GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 December 1925, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

A cable message from Sydney reports that the British bowlers are passengers by the Aorangi, which left Sydney loi Now Zealand yesterday afternoon.

There was an excursion to Timaru yesterday from the Tinwald and Huntingdon Schools, the visiting children numbering about 4 50. tne weather being fine, the visitors spent a pleasant day in the town and on the Bay.

The rain of Thursday night was very beneficial, and so far as could be learned yesterday it was general throughout the district.- It was just what was wanted to moisten the surface soil, and given a spell of warm weather and an absence of drying winds growth from this on should be rapid.

! The new altar and reredos in St. Mary’s Church, given by St. Mary’s Guild, and to he dedicated at 11 a.m. on Sunday, is a fine bit of carving, designed and executed by a New Zealand artist', Mr F. G. Gurnsey, of Christchurch. The central panel of the reredos is a carved reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s picture of the Last Supper. On either side of this, separated by two carved lambs, are two statuettes, one of the first Bishop of New Zealand, Bishop Selwyn, and the other of the first Archbishop, Archbishop Julius. At the extreme ends of the reredos are two figures of angels kneeling in adoration. Thwhole work is beautifully executed, and, is at once a great orn.im-Tit to St. Mary’s Church, and a fine example of the work of the kind that can be produced in the Dominion.

There was plenty of evidence of the proximity of Christmas in the town yesterday, when a great many people made a good commencement with their Christmas shopping. Country, as well as town people, took part in the raid which was made upon the shops, all of which appeared to do good business throughout the day, and again l last night. The effect of Shopping Weelc is still evident in the brighter appearance of the shops and their artistic “dressings.” It is doubtful whether the shops in Timaru have ever looked better than they do at present, and they are frequently the subject of complimentary references by visitors who say that the retail business places of Timaru display their goods as well as any in the Dominion, and better than those in a good many towns.

Speaking at the meeting in Christchurch to discuss wheat prices, Mr J. Bitchener, M.P. (president of the South Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union), said he wished to ask those who objected to Government control whether they had ever experienced merchants 1 control. It was a great deal worse than Government control. “The farmers have made an honourable agreement, and they should stick to it,” he declared. “If we do not what will our word be worth?” There was now a prospect of a rise in price, but who could say that that would be the price when thev came to sell their produce? “What is the use of chasing a shadow when we can lay hold of the substance. And the s distance is here. If there had been no rise in the world’s price, there would have been no- meeting here to-day. I ask you as honourable men to ratify .the agreement you have honourably made and see that it is carried out.”-

The annual meeting of the Loyal Timaru Lodge of Oddfellows, was held on Wednesday night, when Bro. J. Crowley presided over good attendance. Three candidates were elected and duly initiated. The sick report was favourable. A letter of recommendation was granted to a member now resident in Auckland, and one accepted on behalf of a Wellington member. At.-last meeting of the Lodge it was resolved to admit ladies to the Order in South Canterbury, and the Timaru Lodge was authorised to draw up a list of benefits so that they might be submitted to the Registrar to procure a scale of contributions. It was decided that sick pay be 10/- per week for 52 weeks, and 5/- per week thereafter for continuous sickness, and that the funeral benefit be £lO, all payable from date of initiation. The following were elected officers for the next half year:—N.G., Bro. Harold Beckett; V.G., Bro. George Hayward; Warden, Bro. Day; Guardian, Bro. J. A. Davie; G.M., Bro. Crowley. The Prov. G.M. being present, the officers were duly installed in their respective chairs. Bro. Thcs. Benton, having passed through the various offices with credit, was granted a certificate for admission .o the Past Grand’s Lodge, and orders given for his name to be placed on the Lodge merit board. Including £l7O 5s 9cl for medical services, accounts amounting to £298 ISs Sd were passed for payment.

Busy clays at the Progressive Hardware Store. That our values are fully appreciated by a discriminating public is fully proved by the hosts of pleased people who are shopping these days at 222 Stafford Street, where England, Mediae, Ltd. display their up-to-date stocks. Cutlery, Aluminium Wan;. Electro Plate, Boulton, Jacobean and Omar Khayyam Ware, Carvers in Cases, Spoons and Forks, and other fine gift articles for which the Progressive Hardware Store is famous, are here in profusion. Shop early. ...