GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17943, 30 April 1928, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

A first offending inebriate, who appeared before Mr T. W. Sattertbwaito, J.P., at'the Timaru Police Court on Saturday morning, was convicted and discharged.

There are six cases of infantile paralysis in Timaru Public Hospital at the present time. They arc from different parts of South Canterbury. None of the cases is regarded as being serious.

IT.M.S. Dunedin, flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, was inspected by large crowds on Saturday and also yesterday. 'J’lio public spent an interesting and profitable timo on board the cruiser, and this was in no small way due to the ship’s complement, members of which, went out of tlicir way to impart knowledge of the many points of interest.

\t the monthly mooting of the New Zealand .Dairy Produce Board, the matter of export licenses tor (lairv produce was lully discussed- It was decided that Glauses 6 and 8 of the Export License, so far as they apply to f» b sabs outside Great Britain and Europe should h e allowed to remain in ahevanco tor the remainder of the season.

-\ti a mooting of Irrigators at Chatto Ci •cek, Central'Otago, Irrigators’ League was formed, and a statement was msued refusing to meet the Inquiry Committee now in Otago Central on the ground that both Mr McKenzie (chairman) and Mr Marks (a member of the O .inraitto?) nave to shoulder responsibility for the matters complained of and tli ■ iodges of any court shou'd be disinterested.

A Press Association message from Pahintua says that the Borough byelection caused by the resignation of Mr Daniel Moriarty resulted in Mr F. CL Bourke being returned by one vote Mr Bourke 206, Mr Moriarty 204. Mr Bourke_ was a member of the previous council. Mr Moriarty resigned his seat as a protest against the action of the Works Committee over letting a small contract. More than half the electors did not vote.

For acting in a disorderly manner in Stafford Street on Friday afternoon, while under the influence of liquor, John Thomas Ilobb was arrested by Constable Watt and taken to the police station. Later, however, he was bailed out. On Saturday morning, before Mr T. IV. Satterthwaite, ltobb was charged with disorderly behaviour, but he die] not appear to answer the charge. Senior-Sergeant Gibson said that Robb had chased another man up Stafford Street, in an endeavour to provoke a fight. A fine of 10s was imposed.

The lack of clear vision and the headlights of a motor-bus and motorcar were, no doubt, responsible for an accident to a young man at Evans Street at about 5.45 on Saturday last, when liis machine collided with a motor-car. It is believed that the cyclist was travelling south, closely followed by a bus with strong headlights. The motor-car was travelling north, and when turning into Grasmere Street the cyclist caught a back mudguard of the vehicle and was tin-own to the ground. Beyond the cyclist’s hands being bruised by the fall, no serious injury was sustained. The vehicles were nob damaged to any great extent.

After imbibing rather freely 5 on Friday afternoon, an elderly man walked up Stafford Street unsteadily, and when in the vicinity of Ballantynes’ he lost his equilibrium and fell against one of the big plate glass winnows, winch faked to arrest his fall. Tlie window was valued at about £3O. A constable arrived and the offender was given a night at the police station. He appeared before Mr T. W. Satterthwaite, J.P., at the Timaru Police Court on Saturday morning, charged with drunkenness, to which ha pleaded guilty. He was “convicted and fined £l, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Senior-Sergeant Gibson said that the police had no power to lay a charge in respect of the broken window, which would be the subject of a civil claim.

A traction trial of more than ordinary interest was held on Mr It. J. McKeown’s property at Woodbury, on Thursday last. People were present from Christchurch to Oamaru, the attendance being estimated at about 600. Motor cars parked on the roadside numbered 100. Three Hart-Parr tractors were seen at work on the downs close to Mr McKeown’s homestead, and various other farm implements were on exhibition. The tractors drew, with ease, 4-furrow plough, 3-furrow disc ploughs, every description of grubber and scarifier, a big drain plough which had previously been drawn only by a traction engine, and one of them drove a Clayton and Shuttleworth mill, threshing a stack of sheaves and it.- also drove a doublebagger Andrews and Beavan chaffcutter. A number of implement films had implements on exliibitfion, and the tractors drew them all. Those present spent a very interesting and profitable time. Luncheon was provided on a liberal scale for 500 people, and at the conclusion of the day, a hearty vote of thanks ■ was passed to Mr McKeown.

Seldom have the public of Timaru been created to a better Sunday concert than the one given before a crowded house at tlie Theate Royal last evening by the Timaru Municipal Band (under Conductor W. Osborne), and assisting Timaru vocalists. The Band was at the top of its form and time and again had to contribute repeat numbers. The audience’s enthusiasm wag most marked over the interpretation of “Simeon,” a request numoer, and “In a Persian Market.” The Band’s contribution to the entertainment was made by the following items; —March, “The Exile,” “Simeon” (Rimmer); contest selection “Faust”: hymn, “Lead Kindly Light” (Sullivan), soloist, Bandsman D. Taylor j “In a Persian Market,”. (Kettleby): and “Cavalry of the Clouds” (Alford) . ID'S P. W. Rule and Mr G. H. Andrews were the vocalists, and they fully upheld their reputations. Mrs Rule sang “The Willow Sopg” (GoringThonias) and “Down the Forest’’ (Landon Ronald). Mr Andrews contributed “Only the River Running By” (Hopkins), and “Red Devon by the Sea” (Coningsby Clarke). Mr F. J. Hyde acted as accompanist. By the time expenses are met it is expected that the Baud’s instrument fund will benefit to the extent of £5 as a result of the collection.

Seeing is believing, and it is necessary to see to understand the strain under which the Telephone Exchange attendants work, especially on Saturday mornings. A ‘‘Herald’’ representative had such an opportunity of viewing the operators on duty last Saturday at 10.30 a.m., when the number of calls handled was almost boyond belief. The Exchange was just a buzz of “number please,” “engaged,” “sorry, I’ll try them again,” etc., and it seemed remarkable the attendants could find time to be courteous. The layman’s idea of a Government supervisor is one who sits down all day and supervises from a distance, but it is not so in the Timaru Telephone Exchange, where the supervisor seems to do all the work, the attendants cannot possibly cope with. For every telephone connected with the Exchange, there is a plug above. it, a light which flashes when the subscriber lifts tlie receiver, and at no time did any board show blank, three lights flashing in most cases, and in one instance, six callers were ringing on one board at the same instant. This attendant was timed by the reporter, and the six .calls wore plugged through in fourteen seconds. No doubt the last one connected would think the delay was at least a minute, but fourteen seconds is really a very brief space of timo; and anyone who is of opinion that tlio Exchange is slow, wou’d change that opinion after a visit there in a busy period.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The slumbers of many households will be rudely disturbed to-morrow morning •—and the slumbers of the ducks as well. Be sure you get your license to-day—also a supply of dependable cartridges—England, Mcßae, Ltd., can fit you out with both. They have, as well, a fine range of shotguns, cartridge belts, and decoys. ..