GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18619, 15 July 1930, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

It is reported in Christchurch that there is a possibility of the Rev. J. K. Archer contesting the Invercargill seat as the representative of Labour.

The banquet to be tendered to the Prime Minister to mark thte appreciation of the provincial district of Canterbury of the selection of a Canterbury born man for the high office of Prime Minister, has been arranged for the evening of Saturday, August 2nd. (Press Assn.)

It is believed that thousands of trout were killed when the water in Arapuni Lake was released. At a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society the theorv wi" advanced that many had been sucked through Uv crack in the headrace, while others had been destroyed by the great pressure in the diversion tunnel. Some members considered that the fish, warned by the increasing current, fled to the other end of the lake. Some of the trout had reached the pool below the fall, but as yet it was apparently impossible to net them, owing to the depth and the stony bottom. Further investigation of the pool is to be made, in the hope of saving these fish.

Losses among lambs owing to attacks by wild boars have been severe this season in the back country of Taranaki, states a New Plymouth correspondent. In the Matau district an immense white boar which ranges in the back hills, but which on the approach of the lambing season comes down to the clearings, has been a target for some seasons without success. One boar which was stalked and shot as dawn was breaking had killed three lambs. One was already eaten, and its skin was there, one was being eaten, and one was waiting to be eaten. This boar had immense tusks and huge trotters the size of q cow’s hoofs. If • the mortality rate continues, a combined effort to exterminate the boars will be made by the settlers.

The proposal originating with the Timaru Presbytery to organise a monster petition throughout the Dominion protesting to Parliament against the running of Sunday trains and asking for their discontinuance came before the Auckland Presbytery this week. The Presbytery agreed to accept the recommendation of its Public Questions Committee on this matter. The effect of this is that the Presbytery agrees to co-operate in the organising of such a petition provided that other churches are willing to take the matter up. If they do not do so the proposal of the Presbytery is that resolutions asking for the discontinuance of Sunday trains be submitted to all congregations and forwarded to the Government.

On Saturday evening to a crowded house, the second series of the waltzing competition for the championship of South Canterbury, at the Scottish Hall, aroused great public interest, 21 couples competing. The judge (Miss Ruby Betteley) selected the following three couples as winners:—Miss Benjamin and Mr D. Stewart; Mr and Mrs Anderson, Miss Wheeler and Mr P. Cosgrove. Next Saturday the third series will be completed, and the final will take place in the following week. The dance programme suited all tastes, floor space being at a premium in the round dances. In the squares, which also were very popular, there were 34 sets. Mrs Hellier supplied the extras, and the orchestral music and supper arrangements were as satisfactory as usual.

In the effort to re-form the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the question has arisen: “ What is a farmer?” There are in the area concerned poultry keepers, apiarists, market gardeners, fruit growers, dairymen, nurserymen, tobacco growers, retired farmers, floriculturists, horticulturists, viticulturists, strawberry growers, rabbit and pig fanners, as well as agriculturists and pastoralists. Years ago a flourishing branch of the union existed in Auckland, representing the district as far as the boundaries of Kumeu on one side, and Clevedon and Papakura on the other. Now many of those concerned have their own organisation. However, 500 names have been chosen from the New Zealand directory, as representing those likely to be interested in a farmers’ meeting that has been called. All those invited are defined as farmers in the directory.

With the object of encouraging civil aviation, and investigating the possibilities of forming a South Canterbury branch of the Canterbury Aero Club, Captain J. C. Mercer and Mr J. C. Guinness, two officials of the Club, flew to Timaru yesterday. During their stay the visitors called upon the Mayor and several prominent citizens, and it is anticipated that a public meeting will be held in the near future to discuss the question. Speaking to a “Herald” reporter, Mr Gtflnness said that in the event of a branch being formed in Timaru, the most suitable landing ground for the air-port would be the land adjacent to the Saltwater Creek Lagoon. If this were decided upon it would probably be necessary to open the month of the lagoon to drain a portion of the area which is now inundated. In the event of Timaru being established as an air-port, it would probably become an important South Island base, lying as it does on the direct route from Christchurch to Dunedin and Invercargill. Captain Mercer and Mr Guinness left later in the day by 'plane for the north.

Many and varied, useful and useless, are the gadgets that scientists and inventors have introduced into the home to save modern mothers labour. Among the most notable we may mention men’s watches, which are guaranteed to keep the baby quiet for hours at a stretch, and razors which are deucedly handy for peeling potatoes and paring corns. But, to be serious, there is one worth while addition a wise man will make to his household—the “Acme” wringer, it needs no effort to turn, needs no oiling, and has reversible mangle and draining boards. Price from 30/- at England, Mcßae’s. .... ,