GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 28 January 1932, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

The first wool sale of the season in Invercargill will be held to-morrow. The remodelled radio station 4ZP Invercargill, working on greatly increased power, is to be officially opened to-night. 4ZP is privately-owned, bait is claimed that its output will equal that of 3YA. Arthur Baker, aged over 60 years, has been reported to the Timaru police as missing since Friday. He has been employed for a number of years by the Railway Department as a bridge carpenter at Rangitata, and failed to return to his boarding-house. It was stated last evening by the Mayor (Mr. T. W. Satterthwaite) that some one had been guilty of damaging the Timaru Borough Council’s water - race. This was a most serious thing, and the police were being asked to investigate and take action in the matter. Permission for the City Engineer to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers at Wellington on February 23, unless he does so at his own expenses, was withdrawn by the Invercargill City Council, a previous motion being rescinded. An outbreak of fire in some rubbish adjourning a washhouse at the rear of a house at the corner of Wilson and North Streets, was responsible for the Timaru Fire Brigade being called our. at 9.30 yesterday morning. The outbreak was suppressed before any dam- . age was done. The Government motor-ship Maui Pomare came out of dock on Monday after the completion of her overhaul, which was started at Dunedin in De - cember before her last trip to Niue Island and Apia. The work in Auckland involved the removal and inspection of her tailshaft. The Maui Pomare left Auckland for Apia yesterday. The Tengawai bridge is in a bad state of repair, and one farmer informed a “Herald'' reporter yesterday that if something was not done immediately, the bridge would soon be past use. Even now it was possible to take only a very light load across, any heavy load having to be split in two and taken across in two trips. Discussing the transport of sheep to Southland, where there is an abundance of feed, the Postmaster-General (Hon. A. Hamilton) yesterday stated to a number of South Canterbury farmers that there was some danger in this course, because the sudden change from drought conditions to green feed was likely to nave a serious effect on the stock. Old ewes might stand up to it, but the lambs might suffer. At a meeting of the South Canterbury Threshing Mill Owners it was decided to reduce the threshing charges prevailing last season by 3. - per hour. J The new rates fixed are:—From the stack, 42/- per hour; from the stook, j 44/6 per hour; these rates to be subject to a rebate of 5 per cent if paid within thirty days from the completion of threshing. This makes the nett charges 40/- and 42/3. The question of the great amount of interference radio listeners were subjected to in Timaru was discussed with the Postmaster-General (Hon. A. Hamilton) by a “Herald’’ reporter yesterday. Mr Hamilton stated that he did not know if the Post and Telegraph Department intended taking anj action in the matter, but he considered that so long as the sub-station remained at Grant’s Hill, there would always be a certain amount of interference.

“I don’t want you to get angry with me,” said Mr. J. W. Mawson in the course of his address last evening, “but Timaru enjoys an enviable reputation as a holiday resort and as the commercial centre serving a very wide area in South Canterbury. I would like to ask what the people of Timaru are doing to conserve that goodwill. It occurred to me that your investment in the way of public works and utilities represents £5,500,000, and what are the people doing to protect that investment?”

Referring to a resolution passed by a Chamber of Commerce, suggesting the suspension of the provisions of the Town Planning Act owing to existing conditions, Mr. J. W. Mawson, Director of Town Planning, said it reminded him of a story. An editor of a newspaper had received a telephone communication that a well-known business man had been murdered. His regular reporters being away on other assignments, he sent the office boy to get the particulars of the murder. This was what he wrote: “The object of the murder was apparently robber/. Fortunately the deceased gentleman had just been to the bank to, deposit some securities, so he lost practically nothing but his life.” (Laughter.)

The fortnightly meeting of the Star of Canterbury Lodge No. 10 (T.0.0.F.) was held in the Foresters’ Hall last evening, N.G. Bro. Preston presiding over a good attendance. Accounts and sick pay amounting to £146/10/10 were passed for payment. A letter was received from the Grand Lodge asking the Lodge to forward names and addresses of members residing in London, where a lodge Is being instituted. A transfer for Bro. W. A. Michie, of Dunedin. was received. P.G.’s Bros. H. Clark and Duggan reported on the United Friendly Societies Council meeting, and P.G. Bro. Berry reported on the Dispensary Board. P.G. Bro. Davidson reported for the Picnic Committee, stating that a little difficulty was being experienced with a band, owing to the death of Bandsman Segar. P.G. Bro. H. Clark stated that Grand Lodge executive meeting might be held at Wellington instead of Timaru, but the matter was not yet finalised. P.G. Bro. R. Clark reported on visiting Bro. Leslie, who was sick.

When introducing Mr. J. W. Mawson, Director of Town Planning, to an audience in the Borough Council Chambers last evening the Mayor (Mr. T. W. Satterthwaite) mentioned that the main street in the Borough, Stafford Street, was named after the Hon. E. W. Stafford, at one time member for Timaru and Premier of New Zealand. “This street was not formed by the brains of man,” observed the Mayqr, “but by an ancient bullock team hitched to a bullock waggon. Their instinct taught the bullocks to take the easiest and best grades and that was the first street formed in Timaru.” The Mayor remarked that the Borough Council, in keeping with other Councils throughout the Dominion was doing its best best to observe the provisions of the Town Planning Act. However, after conferring with Mr. Mawson, they began to realise how little they knew and how much had to be accomplished. The Director had pointed out that the Town Planning Act will be better known and appreciated as the years rolled by. (Applause). In opening his address Mr. Mawson said that if some of the streets in Timaru had been laid out by bullocks, some of them must have been blind’, because Timaru had its fair share of “blind” streets. (Laughter.)

Interviewed yesterday by a “Herald” reporter, the Postmaster-General (Hon A. Hamilton) stated that he did not know whether it was the intention of the Broadcasting Board to establish a relay station in Timaru, but it was quite possible that it might do so. If the Board did not go to this extent, then it might authorise a station to be opened locally, and give some assistance to the body undertaking the work. Asked if he had any idea as to when a decision would be made re-

garding the amount to be paid for the Radio Broadcasting Company’s stations, Mr Hamilton said that a decision would be made by the end of the month.

In the course of a tour round parts of South Canterbury yesterday, a representative of the “Timaru Herald” had an opportunity of inspecting a large number of crops. In some areas the continued absence of rain has had a disastrous effect, wheat and oat crops being very stunted in growth. On one farm, a crop of wheat, barely six inches high was being cut, and there was hardly enough stalk for the machine to tie a bundle. In other parts better crops were seen, but it was evident that these would be much below the general average yield. Oats generally were very poor. In the Seadown district, however, better conditions have prevailed, and one farmer considers that he will thresh 50 bushels to the acre. The worst area appears to be a belt from the Levels up to Sutherlands, and at the back of Pleasant Point.

The busy jam and fruit preserving season is in full swing. Note these special prices at England, Mcßae’s. Tieover jam jars, lib at 1/9 per half-doz.; 21b at 2/6 per half-doz.; preserving jars (wide mouth) 1 pint, 3/6 per halfdcs.; 1 quart 4/6 per half-doz.; i gallon 6/3 per half-doz.; tin-top jelly jars, two in a nest, at 3 9 per hali'-doz. nests; jam pot covers 3d per packet; the new Cascaphane covers 1/- per packet; and best quality preserving jar rings at 6d per packet. England, Mcßae’s also stock brass and aluminium preserving pans, wood jam spoons, and spare lids for preserving jars. Order your requirements to-day