GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 15 December 1925, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The in kill"'? at the South School flower show awl sale of work on Saturday last amounted to £9O. The Otago Harbour Hoard unanimously agreed to ash the Government for authority to borrow .£'3so, 000 for the purpose of effecting harbour improvements. A Christchurch message says that at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury Sll eep I ar mei\s’ Freezing Company the directors stated that the year’s operations had resulted in a loss, and consequently no dividend can he recommended. The chairman said the d() per cent, drop in wool had come as a thunderbolt, and the freezing industry was passing through a crisis.

Shortage of feed is troubling scteial North Island farmers at the present, time. It is also rather unfortunate that just at the time when some are compelled to unload stock that the decline in prices has taken place.

Vague advice has been received by the local Railway Department that the population of katana will bo tiupplemented by 10,009 at Christmas. lhe pilgrimage is expected to commence with the excursion fares this week.

Travelling by motor, the members of Trinity choir spent their annual picnic at Hanging Rock, oil Saturday afternoon. Favoured with delightful weather, the outing was voted one of the most enjoyable and interesting the choir have yet held.

The fortnightly meeting of the Juvenile Ancient Order of Foresters was held .last night, Bro. D. W. Moyes presilling over a good attendance of members. The woodwards reported no members on the sick list. It being the last meeting before Christmas, the president (Bro. Jd. W. Barioot) wished the brethren a merry Christmas and a happy new year, after which the Court was closed in the usual manner.

“I think if you interfere with the liberty of the young men who smoke, you will only make them smoke in secret. I generally appeal to them to give it up for their own sake, and I tell them that I have never been in a position to be able to afford to smoke. And to all the smokers in tliis Court I would say the same,” said the Rev. F. , Rule in the Magistrate’s Court at Dunedin.

A land agent, giving evidence in the Hamilton Supreme Court recently, stated that he often sold property without the written authority of the vendoh When lie did get authorities, he never kept them after the deal was completed. He used a card system, and the cards were destroyed when the properties were sold. Mr Justice Herdman remarked that the practice was ah extraordinary one. Land agents were frequently called on to produce documents in disputed transactions.

Last Friday, ■ members of the St. John’s Choir, Winchester, held thein annual picnic at Te Moana. The Weather was beautiful for the outing. The day was spent in bathing, climbing tile hills, alid rambling through the bush. All declared that the picnic Was the best that the choir have yet held. Mr L. H. Orbell said lie was pleased to have the Vicar, Rev. G. N. Watson, with them. The Vicar replied that he could assure them he had spent a very happy day, and would eagerly look forward to next year’s piciiiq.

At the Timaru Police Court yesterday morning, before Commander Steward, J.P., a first, offender for drunkenness was convicted ahd fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Ernest Herbert Smith appeared on remand on a charge of breaking into the dwelling of Robert Watson, at Awatoto, and stealing A suit valued at £B, a shirt valued at 10s, and £5 in money, a total value of £l3 10s. He was further charged that, being an inmate of the Wereroa Government Industrial School, he did abscond from the licehsed service of Mr Chittenden, Ongn Onga. SemorSergeant Fahey appeared for the police, and asked for a remand to Napier. This was granted.

A meeting of the, Congregational Men’s League was held on Saturday, when about 30 men were present. A social hour was spent at the tea tabic, after which a business meeting was liekl. The president, Mr R. W. McJennett, occupied the chair, and extended a very cordial welcome to Mr George Dash (Mavor of Waimatc) and other visitors. Mr J. E. Shivas was elected second vice-president, and Mr W. Alexander was elected to fill the vacancy on theexecutive. It was decided to hold the next meeting in February. Mr George Dash gave a talk on the “Locarno Pact.” It was an excellent and informative address, and earned the appreciation of the audience. A discussion of the subject was followed by a hearty vote of thanks being accorded Mr Dash.

The alleged note from the lost steamer Ripple was handed to the Napier manager of tne company. A comparison of the Writing with a specimen of engineer Neilson’s in tlie office records clearly proves the whole tiling to be a cruel hoax. The name was spelt wrongly, and the writing-was qfiite different ill character. [The note above referred to read ; “s.s. Ripple— Engine trouble; dark and stormy night; sinking fast. One boat got away, but don’t think it- will reach the shore. — Engineer Ncilson.”).

The first of a series of euchre tournaments, to provide funds to install electric liglit m the Sunday Scnool, Winchester, was held on Tuesday evening. There was a record attendance, The prizes for euchre were won by Mrs J. K.’ Scott and Mr South. Consolation prizes were annexed by Mrs W. R. Pearce and Mr Aker. A guessing competition for a- Christmas cake was won by Mrs D. Grant. Mr W. Smith (Orari) supplied music lor the dance, and extras were played by Mesdames A. B. Scott, W. Peiircc, G. South, -Miss D. South, and Mr M. Patrick. Supper v/aa served by the ladies.

It is estimated by some authorities that the current season’s New Zealand wool clip will show a mg shrinkage in weight, which is variously estimated at do to 40 million pounds. Assuming that the smaller estimate be correct, it represents 100,000 bales of ,1501 b each, which, at the low average price of £l2 10s per bale, means a loss ol £I,2oU,OUU, and that altogether apart from the drop in values. It is reported that on the Fast Coast of. the North island the clips are averaging out about 21b per fleece less weight than j. t season, and it is also believed that a shortage will be noted iu all localities. This is the result of the adverse weather conditions in Lie winter and spring.

j A somewhat serious position has ; arisen in counreiiun with places for .11 class students at the Christchurch , Training College next year. From present information, it appears that ’there will not be any room lor B _ class students at the College from Soiitii Canterbury- next year Dy reason ol the fact that students from Nelson and Taranaki arc to be sent there. At the Tiniaru Girls’ High School there are ten girls for whom accommodation is wanted at the Training College next year, and great hardship will bo imposed upon them, it after having /spent the past year in qualifying 101admission to the CoUer-e. Hey now I to be debarred in ore.rr that students from Nelson and Taranaki may be taken in No notice was given of the proI posed exclusion of South Canterbury I students, and the position was only | ascertained in the course, ot a telephone ’.conversation between Aliss Barr (Prm- ; cipal of the Girls’ High School) and Mr Purchase (Principal of the 1 raining j College.) The poliev enunciated in the slogan 1 “Buv British Goods,” is usually justified bv the extra value obtainable, apart ’ from other important reasons. I One of the finest of the Old Country's 'ninny splendid productions, is the “Fw- ‘ bank Success” Carpet Sweeper, wall its seven safetv cushions and sell-cleaning brush. At' the Progressive Hard ware Store, where British goods always receive preference, you may see a fine range of “Fwbank” Carpet Sweepers. "Wouldn’t mother appreciate ore ot those trouble-free sweepers this Chr'sfmus? England. Alcßae, Ltd., are mailing a feature of useful gift lines.