GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 January 1927, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

It is experled that about 2000 residents of Oamani will come to Timaru. by special trains, on Saturday next, on the occasion of the annual trades picnic. A Dunedin Press Association message says that the unemployment list now totals 160, with applications still coming in. A Wellington Press Association message says that, the same Wellington team as defeated Otago and Canterbury has been selected to play Auckland. About 50 Girl Guides from various parts of the South Island went into camp at Oamaru this week. They are under the control of Lady Marjorie Dalrymple, the Dominion Commissioner. Same early oats are to be seen cut in the Waimate district, blit, they are those that were sown for green feed, hut were allowed to grow when it* was found that feed was plentiful. It is not expected that harvest operations will he in full swing till about the end of February. The large attendance of ladies at the recent Timaru wool sale, and the increased prices may, it is said, have something to do with the fact that within two or three days of the sale twenty-two registrations for new motor-cars were issued at the local Post Office. The Swifts’ Amateur Swimming Club held a 100 yards handicap race in the Century Baths last evening. The heats resulted as follows: First heat: P. O’Rourke (lsec.), 1; H. Clarke (scr.), 2. Time, 74 4-ssecs. Second heat: A. Brown (7sec), 1; J. Eaton (6sec), 2. Time, 80 2-ssecs. The final will be swum to-night.

At yesterday’s meeting of the South Canterbury Electric Rower Board it was reported that up to date 14 06 consumers had been connected, with a total connected load of 3047.506 k.w. During December 95 consumers avere connected, the load for that month being 321,147. Eleven extensions were made during the month, 40 permits issued and 23 ranges connected.

Work was commenced yesterday in installing electric light at Timaru Railway Station, in place of the gas lighting which is at present in vogue. After the station has been suitably lighted, the Department’s electricians will centre their attention on the station yards which are to be flood-lighted. The long towers for this purpose are already in course of construction at the workshops.

A Wellington Press Association message says that the Remuera carried 1112 bags of Christmas mail when she started on the voyage. The post office announces that 52 bags are unaccounted for. This does not mean that all this mail has been lost, as officers rebagged the mail affected by the fire. It is known that Auckland is 14 bags short, Christchurch 13, Dunedin G, and Wellington 19. Some of this is among that rebagged.

The following resolution was proposed at a meeting of the Oamaru Burgesses’ Association on Monday night by the chairman: “That in the opinion of this association the mayors of boroughs should be elected from the borough councils, as in Australia, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs.” After a lengthy discussion, in which it was pointed out that the system of electing mayors from the council was in existence in Australia and other parts of the Empire, the resolution was held over for further discussion till the next meeting.

Since the Plunket work began in Waimate, 1094 cases have been on the books, 596 cases being under supervision at the end of November, stated the Plunket Nurse’s report. The new cases for November numbered 14 and adults and children to the number of 55 visited the Plunket office as well as 28 babies. The Plunket Nurse paid 317 visits to homes in the various districts. Of the new babies eleven are solely breast-fed, one partially and two artificially fed. Two mothers were shown how to prepare food and advice- was given to twelve mothers during the nursing period. Three of the 14 new babies were from the town and 11 from the country. Ail three town cases were normal, and -of the country cases eight were .’airly normal and three suffering iron indigestion. Colds were not so prevalent this month:

A farmer from Karioi, who was visiting Wanganui, reported that a new Maori prophet in the district has commenced operations in opposition to Katana. The first gathering of his Hock took place at Christmas time, when various matters for the launching of the new creed were discussed. A number of Katana’s followers in the Oluikune district have promised to link up with the new prophet, who proposes to take a delegation through the North Island.

Yesterday was the hottest day experienced in Timaru this sumiue", the temperature being SS.G degrees in the shade at Timaru Park, as compared with 82 degrees, the previous hottest day. With the heat came a strong nor’-wester, which, while making conditions very disagreeable for the people in the town, was welcomed by the farming community to ripen the crops and mature the pastures. The intense heat sent a great many to Caroline Bay, where the bathing facilities were very well patronised.

In the House last session, tin; member for Auckland East (Mr J. A lee) launched a thinly disguised attach on Sir Francis Bell in respect :o the appearance of £SOO on fclio IkstiiuAtns for the expenses of the New Zeal an.l delegate to the League of Nations. Mr Leo wanted to know whether 1 h -q sum was for the expenses of an ex-Cabmot tourist who had given an interview to tlie An erican papers in which lie said h; did not give a damn about world affairs. The Prime Minister at the time, indicated that lie did not believe a word of the alleged interview. Hie matter had been settled definitely by Sir Francis Beil, who returned by the Corintliic. He says tlie interview was quite incorrect. When approached in America, lie had simply declined to discuss politics outside those of the Dominion.

“It’s all nonsense to say that the day of tlie amateur is gone,” fcaid Mr I,.'A. Adamson, headmaster of .Wesley College, Melbourne, speaking i ll the light of a recent trip to Europe. ‘‘Hie day of the amateur has not gone," lie declared, “hut the day has come when international players upon whose time the public mnke.s .such a- demand will liaye to make their living out or the game that they are best at.” Of the amateur tennis player, lie continued. it wa.s demanded that he should go all over the place. This was impo-siblo if lie had a business to attend to. or was in employment. The speaker recognised that international sport was being overdone, hut if the public was going to demand that men should give up their time to international sport, then there was nothing else for those men to do but mak? their living out of the sport.

'file eleventh annual conference ‘of the New Zealand Labour Party will open at Napier on April 18 (Easter Monday), when delegates from every electorate in tlie Dominion are expected to be present. Among tlie business to he dealt with will be consideration of the report of the special comnu'.tce set up at the conference at Wanganui last year, for the purpose of inquiring into the system of land L’liure and land settlement. The committee is expected to deal with the c; uisaion of whether the “uschold” policy which has been adopted by the party should be revised. The national sccreoarv will present the report of the executive, and Air H. E. Holland, ALP., will ipporc on I lie work of the party ill Parliament. Preliminary arrangements are under consideration for the holding at Napier of a conference of women members of the party immediately piior to the annual conference.

On March 31 of this year, the new motor-registration plates (orange, with a black background), will be required to he used, and anyone failing to re-license their vehicle after that date, will be liable to prosecution. It is not yet known by the local Post Office officials when the plates will be issued, hut it is anticipated that this will he about March 1. Anyone registering a new vehicle from February 1, however, can obtain the new plates, provided they pay the balance up to March 31, and the whole of next year’s fees. The. new plates to he issued locally will he for eight different sections under the Act, and these sections are as follows: — Ordinary cars, A, for lorries that pay a license fee of £3: B, for those paying a license fee of £5 for motor buses, or solid tyred vehicles: C, for those paying £1 for two-wheeled trailers; D, demonstration vehicles; E, those paying no license, such as a Government Department; ordinary motor-cycle plates; D, demonstration vehicles.

A portable, unsinkable, folding boat is a practical solution of many holiday prqblems. England, Mcßae, Ltd., recommend to all campers and open-air holiday makers, the “Ford” folding boats, in two popular/models, the “Quest,” and the “Shackleton.” These boats are not toys—they have been used in many exploring expeditions, and though extremely light, will stand a tremendous amount of hard work. England, Mcßae, Ltd., will be pleased to explain and demonstrate these serviceable craft. ..