GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17944, 1 May 1928, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

The Timaru Borough Council has decided to discontinue payment for dead rats as from Tuesday, May Ist.

A line of Tuscan wheat was sold in North Canterbury, last week, at 6s per bushel, on trucks. It is understood, that it was sold at a four penny station.

Building permits of a total, value of £2669 have been issued by the Borough building surveyor (Mr T. 0. Pox) during the past fortnight. They include three dwellings, 2 shop alterations, 3 garages and one shed.

The municipal omnibus receipts for twelve days ended April 21, amounted to £451 Os 6d, made up with the sale of ordinary tiokets amounting to £361 ,os. B.id; sale, of concession tickets £B9 Is 6d, and'surplus 18s 3}d. The takings lor the previous 17 days were £616 13s 31 d.

A gift recently made to the Reference Library in Timaru, by the Rev. P. G. Hughes, of the report' of the Royal Commission concerning the Administration of Western Samoa. At last night’s meeting of the Council, rhe donor was heartily thanked for hiß gift.

Protesting strongly, and claiming that he had four horses to attend to on the train, a trainer who had been attending the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting was preventbd from* boarding the first express for the south while it was in motion, leaving Timaru yesterday morning. The trainer was practically aboard the train when he was seized by two railway officials and lifted off the step. It is understood that he went! south by the next, train.

The Timaru Borough Council has received a letter from the, College of Arms, stating that in order that the coat of arms recently adopted for the town may be used under proper authority, it would be necessary to apply to the Deputy-Earl-Marshal for a patent. The total of the fees and stamp duty payable on letters patent for arms and supporters as appears in the Timaru coat of arms, would amount to £lßl 10s. At its meeting Inst night the Council resolved to take no further action in the matter.

The funeral of Mr Arthur 0. Major, who was found dead on Glenmore station, Mackenzie Counttry, on Thursday last, took place at Burke’s Pas* cemetery on Sunday. The funeral was largely attended, and many floral tributes were sent, some coming from as far as Auckland, where deceased had previously lived. The pall-bearers were employees from Mr George Murray’3 station. The service at the graveside was read by Mr A. J. Bridgewater of Timaru, a Jay-reader of the Anglican Church, who was taking the Sunday services at Faivlie in the absence of the Rev. Do Lambert..

In connection with the Waitaki electric power scheme, the Timaru Borough Council has received the following resolution, which was passed by the Waitaki Electric Power Board: — “Hiat in view of the grave responsibility that rests upon electric supply authorities to maintain an adequate supply of electricity to meet the normal increase in demand, this Board strongly urges the immediate prosecution of a second development to augment Lake Coleridge. That this Board having entered into agreements with consumers to supply power, and having expended a largo amount of capital m reticulation and plant, on the assurance of ample supply being available in the future, the possibility of a shortage of power is a matter of grave concern, not only from failure to fulfil obligations, but from loss of revenue, rendering a rate liable. That unless further power Is made available at an early date, it is estimated that Coleridge will again be over-loaded, and, in view of past shortages of power, and the present serious position elsewhere, due to the same cause, it is imperative that all possible expedition be used in prosecuting the proposed work on the Waitaki scheme;.” The Timaru Borough Council haa decided to reply that while it is as anxious as any local authority concerning the commencement and development of the Waitaki scheme, it considers it inadvisable that any permanent work should be commenced before the Government is satisfied that the right site has been located.

Clocks are cursed and clocks are blessed, and very often clocks are assaulted, and so the clock that, wins through is the clock that can stand much bombardment, verbal and actual. Fortunately for Timaru gentlemen who object to being awakened by the alarm they have set themselves, England, Mcßae’s have a well-assorted stock of strong, reliable luminous alarm clocks —and also a selection of hanging clocks, dining room clocks, and Turning clocks at prices that will well repay a visit. ....

The Government auditor is at present in Timaru, and is engaged in auditing the books of the Timaru Borough Council.

To-day should be a busy day at the waterfront, seven coastal vessels being, in the event of favourable weather conditions, scheduled to call at Timaru.

Whether lie is selected as the official Government candidate or not, Mr David 11. Russell will contest the Auckland Suburbs seat at the forthcoming elections.

Mr P. Oxford, collector of Customs at TimarU, advises that Customs duties collected during April totalled £45/3 11s Bd, against £6,122 3s 6d for the corresponuing period last year.

A description of the 2PC (Sydney) Dew studio, and the first recital on the Sydney University War memorial carillon, by Bryan Barker, a carillonist from England, were clearly received by Timaru wireless enthusiasts last evening.

Last evening, the searchlights of H.M.S. Dunedin, at present in Timarff, were played over the town. The night was very cloudy and suited the display very well, the sky being brilliantly illuminated. The vessel was scheduled to leave at daybreak for Elah Bay, Pelorus Sound.

The Mayor (Mr G. J. Wallace) and Councillors T. W. Satterthwaite and J. R. Hart have been appointed by the Borough Council to represent that body at a conference witn sports bodies, to be held at the Council Chambers to-morrow to discuss the question of the allocation of playing areas.

While it costs more to live than formerly, . it will in future also cost more to die —in Dunedin at ali events —if the City Council carries into effect a recommendation of the Reserves Committee to increase the existing scale of charges for the sale of cemetery allotments, burial fees, and keeping sections in order.'

The subject of Workers’ dwellings again came before the Timaru Borough Council last night, when Councillor Vinnell inquired whether anything further had been heard from the Government in the matter. of finding money lor this purpose. The Town Clerk said that a reply had come to hand than day. It was to the effect that the Government had no money available at present for this purpose.

Mr C. V. Kirke, of Timaru, has offered to loan to the Timaru Borough Council for a* period of not less than ten years, two cases of native birds to be placed in tthe Art Gallery. Mr Kirke stipulated that the Council was to take reasonable care of the birds, and keep the cases in repair should the necessity arise. The Council has accepted Mr Kirke’s offer, and at last night’s meeting thanked him for his thoughtfulness.

With a view to placing the boot manufacturing industry on a more sitisfactory basis than at present, a comprehensive survey of ali phases of the industry will shortly be made by Government officials in co-operation with the manufacturers. Mr G. H. Clinkard, advisory office of the Department of Industries and Commerce, and Mr E. T. Spidey, superintendent of Workshops for the Railway Department, will arrive in Christchurch this week for the purpose of commencing the survey.

A hearty laugh was raised at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council when a Councillor, who was complaining of the poor lighting iri some streets, said: -“Why, when i was going home the other night 1 dftl not know whether I was walking on the street footpath.” “Hal hal” retorted Councillor Satterthwaite, •“what about some more water with it?” (Laughter). The embarrassed first speaker hastened to add that on the night in question he was returning home from a meeting of the Borough Council.

In view of the Canterbury Diamond Jubilee celebrations to be held in Christchurch shortly it was decided at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council to write to the Bailway Department stating that the Council considered that the Diamond Jubilee celebrations were of sufficient importance to warrant a special train, and suggesting that the Department put on a train from Timaru on Saturday. May 26. It was stated that the Railway Department was looking for business and that it should not expect a guarantee from the Council.

Mr A. L. Gee, honorary representative of the Royal Academy of Music, is in receipt of a list of the awards of medals and exhibitions made as a result of the practical examinations held during 1927. Those for the South Island are:—lntermediate, gold medal, Marjorie Alexander (Christchurch); and Mary E. Martin (Greymouth) equal. Licentiate examination (£25 prize), Belle D. Renaut (Christchurch). Local exhibitions, intermediate grade, Louise \V. Tonkin (Oamaru).

“I would suggest that the Otipua Road job haa already interfered to such an extent! with the ordinary maintenance work .of the Borough that even at the risk of putting the public to slight inconvenience when using Otipua Road north of Harboro Street, it is better to do this than to allow the streets of the Borough to still further deteriorate,” the engineer to the Timaru Borough Council reported at hist night’s meeting of the Council, when informing the Council that he proposed, with the Committee’s approval, to reduce the staff on Otipua Road. The formation of the street was well ahead of the Harbour Board’s work, u rid was practically completed to the junction of College and Woodlands Roads. In reply to a question by Councillor F. B. Hawkey, at last night’s meeting, the chairman of the Works Committee (Councillor P. O. Vinnell), said that the committee decided not to adopt the engineer’s recommendation, but thought that it would eb advisable to finish the work at Otipua Road, and then go ahead with the programme for the improvement of other street*.

Last year the Mount Cook Motor Company entertained as its guests at the Hermitage, a number of local body representatives and officials of the Public Works Department, when matters in connection with the maintenance of the roads for tourist traffic were discussed. That conference was productive of such good results for the company that it was decided to hold another one this year. The next conference will be held at Queenstown, and invitations to attend it have been sent to the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams), the AttorneyGeneral (Hon. E. J. Itolleston), Messrs J. Bitchencij J. Horn, and T. D. Burnett, M.P’s, representatives of the Mackenzie, Levels, Waitaki, Vincent, and Lake County Councils, the Engin-eer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department (Mr E. W. Furkert), the District Engineers at Dunedin and Christchurch respectively, and a representative of the Main Highways Board. The programme for the occasion is as follows Thursday, 10th. May—Car leaves Fairlie at 7 a.m. with Mackenzie County members, picking up Levels members at Timaru and Waitaki members at Kurow, arriving at Pembroke in time for dinner. Friday 11—At Pembroke, trip on Lake Wanaka, etc. Saturday, 12 1 embroko to Queenstown in morning; visit to Park, etc., in afternoon; dinner at Queenstown Saturday night. Sunday, ig—Launch trip on Lake \\ akatipu. Monday, 14 — 1 «iva Queenstown on return trip.