GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 28 June 1924, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The late Mr R. E. Lamond will be accorded a military funeral to-morrow. Members of the R.S.A. are invited to attend.

In the action iu whicli Hart Peulington and Co., claimed damages from Hannah and Co., a settlement was effected and the case was struck out.

While repairs were recently being effected to No. 1 wharf, an old pile whicli was drawn was found to have been embedded in the clay bottom to a depth of seventeen feet.

A complaint that the telephone lino between Taranaki and Auckland, although greatly agitated for, was not being used to "any great extent, was made by Mr Shrimpton (telegraph engineer) at the banquet tendered to 1 1 ” Hon. J. G. Coates at Stratford.

The Napier Borough Council has accepted the offer of the Public Trustee to lend £7610 for 20 years at 6 per cent, plus 10s per cent, sinking fund, and £1390 for 'the same period at the same interest, plus 1 per cent, sinking fund.

Some few weeks ago a Press Association message from Wellington stated that Mr R. L. Wigley, of Timaru, had been asked to stand for the Ashburton seat at next general election. In reply to a question by a reporter yesterday, Mr Wigley said that he had decided not to contest the seat named.

At a special meeting of the Timaru Borough Council held yesterday, for the purpose of finally passing the rates for the year ending March 31, 1925, the necessary resolution was carried unanimously. The rates are as follows :—General rate 3|d, special 2|d, Hospital Board rate .456 d, Harbour Board rate .288 d, Library rate .131 d, water rate 2d and Id.

It has been stated that Mr C. W. Wood is a possible candidate for a seat at the next General Elections. Air Wood iuformed a reporter that there is not the slightest justification .for such a statement, as he has no political aspirations and finds that bis business interests require liis undivided attention. Mr Wood suggested that the alleged rumours originated from a source that pointed to vindictiveness as the result of his advocacy of the Tekapo League.

Lord Leverhulme, , wlio was shown over the Auckland -Art Gallery by Dr. T. W. Leys during his Auckland visit, expressed groat admiration and promised to send some pictures. A letter has now been received by Dr. Leys stating that he is giving three largo canvases by Sir E. Burne-Jones —“The Car of Love,” “By the Rivers of Babylon” and “St. Hilda” and also pictures by Jas. Orrock, F. Morgan and A. .\nderson.

A meeting of Old Boys of the Timaru Boys’ High School was hold on Thursday night in the Memorial Hall when it was decided to form a Debating and Social Club. Tlie following officers were appointed—Patron, Air W. Thomas, M.A.; leader, Mr J. P. Steven; executive committee, Messrs L. Mahan, D. Grant, .A. Alport, A.' Jones, 11. Coxhead. It. Mathieson, D. Renton, R. Cole, C. Leslie, H. Warrington and L. Scott.

The Tekapo Development League, says tlie organising secretary, is already discussing tlie extension of its operations, and will at an early date move in tlie direction oi* estc.iblislii.npj branches in Waimate, Temuka and other districts of South Canterbury. A meeting of the committee will ho held to-dav at which a number of important matters will be brought forward for consideration, from which announcement it is to be concluded that the Tekapo Development League means to take immediate and concerted action to fulfil its purpose.

Some startling figures were given bv Mr It. McKeen, M.P.. in the courso o'- a pro-sessional address at Newtown. Within tho last five years, he said. 188,000 land transfers had been made, involving the enormous sum qi £235,000,000. These transfers cost, m land agents’ fees, solicitors’ foes, ami stamp duties, the sum of £11, 742.0; or 5 per cent', on the capital sum. This was sheer plunder, and had to be borne bv the producers ot the Dominion. Mortgages lor the l.'st five vears, Air AlcKecn added, mid increased by 103 million pounds, -hie almosi entirely to land speculation.

The High Commissioner (Sir James Allen), has sent a cablegram to the directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition stating that applications have been received in England for tho position of manager ot the Exhibition, and that he has named two applicants, and recommends that one of them should be appointed. Tho applications were referred to tlie Finance Committee. In addition to the applications mentioned above, tho directors have received about 20 from New Zealand and Australia.

Replying to the toast of Parliament al the Stratford banquet. Air ' L Masters, AI.IL, paid a special tribute to the members of the house of Representatives. He added that be sometimes thought party feeling was allowed to go too far. How much better it would be it alter the elections they forgot a lot oi it and gut down to bedrock in the interests ot the country. He was pleased to associate with the men who composts, tlie Parliament of New Zealand. A.t Masters paid a Iribuie lo the Speaker of Parliament, expressing the opinion that, the Hon. C. K. Siatham, the present Speaker would eventual!-; tu: u out to he one of the greatest. Speakers New Zealand had ever had.

A Press Association message from Dunedin says that l)r A\ att, Deputy 1 iiroctor-Genera I of Health met the Hospital Board with reference to accommodation for infectious disease, cases, urging the necessity for fxrihoi provision. Otago's provision at proamt is o.fi per 10,1)00 of population. to t lie Dominion's average of S. The position is being made worse by accommodation being scattered over ibrce institutions. The chairman (Mr Kni'dit) stressed the Board’s financial po-itiun enn-eipient upon the Goverit.iionlD blunder over- the separation of Si jilt li Outgo. Dunedin nmi ributed , uir ■'■( veu lhs of I lie lot id dt--t, . T he I, •, v mailer was referred in the Finucc Committee