GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 18 March 1926, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

Yesterday being St. Patrick’s Day a Bank holiday ivas observed in ’Timaru, and flags were flown from public as well as "from some private buildings.

,An Auckland Press Association message says that the Australian and New Zealand warships finished their gun practice in the gulf and entered port yesterday morning.

The. next meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board will be held ill Wnimate bn Wednesday, March 24, when the annual visit of inspection will be paid to the Waimate Hospital.

At the stamp exhibition in Dunedin last week, Mr A. F. M. Paterson, of Timaru, gained a first class award for a very fine collection of stamps classified as of the new Europe and reconstruction period.

A Dunedin Press Association message says that the Grocers’ Conference decided to affiliate with the Employers’ Federation. It was practically the last trade organisation unaffiliated. .Mr J. Mcllraith (Wellington) was elected president.

A number of athletes from Wanganui, Wairarapa, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury passed tfirough Timaru yesterday by the relief express for Dunedin to take part in the Hew Zealand amateur championships to be held in that city.

A Press' message from Wellington says that a. resolution supporting daylight saving, proposed in response to a request by the Sports Protection League, was carried by the Wellington Education Board on the casting vote of the acting chairman, Mr It. A. Wright, M.P.

The Timaru Borough Council have under'consideration the purchase of a tar-macadam mixer which is wanted to expedite l the work of asphalting the footpaths. A special committee which has the matter under consideration will probably make some recommendation to next Monday night’s meeting of the Council.

A local resident who has just returned from Wellington says it is a pleasure to see how motor traffic on the Welliagton-Petone road is controlled. The road, for a distance- of about ten miles, has a bitumen surface, and an officer on a motor-bicycle continually patrols it to check speeding, which lie does most effectively.

'Two coastal steamers, the John and Kapiti, left Wellington at the sametime recently, and arrived at Wanganui within two minutes of each other. The • time of departure was 4.10 p.m. yesterday, the John arriving next morning at 8.5 a.m., and the Kapiti at 8.7 a.m.

Through the- medium of the collection that was taken up for the purpose of sending a- number of the children from St. Saviour’s Orphanage to. the Exhibition, it is understood, 19 children other than Orphanage children were assisted to niako the trip, making a total of fifty children who benefited by the fund.

Shortly before eight o’clock one morning, a blur was' noticed in the southern sky which a minute later was noticed to bo a- big flock of godwit (says a Wanganui paper.) Plying in a wedge formation, the birds passed high over the city and made off towards the north. The. big flock was followed by a couple of small flocks flying at a much higher altitude.

The curator of the Timaru Park and his staff have been engaged of late in cutting some of the branches of tho plane trees which surround Alexandra Square und tho triangle. This work was necessitated owing to the increased growth of tho trees, and for the purpose of allowing pedestrians more head-room, as tho branches were inclined to hang over the footpaths.

Tho St. John’s Church, Winchester, held its annual harvest thanksgiving services last Sunday. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion. There was a large attendance at both .services. The morning service was taken by Mr J. Stone-Wigg, and the Vicar (.Rev. G. ‘N. Watson) officiated at the evening service. Tho choir rendered the harvest anthem, “Fear Not, O Land,” tho solo part being taken by Miss Myra Opie.

A AVanganui County Council roadman made application to the meeting one day recently for a rise in wages. “How many in his family? That is the standard we. go by nowadays,” remarked the chairman. Cr. Don McGregor said the standard he would work on would be nine in a family. It would be an incentive for roadmen to lighten the immigration scheme. He considered also that the aim of the Council should be to keep satisfied roadmen.

The Mayor of Timaru has received a letter from the Mayor of Wanganui (Mr Hope-Gibbons) inquiring whether it is customary for the racing authorities at Timaru to afford the loft a l Mayor the privilege of giving complimentary tickets for race meetings to distinguished visitors. Mr AYallace has replied that so far as lie is aware the lacing authorities here had never given the Mayor that right, but they were at all times only too pleased to extend an invitation to distinguished visitors to attend any race meetings that might be on when such visitors are in the district. Air AYallace adds that he does not think the matter lias anything to do with the Ala.vor, iind what privilege attaches to it rightly belongs to the racing authorities.

The railway authorities desire the Timaru Borough Council to take oyer the control and maintenance of Station Street, which extends from Stiathalian Street to George Street, The Council cannot undertake any expenditure on Station Street unless it is first vested in that body and the railway authorities do not propose to vest it in the Council, not at all events in the meantime. Even if it were proposed to vest it in the Council it is unlikely that the' latter would take over the street until it is properly formed and metalled by the Railway Department.

The Timaru Floral Society’s autumn show was brought to a conclusion last night, when the president (Mr G. R. Joyce) thanked all who had assisted to make it a success, and the general public for their attendance. ’The ex-, hibits again camo in for much admiration yesterday, Surprise being expressed that flowers, fruit and vegetables could bo brought to' such perfection"'in "a season which lias not been favourable to products of the garden. Do Lautor’s Band was in attendance at the show last night, arid played a programme which was greatly appreciated. ‘

Professors Peren and Reddet, pro- 1 lessors of agriculture at Victoria and Auckland University Colleges respectively, arrived at Palmerston North oil Tuesday, and made an inspection of properties in that district relative to the decision to establish an agricultural college in Marton or Palmerston North. Yesterday morning they made an inspection of another property, ' and then left for Feilding The professors were accompanied by Dr ' Reakes' (Director of Agriculture) and Mr* Thomson (Under Secretary to the Agricultural Department.) After inspecting properties in the Feilding district, the party is due to proceed to Marton.

An Invercargill Press Association message says that a judgment of importance to local bodies was delivered by Mr G. Cruickshanks, S.M. The Wallace County Council proceeded against a contractor, Fraiilt Christie, for £3OO for extraordinary expenses in repairing the To Anau roads, due to heavy traffic used by the defendant in conveying hiaterial tor a hotel for the Tourist Department. His Worship said, as a result of the heavy,,traffic, a fairly good rqad had been cut to pieces. Contracts had been let for repairs totalling £965, so defendant had no ground of complaint regarding the amount claimed. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £350 and costs.

A visitor who strolled into " the Christchurch Cathedral during the. early part of January, says a writer in the “Church News,” was astounded to see soine- of the workmen engaged on the organ nonchalantly smoking cigarettes! It is not Unprecedented. In fact it is a common experience nowadays to find the workmen strolling in and out of a church hatted, and smoking quite unconcernedly. It is not usually deliberate irreverence —it is simply ignorance. If these same men by any- strange chance were to enter, tiie same church on a. Sunday they would doff their hats and pinch the warm end of their cigarette without hesitation. ~>._•••

What is believed to he the biggest salmon ever taken out of New Zealand waters was landed from the. Rangitata river yesterday, when Mr J. E- Rigott, of Timaru, caught qne of the finest specimens of the “silver horde’ ever seen in these parts. The fish was in excellent condition, and turned the scales at 42ilbs. It afforded great sport in catching, and...took' over an hour to land, at the end of which time, both angler and salmon were well “played out.” It is doubtful whether the salmon would have been grassed had it not happened fortunately that when the long fight ended it was ]ust a little out from a shallow with a.firm, sandy bottom. A representative, of the Fisheries Department happened to be on the liver at the time, ancl he. gave it, as his opinion, that this is the heaviest salmon so tar caught with rod and line in New Zealand.

His Worship the Mayor of Timaru has received a letter from the directors of the Dunedin Exhibition stating that it is proposed to send the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band on a tour of N«w Zealand at the close or the Exhibition. The object of this is two-fold: To enable members of tho Band to see New Zealand; and. to afford residents an opportunity, of hearing them play. It has been arranged for the Band to give a concert at Timaru on May 6, and the directors suggest that it would be a giacetul act if the Mayor of each city or town would give the Band a civic reception, or alternatively, if the residents of each centre visited would show the Band some coiirtesy. The Band is in charge of Capt. Anderson, M.C., and under the control of Bandmaster F. J. Ricketts. It consists of 33 bandsmen and 6 pipers, or with officers, 41 all told. i

Big stocks of Rifle Cartridges are held at tho Progressive Hardware Store, and rabbiters and shootists generally will be wise to buy their requirements well.ahead this year. England, Mcßae, Ltd., specialise in “IT.M.C.” brand, and can quote special prices for good quantities. All. trapping and shooting requirements may be had at favourable prices from, the Progressive Hardware Store. Have you seen the “Browning” Automatic Rifle?