GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 8 May 1925, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The Tokomaru Bay Freezing AVorks are reported to have closed for the season, owing to a dispute with the butchers.

Word was received in Timaru yesterday that the marble column for the South Canterbury AVar Memorial has been shipped, and that the bronze cross, constructed in England, is also on its ivay.

A Press Association message from Wellington says that the Government intended to open some 130,000 acres in the Urew-era country, but, finding the land unsuitable for settlement, it will probably bo made a forest reserve instead.

At the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., Patrick Brogan, an elderly man, was charged with failing to provide his wife with adequate maintenance, and was remanded to come up for hearing on Saturday.

The Otipua Miniature Rifle Club held their weekly shoot on Tuesday, with a moderato attendance. The higuest scores off tho rifle- were:— : N. Jackson 69, H. Underhill 67, J. AVatson 66, J, Tacon 66, F. Newbegin 65, E. Underhill 65, L. Richards 65, B. Watson 61, S. Priest 63, ; ■ ';

Recently there has been a demand in ■ Wanganui for good yearling vealers not for local constt.nptioil, but for export (states the “Herald”). It appears that this demand has come from Italy, where the veal is made up into various forms of Italian 'dishes greatly relished I by the more wealthy of the population. ) The other Sunday, said the Rev. AV. Bullock at Masterton, cue of tho local clergy had to conduct five services anti deliver three sermons. A great fault in all churches was the...-multiplicity of sermons. “If you have only one each Sunday,” he added, “it might be a , better one.”

j “AVhat arc those funny things/” ini I quired a -young lady .form-Sydney, injdicating some round stacks:of hav of which she'caught sight from a: carriage on the Main Trunk express- (relates the “AVaipa Post”). She was told. “Oh,” she exclaimed, “I thought they I were Maori houses!”

The Hob. G. J. Anderson, after telling tho AVellington Chamber of Commerce what the Government was doing to advertise New Zealand, said that hotels were going to reap the principal benefit, and they w’ould have to clean them up. It w r as no use asking the people to come here without supplying the best, accommodation.

During the performance of a travelling circus in Hamilton recently (says the “Now Zealand lierakl”;, a member of the audience was smoking and inadvertently dropped a spark on a celluloid hair comb worn by a woman in front of him. The comb ignited and flared up, but was fortunately extinguished before its w-earer had suffered more than a bad fright.

“The education authorities would like to give all schools largo playing areas,” sated Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, at the opening of tho Bunnythorpe School, “but,” he added in humorous vein, "the price demanded by the fanners for the land prohibits such action." ’ The remark (says the “Manawatu Standard”) was' greatly enjoyed by the farming community present.

At Auckland yesterday Bertie Best (25) w’as committed for trial on a charge of wounding his sister, Gertrude Best, with intent to do previous harm. Miss Best, who had been keeping house for. her brother; stated that accused attacked her with a razor, while under the influence of liquor. He objected to her keeping company with Scholz, on account of the latter’s nationality.

A well-attended general meeting of tho Albury Collie Club was held in the Library on 2nd May, wlien final arrangements were made for the annual trials, commencing on 13th inst. A letter was ’received from Mr R. L. Banks to the effect that the Council would attend to the road and ford across the river, which would then ho in first-class order for motor traffic. Luncheon as w’ell as morning and afternoon refreshments will he available at a reasonable charge. Tho club is again in the fortunate position of securing sheep gratuitously, a strong lino of merino wethers being loaned this year bv Messrs Wall and Blakiston, of Aft. Nimrod. A working bee is to meet on the grounds on Saturday. 9th. at 9.30 a.m., and the Executive Committee will meet at 8 p.m., when the entries close and the programme will bo arranged.

The story of the man who, casually, on entering a court of justice, and hearing an official exclaim: “Gentleman, will you please take your‘usual place,” stepped into the prisoner’s dock, was not equalled hv a happening which occurred at the Supremo Court in Timaru yesterday, but there was. an occurrence which caused considerable amusement. After the luncheon adjournment, when the jurymen were filing into their special seats and taking their places with the solemnity which is usually associated with the proceedings of the Supreme Court, a. man from the country, who was evidently unacquainted with the ways of Courts, but who apparently wished to secure a seat where he could hoar to advantage, walked boldly into one of the two long scats reserved for the jury, and was about to settle himself comfortably there, when in stentorian voice, and by commanding gestures Mounted Constable Sampson aroused him to the fact that bo was guilty of trespass. Tho astonished country visitor Jo-t no tone -- ■•mking a very hurried exit.

A visitor to Masterton recently showed tho “Age” a letter ho had just received form his mother in Cairo, containing an interesting referonco to the graves of New Zealanders which she had seen in the military cemetery. Tho cemetery is beautifully kept. Tho stones, which are to 3ft high by 18in wide, are straight, rows, not mounds, and it is like one big lawn. '1 ho grass is kept short. There are soma beautiful trees and flower beds at eaoh end. All the head stones are alike both, for officers and men. I am sure any mother would bo glad to know how. well,the graves are cared for.”

“The collection of census returns next year will again be undertaken by the Post and Telegraph Department”(saj's the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister cf Internal Affairs). “The services rendered by the officers of the Post and Telegraph Department m the past,” said Mr Bollard, “have been invaluable in two ways, viz., increased .accuracy of the data collected, and the keeping down of expenses, w'hich the teiisus entails. The last census °f the Dominion was taken on April D, 1«*1* It showed that the population of the Dominion was: Europeans l,21o,»io, Maoris 52,751, Cook and Pacific Islands 13,209, AVestern Samoa 36,343; total 1,321,216.”

It is possible that tlve official count of the votes in the Auckland City Council election will not be final. Mr R F. Baiter, one of the unsuccessful Labour candidates, alleges that some of the ballot-papers contained an error in the spelling of his name. Mr Barter stated that on some but not all of tho papers his name was given as “Richard French Bastcu,” the surname boing the s,ame as that of Miss/A. H.G. Bastcn, another unsuccessful candidate. The matter will be brought before the Auckland Labour Representation Committee. In rlie meantime, Mr Barter states he is taking no action. He considers he must have lost a number of votes, because his surname did not appear bn tlio incorrect papers. .