GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 23 June 1926, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

Yesterday the weather in Timaru ivas delightfully warm and mild, gnito like a, return to the earl;,- days of sirring.

To-day is the birthday of the Prince of "Wales. He is now 32 years of age.

The proposal to form a regimental band in Timaru is .still under consideration. It will not be definitely settled until early next month.

The asphalted surface of Stafford Street between tlie Hank of New Zealand, ami the Arcade, is very slippery in winter, and requires a liberal coating of sand when the frost is about, to make it safe for traffic. Yesterday when a loaded dray, drawn by four horses, was bein'!; driven over it, the shatter slipped and fell. Plenty of asxistanee was quickly olfering, and the horse was got on his feet again, apnarontlv none the worse for bis fall. It happened fortunately, too, that neither the dray nor the harness was damaged.

The severest frost experienced in Timaru tin's winter was one of nine degrees, as compared with 14 degrees, the' most severe frost recorded in Christchurch this year.

Both South Canterbury freezing works have definitely decided that killing operations will cease on June JO, and no fat stock will bo treated alter that date.

Fifteen years ago yesterday, at 'Westminster Abbey, King George V. was crowned. In commemoration of the event, the flag at Timaru Post Office was flown yesterday.

The gardens surrounding the South Canterbury War Memorial have mst their summer occupants in the way of annuals, and the ground has been worked up for the spring display, which consists of wallflowers, polyanthus, forget-me-not, aubretias, and daisy varieties.

At the last meeting of the Canterbury Land Board, the transfers of the following sections were approved :—l3 acres at Albury, from Robert Wood to George Burrell; 325 acres in the Waitaki survey district, from D. J. Blair to A. Shepherd; and 100 acres at liuapuna, from the estato of John Hinds (deceased) to Miss M. E. Jones.

There are still a number of motor cars unregistered in South Canterbury. The owners of these are quite safe so long as they do not uso the cars, hut if they take them on to tho road, they immediately become liable to a penalty of £2O for every day that tho cars have been unregistered since the last day when they could have been registered without a penalty.

A very appropriate winter display has been elfected in the Park begonia house recently by tho curator (Air D.‘ N. Harper) and his staff. Cinerarias and primulas are given pride of place, but the mixed display of foliage plants is also very creditable. The iiouse is still very well patronised: by tho public.

The cricket pitch at Timaru Park has been generally repaired by the curator (Air 1). N. Harper) and his staff. 'Twelve feet of the centre has been returfed and top-dressed, and under favourable conditions and with careful attention it is expected that the grounds will ybe in excellent order fofl cricket next season. The tennis courts lnivo also received their annual top dressing and repair.

A well-grown and prettily plumaged cock pheasant was sent to North Canterbury yesterday by rail, from Timaru, the bird being one of a brood which had been hatched and reared in the Fairlie district, from eggs bought in the Auckland district by tho South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. Change of blood was the reason for the bird’s transference to the northern part of the province.

Between 11 and 12 o’clock one night last week, a lady resident in tho vicinity of tho corner of Woollconibe and Barnard Streets, where the now Power Board’s buildings are in the course of erection, noticed a cart loading bricks and timber from the slacks on the land. The lady thought that it was a very late hour for tiie contractor to be at work. When tho foreman was approached the next day, it was found that the contractor’s cart had not been there the previous night, and tho operations were those of a thief. The contractor is now taking stock, and it is understood that a substantial amouut«6f bricks and tiinber lias disappeared.

A Dunedin business man who was in Timaru yesterday, stated in conversation with a reporter, that tho slump which had been predicted for Dunedin, following the close of the Exhibition, had not materialised. Though business was not as brisk there now as during the Exhibition period, it was quito good, comparing favourably with business , during an average winter. Some retailers had over-bought to some extent when tile Exhibition was on, but apart from this, things were going on as usual; and if there were those who wanted to see a slump in Dunedin, following the profitable period of the. Exhibition, ho was afraid they were going to bo disappointed. Dunedin was too solid for slumps.

Tho half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Makikihi Lodge of Oddfellows was held last Monday night, when Bro. AV. Dempsey presided over a. splendid attendance. The District Officers paid an official visit, and together with brethren from Loyal Timaru and Loyal Morven, received a hearty welcome. Tho sick report showed a. clean sheet, anil tho record for the six months is very favourable. Considerable discussion arose over tho proposed, now rules, but eventually they were left to a meeting of delegates to deal with early next month. The visitors gave a. short statement of the progress of their several lodges. P.P.G.M. Bro. Campbell, from Southland, showed how juvenile Oddfellowship and the admission of lady members had added to the prosperity of the Order in that district. Accounts amounting to £lO 8s 9d were passed for payment, including one maternity claim.

Three young men who were travelling in a, second-class non-smoking ear, wlueli formed part of yesterday's northgoing express, were guilty of conduct such as some young men are too frequently guilty of, and they got a big surprise when the train reached Tnnaru. The stationmaster (Mr Finnan), accompanied by a. constable, boarded their carriage and gave them to understand in very plain language tliat smoking in a non-smoking carriage, and drinking beer oil the train, to the annoyance of other travellers, would not be tolerated, so far as ho was concerned. Tie contistieated the beer that the young men had with them, and told them that if they repeated their offence they would he dealt with before the train reached Christchurch. As soon as the express had left Timaru, Mr Firman telegraphed north to have tho ofiendors watched by the police for the remainder of the journey.

To sit in a draught is to invite a cold. The. .finest excluder of draughts is the “Potts” Automatic Door Pad, which may bo fitted to any ordinary doftr in a. few moments. •By its use, your rooms will be rendered cosy, and the danger of catching ro'd will be reduced to a minimum. Obtain comfort and cosiness in your rooms during the cold winter evenings, by calling at the Progressive Hardware Store and equipping yourself with the Potts automatic door pad. Kngland, Mcßae, Ltd. can supply these door pads at the reasonable figure of 6s (kl each.