GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 10 June 1924, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

During the past fortnight six .building permits have been issued in limaru, these representing a value ot £4270. Mr F. B. Chitlock, Tycho, was awarded second prize for Up-to-date potatoes at the Otago Winter Show, held at Dunedin last week. The municipal bus receipts for the twelve days ended May 31, amounted to £3lO 7s 9Jd„ compared with £29b 6s OJd for the previous twelve days. , The borough engineer is now engaged with the work of laying new 8-mch water pipes in Seiwyn Street to replace the old 4-inch pipes there, the object being to give an-adequate, water supply to residents on the highei levels” at Marchwiel. Good progress is being made with the work of installing the electrio signalling system along the line between Greymoutk and Otira. Completion of this work will bring the system into line with the ChristchurchArthur’s Pass line. In the course of his presidential address before a Farmers’ Union Conference at Dunedin, Mr E. H. Murney said that the wages paid to those employed in New Zealand in the textile industry amounted to about £1,300,000. He contended that if the people of New Zealand paid these workers for doing nothing they would be making a saving of £59,0U0 per annum by purchasing imported goods, providing the latter were admitted duty free. The Bcturned Soldiers’ Conference at Christchurch yesterday, resolved '‘That the present working of the \var Pensions Amendment Act of 1923 is unsatisfactory, and that the establishment is necessary of local repatriation committees, who will endeavour to find work for applicants and make recommendations to the War Pensions Board as to what economic pension should bo granted.” As is usually the case during the winter months fish, both in the harbour and ofE the coast, are very scarce, and during the past few weeks the price has consequently been much highei- than usual, flats being so d locally for as high as Is 5d per lb. Fishing enthuiasts report that catches in the harbour are also very poor, duo to the recent rough weather, scattering the fish. Mr Bobby Leach, who went- over the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, in a steel barrel on July 2, 1911, has stated that he is negotiating with a rubber company for the manufacture of a rubber ball in which he intends to make a trip over the falls early in June. The ball, he says, will bo of rubber as thick as a large motor car tyre, and will have a hammock inside in which he will recline. The demolition of the Lyttelton Gaol is practically completed. For the past few weeks the only work that has been carried out has been that of breaking the concrete slabs into suitable sizes for cartage to the reclamation area at West Lyttelton, whcio they are being used to form the Retaining wail. The work of carting tno rubbisii should be concluded in anothei or three months’ time. Shortly after half past eight on Saturday evening, two men, said to do somewhat inebriated, were scon v amine up the George Street lull, 111 direction of Messrs Fmlaysoa s Ltd. Immediately, aftenvaras a loud ciasn of falling glass indicated that’ thing amiss had occuiied. I the vicinity who proceeded to Lho found that oue of the panes in the hir/ nlate ela-ss showroom window had been P broken, and from the quantity of the glass removed it was evident that whoever had caused the breakage W gone right through. No. trace was found of the two men previously seen in the vicinity, but the police have I?- matter in hand. It is estimated that it will take over £2O to fiasco the window.

The Boscland Hotel at Makaraka, Poverty Bay, an old landmark, was destroyed by fire yesterday morning, the licensee getting his family out with some difficulty. A dwelling house and a baker’s shop. nearby, were also destroyed.

Before Mr A. Shirtcliff, J.P., at the Timafu Police Court yesterday morning, Peter Smith was charged with assaulting James Henry Best on Saturday, June 7th. and also with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. Accused was remanded to appear before the Magistrate to-day. On the application of Mr Emslie bail was granted.

The prospects which Southland holds for the small dairy farmer are apparently attracting attention in other parts of the Dominion (says tho Southland “Times”). Decently 'the Southland League has received several inquiries from prospective dairy farmers in the North island in regard to the land values in Southland compared with those in other parts of the Dominion. in most cases the inquirers have a limited capital at their command, and the fact that land values here are comparatively low should be an inducement for them to settle in Southland.

Au unusual point formed the basis of an action commenced at the a>uprenie Court at Wellington yesterday. The questions raised related to the rights of certain residents of Muntai lo“hold the title of land, part of which had been formed by accretion from the sea. It was contended -by the Castbourne Borough Council, the plaintiffs, that originally the land had been dedicated as a road, and that it was therefore vested in the borough. Any such dedication was defied by the defendants, who contended that the land was vested in them and their predecessors in title.

During the week end the .local Drill Shed was the venue of an artillery barracks of instruction. About twentyfive men, including officers, were undergoing training. Lieutenant Bradley, It.N.Z.A., artillery officer for the southern command, was in charge of the barracks, which commenced at 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. A 15poundei - field gun was used for instructional purposes. The men were given a thorough instruction in all matters pertaining to artillery w'ork. This evening the Territorials will give a demonstration of all that has been taught them, after which the barracks will be dismissed.

During the week end a Timaru radio enthusiast (Mr H. V. Firman) had some splendid receptions from 2 I 1 .C., one of the biggest broadcasting stations in Australia. Mr Firman said that 4he items were contributed by pupils at the Conservatorium of Music, ■Sydney, and it was one of the best concerts he had ever listened to. Once he *ad tuned in, he was able to sit back jind enjoy the programme as if he was at the theatre. Earlier in the evening •Air Firman, on 312 metres, enjoyed music from K.G.0., Oakland, California. Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening local amateurs receive the speech and music transmitted by this station.

The police were advised on Sunday afternoon that another burglary had been committed at the tailoring establisbinent of Mr F Cave, in Stafford Street. Investigations, revealed that a window at the back of the shop had been bio he 11 j entrance to the building being gained in this way. Clothing material was 'taken from the shop, the value of this being estimated by Mr Cave at £95. The police made a close search yesterday, but no clue was obtained as to the perpetrator of the burglary, and so far as they are aware, there are no suspicious characters about Timaru at present. A few weeks ago, when Mr Cave’s shop was broken into, goods to the value of about £6O .were stolen.

On Friday evening a motor car collision occurred on the Main Road to St. Andrews. Mr. G. Campbell, of Timaru, states that he was proceeding south to St, Andrews, when he observed a motor car going north on his side of the road, lie sounded his. horn, but just then the driver, apparently not seeing him, accelerated, with the result that the cars collided, the outer wheels locked, and Mr Campbell’s car was carried along for about fifteen yards. The cars then separated, and to the amazement of those in the Timaru car the other vehicle speeded on without waiting to see what damage had been done. The axle cap on the right wheel which had been kocked clean off and a bent mudguard, was fortunately the only damage done to Mr Campbell s car.

In addition to a large estate m New Zealand, the late Mr J. D. McGruer (Christchurch), a native of Kingussie, lei'ir personal .estate in England valued for probate at £5908. The testator -eft a life annuity of £IOO to Lily Bentley, matron of the St. Pancras South infirmity, London, in recognition of her many acts of kindness and devotion to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces during the Great War and in many other respects; £IOOO to the Municipal Council of Kingussie, for the erection of a clock tower and the provision of a clock; £SOO to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for the Canton Village Missions; £IOO to the Public School Board of Kingussie to purchase annually a medal to be awarded to the “dux” of Hie school; £IOO to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, London; and £IOO to Quarrier’s Orphan Homes, Scotland.

Mr D. N. Harper, Park Curator, lias just- returned from a visit to Dunedin, where Mr Tannock, Curator at the Botanical Gardens, showed him the winter gardens aud the reserves, and gave him a lot of information, which will be useful when erecting winter gardens and a begonia house at Tirnaru. Mi Tannock also promised to help by giving a collection of foliage plants for the begonia house. Mr liart, a wellknown amateur florist of Dunedin, had given him over thirty of the rarer species of veronicas. These would make an interesting addition to the native garden in Timaru Park. Mr Hart would be pleased to present the Timaru Borough Council with a complete collection of veronicas il they would undertake to perpetuate the collection as a whole. At their meeting last night the Council passed hearty votes of thanks to Messrs Tannock and Hart, aiul to accept the latter’s collection ot veronicas on the condition named by "speaking in reference to a complaint made by The South Canterbury Automobile Association, to the Borough Council last in regard to the congested state of Stafford Street on Friday’s, Councillor Arnold stated that traffic in this street was increasing week by week, and at the present time a real danger existed. Some time ago a policeman had been stationed in the middle of the street at the intersection of Stafford and Strathallan Streets, in order to direct the traffic in busy days, and although this practice had been discontinued, he considered that, the council should take steps to have it resumed. An additional menace was also caused by the large number ol people who made a habit of congregating and conversing on the streets. Councillor Vinnell remarked that n Christchurch, motor traffic was not permitted in the main streets on such occasions. Friday night was the one night of the week in which the people congregated to any extent, and be could not see why they should be herded on the footpaths. The roadways were not made for the motorist, alone. On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was resolved that the matter be yf/fl»rred to the Inspector ot