GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18626, 23 July 1930, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

Mr A. Stead was the only candidate nominated for a seat on the Timaru Technical College Board, as representative of School Committees, and has been declared elected.

“In collusion, Mr Chairman,” said a speaker at the opening of the Temuka Maternity Hospital yesterday, but he did not mention with whom there had been collusion. It was left to the imagination of those present.

As soon as the necessary financial provision can be made the Health Department's medical inspection service will be extended to the secondary schools of the Dominion, according to a statement made by the Hon. A. J. Stalhvorthy, Minister of Health.

On Thursday last (reported the “Herald” on July 23, 1870), at the Hook Creek, crossing, an accident happened to Cobb’s mail coach, by which the pole was smashed. “The crossing is really bad, and requires looking after by the Waimate Road Board.”

A clause in the Timaru Borough School Bill, before the General Assembly in July, 1870, empowered the School Committee to raise a rate of not more than 6d in the £. The rate was to be levied by the Borough Council, and by it handed to the School Committee.

It is interesting to record that the rainfall in Timaru for six moi.-hs ended in June, is only three points more than for the corresponding period in 1929. This year the total was 12.48 inches, while in 1929 it was 12.45 inches.

An attractive winter display has been arranged in the begonia house at Timaru Park, but as yet the centre bench .blooms are not at their best. Cinerarias and primulas form the bulk of the display, while a collection of choice cyclamen is prominent. The blooms are set off by an abundance of greenery, which has been nicely arranged.

In its shipping news on July -23, 1870, the “Herald" reported the arrival of the s.s. Beautiful Star, a three-masted steamer, which later became well-known here. “We believe the Beautiful Star is to run regularly in the Timaru trade between Dunedin and Lyttelton.” An indication of the size of some of the craft, then trading to the port, was the arrival of the ketch Emu, of 27 tons, with 20,000 feet of timber for Akaroa.

The Master of the Old People's Home at Timaru yesterday reported to the Board that the admissions to the Home during the month totalled 13. and the discharges 10. and those remaining on June 30, numbered 47.

The Ashburton High School Board has resolved to apply to the Education Department for the declaration of the School as an agricultural school if the Education Committees’ recommendations are adopted.

Seven degrees of frost were registered in Timaru yesterday morning. The day was fine, with indications of another frost at night. The curator of Timaru Park (Mr D. N. Harper) stated yesterday that this year the frost recorded compared fairly evenly with other years. Timaru had experienced 13 degrees during 1930. while a similar amount had been recorded in 1929. He had never, during the past 20 years, known of a heavier fall in Timaru than thirteen degrees.

The Shag Point mine appears to have been worked for a very long period. On July 23, 1870, the “Herald” reprinted a paragraph from the now defunct “Oamaru Herald,” which described a fatal boat accident at Coal Point:—“lt would appear that three men in the employ ol Mr Hutche.cn. of Coal Point, near Palmerston, were taking off coal in a boat to a craft lying some distance from the shore. When they were part of the way to the vessel, the boat was suddenly struck by a sea, and capsized. Mr Cook (foreman of the mine) and another man attempted to swim ashore, and were drowned. The third man clung to the boat, and was rescued.”

The increase in petrol tax which hns been expected for some time was imposed by the House of Representatives last night. The increase in the petrol duty is from 4d per gallon to 7d and there appears to be a surtax of 5 per cent on this, which will raise the tax to 7 7/20d per gallon. The duty in oil remains at 6d per gallon for British products, but is increased from 8d to 1/- in the case of foreign oils. A further increase in motor taxation is the surtax of 5 per cent on tyres. The duties on foreign motor cars are increased from 35 per cent to 40 per cent, and on motor bodies from 10 per cent, in the first £2OO. and 5 per cent, on the remainder, to 111 per cent and 61 per cent in the case of British cars; and from 15 per cent and 7$ per cent, to 161 per cent, and 83 per cent in the case of foreign.

The weather yesterday showed a decided change for the better. A fairly heavy frost was experienced yesterday morning, and thereafter the sun shone brightly. There was not a great deal of warmth in the atmosphere, however, and in places where the sun failed to reach, it was decidedly chilly. During Monday night and yesterday morning there were heavy falls of snow in back country. Four Peaks, which w r as plainly visible from Timaru. was covered to a low level, while the surrounding ranges also presented a fine sight. There w’as an inch of snow at Fairlie yesterday morning. The train for Timaru, which remains at Fairlie overnight, received the full force of the storm, and even when the carriages reached Timaru, the tops were still white. Reports from the Hermitage yesterday indicated that seven inches of snow fell there during Monday night, while at Tekapo the fall was two inches. Districts further north did not escape, one report received indicating that six inches of snow had fallen at Alford Forest, and that the fall extended in diminishing quantity almost to Ashburton.

Much of the excitement of the football season is over, and Timaru gardens from now on should receive more attention. England, Mcßae's can help you to get the right quality in garden tools. Strong garden trowels and weed forks at 9d each, digging forks at from 5/6, Norcross cultivators at 6/6, hotkaps (for bringing on early plants) at 1/6 per dozen, Dutch hoes (good quality) at 1/9, pruning shears at from 16, and handy garden wheelbarrows at 37/6. You' can depend on the gardening material supplied by England, McRae’s. Call and secure your requirements.