 inches in length. A Press message from Dunedin states that a fund, winch is being raised lot the dependants of the late II • O’Gonuell, the jockey who was kiilci. at Wingatui on Thursday, has reached Uie vicinity of £SOO.

The meteorological observations taken by .Mr L. Hanlon in W hangarcJ show that last month wars tho vet.,ii;>t May since records have been kept. Ram tell on seventeen .lays, and total led tor the month no less than 14.-tin. .May 1G was tho worst day, 4.75 in. tali ing. ‘TMc lose £2O at races yesterday,” remarked John Chinaman, while serving a lady in -Auckland with vegetables recently. “Oh, 1 suppose that’s the reason why you’re charging me 9cl tor a thing like this,” remarked his customer, holding up a dilapidated cabbage, .John, typical of his rat\. just grinned

“If they increase the speed of their horses by three miles an hour, I shall agree to granting the request,” stated Councillor J. A. McLeavey at a Palmerston North Borough Council meeting, when an application of the borough carters for an increase in wages was being considered.

The Han. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, has replied to Mill. G. Sullivan, M.P., regarding the matter of unemployment, in Christchurch. The Minister stales that lie is having the position investigated. and lie is taking steps to see what can he, done for the unemploj-

4 cd men

The Wanganui Acclimatisation So ciety reports that a 161 b quinnat salmon was taken off Paraparaumu by fishermen, and odd fish have been taken in other places. These fish will not be cordially welcomed in the water.-] of the North Island, as many societies would prefer the Atlantic salmon which, although smaller, is a better sporting fish.

That the life of a politician is not always a happy one was proved by Mr It. Semple, when speaking at Invercargill. “I was in the House for a little while,” he said, “and I learnt a lot of things there—it’s a comic opera show. I told them, so, and they kicked mo out, but,” he added amidst applause, “I may get in again some day. I haven’t tried yet, but I may.”

“As a matter of fact, you are a bookmaker?” queried counsel of a defendant, in a Magistrate’s Court the other morning. “No,” replied the man. “Well, have you ever been charged with bookmaking ?” pressed the solicitor. “\es, and acquitted; and that proves that I am not a bookmaker,' lie retorted “Oh, no, it does nothing of the sort!” intcrpectcd Mr Hunt, t-.M., amid a roar of laughter.

“I’ve worked hard all my life and n .j afford to go to the Empire Exhibition, yet there are 20,000 people in New Zealand going to attend it,” said Mr Robert Semple during an address at Invercargill. A voice: “Perhaps you’ve been in gaol too often.” (Laughter). Mr Semple: “Oh, yes, I’ve been in gaol a few times, and I’ll go again if I think the Government’s wrong. I’ll not sit back and keep silent.”

The Pahiatua Licensing Committee at the annual meeting on Friday, refused a permanent transfer and a new license to Mr F. C. Tompkins, in respect to the Masonic Hotel, Woodville, on the grounds that the applicant was a “dummy” and was only holding a license for the Yanks family, uho were objected to by the police, "’o applications were adjourned foi i-.ree months to give the licensee an opportunity of quitting the premises.

A fine of 2s 6d was imposed on the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Rotary Club, at the club’s luncheon, at Audi land because His Excellency intended to leave New Zealand. In payment of the fine, Lord Jellicoe tendered half-a-orown. It was decided that the coin should be embedded in the club’s Maori mere as a momonto and permanent reminder of His Excellency's term as Governor-General of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Labour Party has received a message from the Home Secretary (Right Hon. Arthur Henderson), stating that, owing to the inability of South Africa to be represented, because of the election there, it is considered advisable to postpone the British Commonwealth Labour Conference, which was to have been held in London this year. It is anticipated that the Conference will now take place in February, March or April of next year.

A rumour having been circulated to the effect that the banking institutions intended increasing the rate of interest on overdrafts, inquiry was made ni New Plymouth (states the local “Herald”), but no official intimation of ,ny increase appears to have been received b the banks, who would doubtless act simultaneously in such a case. One banker expressed the opinion that there was a tendency in that direction, but no official statement had been made.

According to an exchange, it is the intention of the English Park Sports Association to introduce a new sport to the Christchurch public, namely, whippet racing. The association is now endeavouring to secure dogs. Whippet racing has taken on a more important aspect in recent years in England, par ticularly in some counties where it has a groat following. There are many dogs of this breed in New Zealand, and from demonstrations of their speed, it can easily be imagined that lacing contests would provide a very interesting pastime.

An appeal for a wider outlook in connection with the affairs of the IPS.A. was made by Mr Pascoe at the annual meeting ol the Wellington body recently. The time has come, lie said, when the association should be thrown open to all ex-servico men from any part of the Empire, and also to South African veterans. Tito time had now come when they should look beyond the provision of a billiard fable and a spittoon in tlio corner, and should endeavour to build up a strong esn -tt do corps among all men who had fought for the Empire.

The Geraldine W.E.A. Literature Class held its first meeting for 1924 on Pcstnesttay, when tno tutor (Miss D. 0. Parnie, M.A.), dealt with John Masefield s poems. A short lectux’o was given touching on Maseneld's characteristics and style, and noting his his love of the sea, and his passion for beauty in all its torms. Then some poerns were read from the class text book, “Poems of To-day,” while others were read and commented on by' the lecturer from Maseneld's “Saltwater Ballads.” A discussion followed, which proved most interesting and instructive. The class will meet again on Wednesday, June lb, when “The Lite, Personality and Poetry ot Rupert Brooke” will be the subject ot discussion.

An Australian water snake over three l'eet in length, which was caught on Pakiri Beach, north, of Rodney Point, is said to be of a harmless variety'. It was seen leaving the water to cross the behcli, by Messrs J. Mahon and R. Clark, of Mangawai, who promptly despatched it with an oar. The reptile has a black skin with white underside, and a carpet-pattern tail. The residents of the locality could not account for the presence of the snake on the New Zealand coast, alt.liougn it is stated that a similar catch was made there some years ago.

At the inquest in Tinmru afternoon, concerning the dc ; *^ lad who had lost his ldyb-outh^^ tempting to board : "that all lorrv. .Sergeant I ackei s.uu children should bo wairicl, parents and school -• common tins practice, m Timaiu. . •, | t p o narrowest •s----secn a hoy vi o l . 1 through stf no to b ard a motor, which was tempting to a|l street. The m motioi , Maslov), endorsed p' «"'»''*■r J ri n Llinvod ell parents and school 5 "hors to warn' the children under il.cir charge against this extremely dangerous practice.

‘•I don't know how in the world vnti do it,” remarked Mr F. K. Hunt. P 'y[ in the Magistrate’s Court the other morning, when a man stated that ho had to pay £2 10s a week rent, and support a wife and four young children on a salary of £1 19s 3d. Counsel .o. iho creditor suggested that, since he !,atl taken the house when earning per week, he should have iound a cheaper one when his wages were re duced. “That’s all very well.” said •die magistrate, “but I’ve gone, into Ibis question of rents pretty clnsci.v, and 1 don’t think it can be done. Some people with big rents try to eke if cut j,y sub-letting. But here’s the whole' trouble —a man paying liali his wages in rent instead of one day’s pay.”