GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 21 June 1924, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

In compliance with a request made to the Borough Council by the South Canterbury Automobile Assi I mtion, a number of shrubs have removed from the triangle at the corner of Sophia and Elizabeth Streets, the clearance effected greatly minimising the risk of accidents.

Disagreeable weather prevailed in Timaru yesterday, and, though it was market day not many farmers were in town. Most of those who did come in, left early for their homes to avoid the rain, which came on in the early afternoon.

Loud complaints were voiced by the passengers on the Main Trunk express which left Auckland on Sunday evening. The train was a lengthy one, and the heating apparatus was not effective in the last six cars. The night was bitterly cold, and the experience of the women and children was a hard one, the juveniles crying all night.

At the Timaru Police Court yesterday, before Mr H. Green, J.P., and Mr P. B. Foote, J.P., a first offending inebriate was fined 10s and costs. On a charge of wilfully damaging a motor car, in which he was being conveyed to the police station, he was convicted and ordered to pay 7s 6d, the amount of damage caused, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

At the present time there are quite a number of unemployed in Timaru, and the number of unskilled labourers out of work is gradually increasing, while the demand for labour is nil. Owing to the closing down of the freezing works, there are so many men out of employment that it is difficult to form any idea of the position until the men who intend going to Australia for the shearing have got away. It is anticipated that there will be more unemployment this winter than usual.

A fully attended meeting of the committee of the newly-formed West End Ratepayers and Householders* Association, was held at the West School. The proposed platform and rules of the Association were drawn up for submission to a general meeting to be called for July 1, at West School. The proposed West Park was briefly discussed, and it is anticipated that some interesting suggestions will be forthcoming in this respect.

In conversation with a reporter; a farmer who was in town yesterday, mentioned that in spite of the dry season which had been experienced, sheep had stood to the farmers well, and to pastoralists, still better. Wool had brought phenomenal prices, and fat lambs had sold exceedingly well. Lamb was still bringing up to UJd per lb., and with w'ool and lambs good ewes had given a return of £2, and in some cases a little more than that each, for the season. !

At the last meeting of the South Canterbury Power Board, an offer from Mr Toogood, of Wellington, to report on the Tekapo power scheme, for 175 guineas, was accepted, the offer being subject to the Board obtaining the plans of the Tekapo river survey, which are the property of Mr James Wilson, of Timaru. A reporter learned yesterday that these' plans will not be available, and it is therefore presumed that Mr; Toogood’s report will not be gone on with. ...

Motorists report that the roads north of Timaru, to Pleasant Point; Temuka, and Geraldine, are in very good order at the present time. The road between Winchester and Geraldine has just been regraded, and is a little loose, hut will probably; settle down in a few . days* time. .T*® opinion was expressed that the section of the main North Road at Smithfleld Hill would be greatly improved by channelling, as th© stornx* water makes the surface of the road very uneven after heavy rain.

There has been a report, persistently given utterance to lately, even high up in political circles, that, a new political party was to' be formed, and that it was to be led Jay Mr F. J. Rolleston, M.P., for Timaru. Inquiries made on the subject go AO show that the report is entirely without foundation. There was also a report that a new political party was in process of formation in Southland. There is some talk of such a party there, but it is not thought, th.it At. will get any further than the suggestion” stage.

At the executive meeting of the South Canterbury Automobile Association on Thursday evening, the sec retary stated that a motorist who had recently been fined for exceeding the speed limit within the borough had spent considerable time in mark ug off a portion of the street near the Hydro Hill, and taking the tune*s o! -ill cars that passed. As a result of his investigations, hefound that none nf the cars timed kept within the statutory twelve miles per hour, the municipal 'buses also being offenders in this respect. It was also stated that the man in question was not a. resident of Timaru, his number plate Bearing the designating letters oi a town south of the South Canterbury border line., A member Present remarked that the same rul ® hi pp t j 1Q elsewhere, the stranger " ithi % tllo gates always being .the one to suffer.

Referring to the shortage of. qimliLd teachers for schools out ot the main centres, the secietaiy uv P'S' tu.t in “St c “ P s P™ “‘bft.Trffnol fcc.pt posi. tions. As they < doesn’t seem tIOUS “S 1 ® view of the large” um-easonamc, m department on fCtreufin" of b stud«itSj.tp require.as the tic. a t ]' ie d- taming college f Tlh a tliv Should take a few veers’ work in country positions. The, new teachers’ salaries scale is, however, responsible for lowering the salaries for certain assistantships try schools, so that the same inducements are not held out to chers to accept country assistantships. —(Press Association.)

The recent appearance of chiq«J without tho usual unpressed stamp duty has camedc liet i ier business community to 'U 1 , r - le an error. Inc position i* . .. duty, thourfi iV'US. 1 “ ■>» (il '''■ ! T’,;x,ri On the cheque fn“m nSI peilons Iniixlhns cheque, mav accept unstamped cheques with ma> accop the stamp confidence, that is su ,- 11Tlov oti on ; a dutv is concerned. The innovation is h c 'result of suggestions made to the r , , nnioiit to expedite the issue of V o forms. These had a habit <f rnnm-c'atin" 1)V the million at the ctr-imn ‘'Department, in Wellington, for Iho purpose of having stamp duty nn-mc-serl upon them before issue to the banks for distribution to their customer.-. Under tho new system, the banks collect the twopenny stamp as before and pav the amount over to Bio Government, and the Stamp Uepartmont is saved the very considerable labour of stamping each individual cheque. . So mild lias the season been m the yj anavalu district that the ripe blackberries arc still being gathered.