GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17772, 7 October 1927, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

Regulations were gazetted last niglit covering trout fishing in the Taupo district.—Press Association message.

“ If you want to secure a referee to suit the public, I don’t know where you are going to get him,” said Mr C. Laurence at last night’s general meeting of the Timaru Boxing Association.

Spring lamb has already made its appearance in Timaru, and is selling at 1/2 per lb for forequarter, and 1/4 for hindquarter. Lamb is early this year considering that it is not usually on sale before Show time.

‘‘lf under the new rules any bookmaker is allowed to be a member of this Association, you can have my resignation as vice-president and also as a member of the Association,” said Mr R. Sliillito at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Boxing Association.

The tenders of Messrs Cory, Wright and Salmon (Wellington), have been accepted for the supply of an electric locomotive for the Christ-eliurch-Lyttelton railway at £47,955, and for overhead equipment at £15,319 6s 7d. —Press Association message.

A Press message from Oamaru reports that a serious accident vras narrowly averted at a level crossing at Otiake, when the race train collided with a car driven by R. Bird, of Oamaru. The car driver’s vision was obscured in a cutting, and the prompt action of the engine-driver in applying the brakes, resulted only in damage to the front of the car.

In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr Veitch gave notice to ask the Minister of Education if the Committee of the Reform Party, which sat for the purpose of reporting on the question of the proposed abolition of Education Boards, had yet finalised its report, and if so, would the report, with the evidence taken be circulated among the members of the House irrespective of party.

Information has been received in Timaru that the Rev. Fred J. Shaw, 8.A., pastor-elect of the Timaru Congregational Church, was ordained on August 7th last at Highbury Chapel, Bristol, England. A very impressive service was conducted by the Rev. E. A. Bridger, of Tottenham (late of Greenlanc, Auckland), assisted by the Rev. E. H. Ballard, M.A. The induction of Rev. F. J. Shaw as minister of the Timaru Church will take place next Wednesday.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Real Estate Institute in Timaru, Mr F. R. PI. Brice, of Wanganui, referred to the improved outlook l’or wool and meat, as indicated by a report published in yesterday’s “Timaru Herald,” and said it was pleasing to find that the position had changed for the better. The indications were that there would be better times for the man on the land this year, and when the country prospered the town must participate.

The new A.M.P. buildings in Stafford Street are now assuming an imposing appearance. The placing of a group of statuary, the crowning feature of the structure, was carried out on Wednesday afternoon. The statuary was carved by a Christchurch sculptor, Mr W. T. Trethewey, and adds considerably to the building’s appearance. Masons are now cleaning the stone parts, and it is expected that the contractors will be able to remove the scaffolding work in a few weeks.

Arrangements have been made by a party of the visiting delegates to the Real Estate Institute Conference in Timaru, to pay a week-end visit to the Hermitage. A special bus will leave Timaru this morning, and return on Monday, in time to enable delegates to catch, expresses for their return home. Yesterday afternoon the delegates were taken for a most enjoyable motor ride in the country, by members of the local branch of the Institute. The visitors were,delighted with the views they secured of Timaru’s surroundings.

At dawn on Saturday morning the 35-foot yawl lona left Auckland bound for New Guinea. The adventurers are Leslie Eide, of Mormngside, and Roy Tange, a seaman, who owns the ship. They intend to do some shell-fishing and pearl fishing, to trade with friendly natives, and to have the holiday of their lives. The cruise may last a year or more. There is no wireless sot aboard, but a gramophone will fill in leisure hours until the crew get tired of the records. If she keeps a moderately straight course to New Guinea, she will have covered 3000 miles when she gets to port.

Prices for main items for household are here set down. They are, however, subject to fluctuation from time to time.. There is not much alteration in this week’s prices. Fish prices have altered little, while the meat market is still the same. Spring lamb lias made its appearance, and is selling at 1/2 for forequarter, and 1/4 for hindquarter. Yeal is very scarce. There is a slight alteration in fruit and vegetable prices. Butter of various grades is selling at 1/5, 1/7, and 1/9. Eggs are 1/5. The meat market has changed slightly. For beef, prices range from 6d to lOd, for stewing purposes, with rump steak at 1/- per lb. Mutton is 5d for forequarter, and 9d for leg. Spring lamb is selling at 1/2 for forequarter, and 1/4 for hindquarter. Sausages and mince are each 6d per lb. Pork is plentiful, and is selling at from 9d to lid per lb. Fish prices are: Groper 9d, red cod sd, ling 7d, kingflsh 9d, fleunders lid, soles lOd, smoked blue cod 1/2, smoked barracouta Bd, smoked red cod Sd, smoked ling fillets 1/-, oysters 9d per dozen. Fruit prices are:—Pears (Winter Coles), 8d lb; bananas, 8 and 10 for 1/-; Delicious apples, 8d lb; Jonathans, 6d lb; Stunners, 6d lb; Ballarat seedlings, 6d lb; Island oranges, 3, 4 and 5 for 1/-; mandarins, Auckland lemons, 6 for 1 /-; grapes, 1/6 per lb; marmalade oranges, Sd lb (sliced); pineapples, 2/6 each; tomatoes, 1/6 lb. Prices for vegetables are: Potatoes, 121 b 1/-; Californian onions, 31bs 1 /-; beetroot, 2d bunch; cabbages 6d to 1/6; cauliflowers, 4d to 1/6; swede turnips, 121 b 1/-; leeks, 2d bunch; lettuce, 2d to 4cl; rhubarb, 6d and Sd bunch; parsnips and carrots, 2d bunch; asparagus, 1/- to 1/6 bunch.

With local cricket competitions starting shortly, it behoves clubs and individuals to check up on “gear.” Pads all there? Wickets? Gloves? Bats? Ball? No?—then on to England, Mcßae, with you! You will find the money you have available will buy the best, if not most, as well, at Timaru’s leading cricket specialists. The season’s display of cricket material is ready now—Jacques, Spaldings and Gunn and Moore’s Autograph cricket bats, Wisden’s cricket balls, together with stumps, nets and sundries are conveniently displayed and certainly most conveniently priced at 222 Stafford Street. Come along, the whole crowd of you.

After the worst winter for many years, a considerable improvement in travelling conditions on the clay roads north of Wiiangarei is reported, largely because of the drying winds of the past week.

In the eight months ended 31st August, there arrived in New Zealand 8258 immigrants, who had intimated their intention to take up permanent residence in the Dominion. The countries from which they principally came were : England and Wales, 4006; Scotland, 2256; Ireland, 704, and Australia, 470. During the same pei'iod, 8 Chinese and 21 Indians arrived, and 22 Chinese Jeft. The tourists who came numbered 5629.

On the admission of the Minister of Education the perfect political party has not yet been found. Replying to an interjection from the Opposition benches, Mr Wright said that the trouble with the Opposition was that they were looking for perfect men, and these were not to found in any party. (Laughter.) Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) : “Oil, gaze on usl”- Mr AVright: “Even in the Labour Party there are some men who are not perfect.”-

Tli© whole of the Manawatu district is experiencing a splendid dairying season, and all factories are turning out large quantities of butter and cheese. The iVlakino factory, for instance, an output of 143 J tons of-butter for September, which is twenty tons ahead of the quantity made during September last year. On to-day’s prices the present output is worth over £IOOO per day, and the increase means an additional turnover of £3360 to the suppliers of the factory.

The Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, addressing the Christian Endeavour Convention, in Auckland, said that without doubt New Zealand was facing a spiritual crisis. The Christian Endeavour was an excellent organisation to look after the spiritual welfare of the young. The power of religion had declined, particularly among women and girls, for every woman and girl nearly ten men were converted. The only people holding back the onrush of worldliness nvere the spiritually minded men and women of the past generation.

The annual sheep returns, laid on the table of the House of Representatives show that the number of sheep in the Dominion at 30th April last was 25,649,016 as compared with 24,904,993 a year previously, an increase of 744,023. TJie North Island figures were 13,957,820, and 13,830,250 respectively. Owners of flocks up to 200 sheep totalled 6051; 200 to 500, 6562; 500 to 1000, 5864; 1000 to 2500, 4960; 2500 to 5000, 1461; 5000 to 7500, 384; 7500 to 10,000, 157; 10,000 to 20,000, 128, and 20,000 and over, 22. The total number of owners was 25,609.

A statement to the effect of daylight saving upon the electric light revenue of tlie Palmerston North Borough was presented to the council meeting by the electrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir). The engineer estimated that the revenue will be approximately £1550 less than it would have been . “I think this saving in light is one of the finest arguments in favour of the now Bill,” stated Councillor M. A. Eliott, who added that the saving would mean that users of electric light will be much more in pocket. The Daylight Saving Act he considered one of the finest yet put on the Statute Book.

“I don’t know whether the [Minister of Pensions intends to bring down liis comprehensive scheme of universal pensions this session,” remarked the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) in the House of Representatives. “If lie does, he is very late in doing it. He has been sleeping on it all the session. He may bring it down in tlie course of the present session or possibly he may leave it until next session and bring it down on the eve of the General Election. But I suggest to him that he won’t get away with it as he did with the Family Allowances Bill, which became a breach of promise in the end.’!

Waihi has recently developed a “ghost scare” which, it is reported, has already affected attendance at picture theatres in addition to seriously upsetting womenfolk generally. The police are investigating a story that a man, arrayed in -white x’obes and wearing a mask rubbed over with phosphorus, has been seen in various parts of the town. A young couple returning home after attending the skating rink, report that they saw such an apparition, adding that the men’s legs, in dark trousers, could be seen showing between the white draperies he wore. His walk is described as slow and stealthy, and while walking ho uttered a hissing noise.

It is hoped that tlie near-future will bring a good flood in the Grey River, as otherwise there is a grave dangetf of the bar becoming inaccessible to steamers except those of the mosquito category (reports the “Grey River Argus.”) The state of the bar lias already been responsible for the loss to the port of a good deal of trade, and lias been a factor in idling men at the coal mines. The timber trade is also being affected adversely by the limitation in tonnage, which the shallow state of the bar imposes on the vessels leaving the port. As members of the Board have before to-day remarked, the harbour is very much dependent upon Nature.

“The depression through which we are passing,” said Mr H. Mainland, in the course of an address before the Weilington Employees’ Association, “is not one that has taken us unawares. Rather we have been led by all economists or note to expect and prepare for it as inevitable, since history lias established that a period of falling prices follows on a war of any magnitude. Neither can it be said that the depression amounts to a disaster. Too frequently we are apt during periods of prosperity to discard prudence and become reckless, and a temporary setback often has the effect of restoring our minds to normality and of bringing us back to earth again. Many opinions are hazarded as to the cause of the depression, the chief factor upon which are all agreed being worldwide economic conditions.”-

The column which stands on Puponga Point, Manukau Harbour, as a' memorial to tho Cornwallis settlers, was found on Friday to Have been struck and severely damaged by lightning, no doubt in the severe thunderstorm on the previous Monday evening. The column stands on the summit of a promontory forming part of Cornwallis Park, a tract of 1927 acres, given to the city by the late Mr John Mitchell M’Laclilan. The monument was erected to the Scots settlers who arrived in the ship Brilliant and landed there on 29th October, 1841. The memorial is altogether 43ft high, and consists of a hollow reinforced concrete column surmounted by a sphere and standing upon a solid cubical concrete base 18ft square, with marble tablets bearing inscriptions.