GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 4 May 1926, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

There were twenty points of rain at Albury yesterday. The Railway Department lias approved or the erection of an additional loading bank for stock at the Eairiie .Railway Station. Til ah effort to meet motor-bus coinpetit.on, the .Napier Borough Council has decided to reduce its maximum tram fare to 4d and to make all concession tickets transferable. A Blenheim message states that it feature of the Wairau .Hospital Board nominations is the election of - Mrs Chris Smith, who takes her husband’s old seat, and has the honour of being the second lady member, Blenheim Borough being already represented by Mrs .I I '. Redwood. That mythical individual, the “o’dest inhabitant,” is stated to have remarked that never in all his experience in Taranaki lias he ever seen “our mountain” with so little snow on it at this time of the, year as it now shows. This, no doubt, largely accounts for the many streams in the district being so low. —Kltliam Argus. A Taranaki farmer stated that the -butter-fat province had not suffered to the same extent as other parts of the North Island in regaul to lack of feed for stock during the recent drought. In till' northern prnvinec I hen- was an abundance of green feed, and as a consequence stock was m good condition.

Two horses attached to a delivery van standing outside a business house in Church Street at about 1-30 yesterday afternoon suddenly took fright and moved off towards Stafford Street at a fair rate of speed. Two men rushed out as the runaways neared the intersection of Stafford Street and caught tlio, horses by the bridles, but it was not until other pedestrians scrambled in at the baijk of the van and caught the reins that tl*c horses were brought to a. standstill.

The mouth of tho George Street drain lias for many months past been move or less completely cut oft from the sea by a bank of shingle, and has needed a lot of shovel work- to allow drainage water to escape. Recent sea weather, helped by a. fairly strong sea yesterday, removed the bank, and tlio upper half of the door was yesterday washed by surf. If the present condition of the shingle is maintained alter, the sea goes down a little shovel work would open the door.

The begonia house of the past summer has become the winter garden for' tho colder half year. The begonia season is over, tho plants have died, and their roots and pots have been stored till next spring. Tho house is now devoted to chrysanthemums a lino display of them. These will last some weeks, and will then be succeeded by other attractive plants. The beautiful ferns are all-the-ycar-round occupants of tho house.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Mackenzie County Council, Mr J. MofFatt drew attention to the dangerous and foolish practice adopted by some motorists, of shooting at private letter boxes as they drive along tho public loads, and said that the police should ho asKed to take action in the matter. With this all members agreed, and Mr -Buckley added that an equally reprehensible practice was that of shooting at rabbits on the roadside from motor-cars. Some day this would result in a. fatal accident, and he supposed that action would then be taken. It was decided to draw the attention of the police to these matters.

Tribute to the efficiency of the organisations and institutions of the Diocese of Christchurch is paid by Bishop West-W.atson in Hi© issue of the “Church News.” “I have had a very happy and interesting month getting to know a l.'tt.e of tho work of the diocese and of the people who are carrying it on,” he states: “My wife and I are most grateful for the kindly welcome which has awaited us everywhere and deeply impressed with tho wondemd efficiency of the organisations and institutions of tho diocese. Those who have been before us have built and laboured heroically. We cuter thankfully into their labours and can only do our best not to be too unworthy of our heritage.”

• Mr F. W. Buckley stated at yesterday’s meeting of the Mackenzie County Council that there was a general impression that tho Highway Board is a costly body, and }ie thought the ratepayers wore entitled to be told just what it does cost them. The chairman (Mr C. J. Talbot) said tho cost could be learned from tho Public Works estimates. Mr Buck’ey said that very few people saw these, and he thought tho Highways Board should issue a balance sheet in concise form for public distribution.

Members of the Timaru Borough Council who disagreed with the Mayor’s ruling at a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council in December last, when the Mayor declined to accept a motion in regard to the blacksmith whom tho Council had dismissed, will bring a case before tho Supreme Court in Timaru this week, asking for a mandamus by which the Mayor must accept the motion in question.

Railway accommodation from Dunedin yesterday was taxed to its utmost, a good number of the 83,935 persons who wero present at the closing of the Exhibition, returning to their northern hc-nics. The heavy traffic was no doubt responsible for the ono hour’s delay on both tho 4.7 express and the relief. There was scarcely an available seat on any of the trains as they passed through Timaru, as these had a'l been reserved in the southern capital. Several carriages were despatched for Dunedin by the expresses from Christchurch which were rather sparsely patronised. Motor vehicle traffic from the south on Sunday and yesterday, was also very heavy.

Mr A. F. Campbell expressed the opinion, at yesterday’s meeting of the Mackenzie County Council, that if more money wewo needed for the upkeep of the roads, it should he collected from motor-car owners. Tho land was already bearing nil tho rates it could pay, but car owners, especially tho owners of the larger cars, could pay a little more, and should bo called upon to do so, if the money wero needed. Mr Buckley said he was glad to bo able to say that the roads are gradually improving. Mr Manaton said there are no roads in the world hotter than the Canterbury road 3, and in Mackenzie County some of the best were to be found.

The genial climate and productivity of the soil has been responsible for a. remarkable feat in tho history of potato growing. Mr John Crawford, an old resident of Pleasant Point, who has been growing potatoes in liis garden for 45 years, is at present digging the third crop this season from his land. Mr Crawford planted tl.»j first crop in June, these being of the Epicure variety. A large crop was dug at the end of October and the beginning of November. On November. 8 tho ground was replanted with a. white variety, and these were dug at Christmas and in the middle of January. Mr Crawford had some Dakota seed in his possession, and rather than see the ground idle, planted this about tho middle of January. The result is that tho third crop, is now being dug, the tubers being of good size and quality. It seems remarkable that ground that lias been tilled for 45 years should reveal such excellent results, but it Inis been kept well manured.

About ten years ago seven red deer, two stags and five hinds, were liberated by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in the Taumarunui district, with the result that the animals have elono well ami the herd is now firmly established. As the result of repeated applications from Taumarunui . that shooting should be permitted, the society had an investigation of the distinct made a few weeks ago. with the result that an interesting report was presented at a meeting of the council of the society. It was stated that a number of fine stags were seen, a 14pointer and a. 1 (5-pointer being noted. As far ii.s could be judged the deer luid not done any damage to the bush. The report added that pheasants and ducks were seen, quail were plentiful, and in the bush wild peaches, were in abundance. The society decided to allow a restricted number of rod deer to be shot in the Taumarunui district next year, and to decide in August how many licenses shall bo issued, also the amount of the fees.

Inc’uded in the shipments recently landed at Timaru was a consignment of rabbit traps. These were file ‘‘Kowhai” (Hal spring), and Urn “Kowire” (wire spring), fur which England, Mcßae, Ltd., are the agents. These traps are now well and favourably known among die best trappers in South Canterbury, and deservedly so, as England, MolUio, .Ltd., have gone to considerable trouble in order to be able to supply a high finality (rap of the required pattern. Lull stocks of guns, riJlcs and ammunition are also available at the Progressive Hardware Store. ...