GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18830, 19 March 1931, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

It was reported at a meeting of the Otago Education Board that 83 qualified teachers are unemployed.

Messrs A. L. Gee, J.P., and A. P. Greenfield, J.P., presided over a sitting of the Civil Court in Timaru yesterday, when judgment by default was given in the following cases:—Marion Barlow v. Ray Howard, claim £6, costs £l/13/6; Mutual Furnishing Company v. A. Gibson, claim £2/7/6, costs £1 5/6; Dunnett and Downey v. G. Gibson, claim 16/-, costs 8/-; Brady and McRae v. Thomas David Smith, claim £5 1/6, costs £l/12/6.

Some excellent yields of wheat have been experienced in South Canterbury this season. One farmer in the Kingsdown district secured 80 bushels to the acre from a fairly large area, and from a smaller field he secured 104 bushels to the acre. Another farmer on the Main South Road had a wonderful yield of oats, working out at 115 bushels to the acre. Crops such as those mentioned would show a good return on the capital outlay.

In connection with the new postal rates, it should be pointed out that there are no “open letters,” in the way of unsealed circulars. In the case of accounts and receipts the regulations is as follows:—The words “with thanks” may be added to receipted accounts, but anything printed or written in the nature of a request for payment will subject the account to letter rates of postage. The amount of tax charged is double the deficiency in each case.

Inquiry among Hamilton commercial men shows that there has been a marked improvement in business during the last few weeks. Farmers’ requisites, which have been lying in stock for months, ai*e now selling freely, while drapers and others are quite optimistic regarding the future. It is generally felt that the Waikato has been singularly fortunate, as in spite of the low prices for primary products the season has been an excellent one, and a record output of butter and cheese has been produced.

The old “Blue Baths’ at Rotorua dismantled some time ago have risen to-day under a new name—the Ward Baths —bringing into lifelong memory thi first Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, the late Sir Joseph Ward. The new bath house is almost completed, and :'s to be officially opened with a ceremony within the next week or two. Every comfort and convenience have been provided in the baths, and the appointments are slated to be in keeping with those of the best resorts of the world in that modern tastes have been studied.

A number of ex-service men who were members of the Canterbury Regiment during the Great War met on Tuesday in Timaru when it was decided to hold a reunion in June. Various sub-com-mittes were set up to make all arrangements for this function. Reference was made to the work which had been done in the interest of ex-service men by Mr W. D. Revell, and general regret was expressed that he had recently met with severe injuries as the result of a motor accident. It was decided that a letter of sympathy be forwarded to Mr Revell together with the expressed hope that he will speedily recover.

The Woodland’s Street Methodist choir, assisted by Miss Bourn and pupils from “The Pines” entertained the inmates of the Old Peoples’ Home on Tuesday night. Many of the items were specially selected for St. Patrick’s night, and Miss Bourn thoughtfully supplied every one with a sprig of Shamrock. At the close of the concert, Mr Laverty thanked the visitors for their splendid evening’s entertainment, and bountiful supper. He took opportunity to wish Miss Bourn, and Rev. P. I. Cooke and Mrs Cooke, success in their new districts. Miss Bourn is shortly to be transferred to Christchurch, and Rev. P. I. Cooke and Mrs Cooke to Dunedin. He assured them that their efforts had been of great value to the Old People’s Home, where every one regretted their departure.

In the House of Representatives, Mr D. M'Dougall, M.P. for Mataura, said that some time ago the threshing mill owners, farmers, and workers had a meeting in the eastern district of Southland and had agreed upon the rates of pay this season to be Is 6d an hour instead of the Is 10£d an hour award rates. The secretary of the Otago and Southland Threshing Mill Workers’ Uuion had stated that the union would not agree to the reduction and therefore, the award rates must be paid, Is l(Hd an hour and found. The secretary had also stated that action would be taken against any employer paying a lower rate than the award provided Mr M'Dougall asked the Prime Minister if something could be done to protect the farmers and those who were prepared to work for Is 6d an hour and found rather than walk the streets in idleness.

A considerable amount ST interference with radio reception is apparently caused by power lines, and the Waitemata Electric Power Board is anxious to eliminate the trouble. An assurance to this effect was given by he engineer of the board at a meeting when complaining letters were received. A member said that he was sure the board was doing everything in its power to eliminate any trouble that existed. It was in the interests of the board, which earned revenue from the sets, and also those of the Post and Telegraph Department, which collected license fees, to do so. Some wireless sets used 100 watts of power in an evening, and in addition electric light was burned by listenerswn, so it could be seen that wireless reception meant a good deal of revenue to the board. Although steps had been taken to locate the cause of the interference, he still continued to receive complaints of trouble on the North Shore. It was decided to purchase equipment necessary for the testing of insulators from which the trouble is said to emanate.

A very fine kiddies’ table set comprising a stainless knife, fork and spoon in an attractive box, is now being shown at England, Mcßae’s. A set of these is an ideal present for the ambitious young trencherman and can be conveniently posted. England, Mcßae’s also have a nice assortment of E.P.N.S. childs’ spoons and pushers, both on cards and in handsome cases, and some attractive and durable sponge play balls (usually 1/6), now offering at 8d each. These lines for the kiddies are worth seeing