GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19627, 23 October 1933, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

Yesterday’s wintry weather probably accounted for the slight patronage accorded the excursion trains to and from Christchurch. Only 194 passengers made the journey from Timaru, while the train from Christchurch brought 246 visitors to the town.

Officers, seamen and marines of H.M.S. Dunedin, numbering 100, paraded to St. Mary's Church yesterday morning. The parade, which was under the command of Lieutenant K. Walter, was preceded by the ship’s band. 20 strong, under Bandmaster F. Baker, and was watched with interest by a fairly large crowd.

Owing to the unfavourable weather conditions which prevailed both in Timaru and in the south, the visit of six aeroplanes from the Southland and Otago Aero Clubs, which was to have taken place during the week-end, was abandoned. It was hoped that the visitors might arrive yesterday, but it was reported that a southerly gale in the south had made flying impossible.

Three pedigree horses for New Zealand are on board the steamer Cumberland, which arrived at Auckland from Liverpool on Tuesday. Two of the horses are Clydesdales, a stallion and a mare, and they will be landed at Dunedin. The third horse Is a racing stallion, and will be put ashore at Wellington.

To-day will be observed as Labour Day. Its observance as a statutory public holiday in New Zealand dates from the year 1899 when the Labour Day Act was passed. Before the passing of that measure Labour Day had been regarded as a holiday in some towns while in others only the public offices were closed.

According to a letter which the Rev. Clyde Can-. M.P., has received from the Hon. Adam Hamilton, it Is hoped that arrangements may be made by which the Timaru Central Relief Society may receive a limited additional quantity of mutton for disposal at Its depot. Tile Unemployment Board is now in communication with the Society with regard to the matter.

A waywr.rd. steer entered the grounds of the Wanganui Girls’ College last week and took possession. The pupils were quickly assembled inside one of the clasrooms for safety until a drover was summoned to remove the beast. Excitement ran high as the girls watched one of the teachers enter the grounds oblivious to the presence of the steer, but as soon as she saw it the teacher beat a basty retreat.

“The United States to-day is under a dictatorship more or less as Russia is under a dictatorship,” said Canon F. W. Fancourt, at the Auckland Anglican Synod. America, he said, had a

"brains trust” of four socialist professors, whose mouthpiece was the President. France was on the verge of a dictatorship, and Germany had been driven to Fascism. One of the world’s troubles was the refusal of the Powers to disarm.

A well-known firm in Auckland recently engaged a new office boy. Soon after his arrival It was noticed that the Post Office account for portage had, for some mysterious reason, jumped to unprecedented heights. The solution of the mystery was, however. fairly simple. It was found that the green junior had, with praiseworthy but quite misdirected zeal, been filling in his lunch hour by practising on the office postal franking machine.

At the inquest into the death of Ronald M. Norllng, who was employed by the Public Works Department at Akatarawa, and was buried under a slip of earth, the Coroner returned a verdict of death by asphyxia through being buried under a fall of earth while widening the side of a cutting on the Akatarawa road. The Coroner said he was satisfied that all proper precautions had been taken, and he could attach no blame to the Public Works Department.

A cup of tea has been variously described, but it is doubtful whether more than one person in* a hundred has heard the description ascribed to Mr A. E Bedford, deputy-Mayor of Napier, while talking at the opening of the United Croquet Club. Shortly after the opening speeches he said to a friend, as he made his way to the pavilion: “Oh, wll, I think I’ll go over to have a cup of scandal broth.” His friend, who is no mean tea drinker, was bewildered. She said; “A cup of what?”

The case of a man who arrived from England with his wife and family and within three weeks was receiving arsistance from the Auckland Hospital Board’s relief department was mention td at a meeting of the board last week. “The man was able to pay the steamer passage for himself and his family,” said Mr. W. K. Howitt. “but he had no means when he landed. It is a defect in the Immigration Act which does not exist in Australia or Canada. There a man is not allowed to enter the country unless he has a cert'in amount of money.” It was decided to place the matter before the Government.

At a meeting of the Dunedin Harbour Board a member criticised the action of Government servants who are drawing large sums in superannuation in offering their services in competition with members of the general public. The speaker described the actions of a former civil servant in this respect as “a public scandal." The board adopted a remit to be forwarded to the Harbour Boards’ Association recommending local bodies, especially harbour boards, to refuse to engage the services of superannuated public servants in receipt of more than £3OO a year.

In spite of the bleak weather conditions which prevailed yesterday afternoon there was a fair attendance at the Bay when the Band of H.M.S. Dunedin gave a recital. The Timaru Municipal Band, under Lieutenant W. H. Osborne, paraded from the bandroom through Stafford Street and played two marches in front of the rotunda before the visiting band gave their programme, which was in aid of the Timaru Band's contest fund. The programme was as follows: March. "The Great Little Army”; overture. ’lf I Were King”; selection, "Darkies' Dreamland’’; phantasy, “Hungarian''; tone poem, “The Sanctuary of the Heart”; march, “The Voice of the Guns.”

Owing to the dry season many people have already purchased new garden hose whereby to liquidate the plight of their parched lawns and gardens, and many more are contemplating the purchase of a length of good hose. Attention has been drawn to the values offered by England. Mcßae’s. A fifty foot length of English hose can be purchased at England. Mcßae’s for 17/6 (with nozzle complete). England. McRae's also have all accessories such as connections, nozzles and lawn sprayers, and full stocks of garden tools which are very low priced Indeed. Come and see them at England, Mcßae's, the gardeners' shop