GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19670, 12 December 1933, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

The Westport Boxing Association has matched Ray Nicol (Ohai) light-heavy-weight champion of the Dominion, and Vince Parker, of Timaru. The contest will be for the title.

There has been an appreciable drop in the number of registered unemployed in Timaru, compared with the corresponding period of last year. The total at present is 677, as against 820 at the same time last year. With the opening of the freezing works to-day, the numbers should be further reduced.

The Plata, which arrived at Timaru yesterday from Westport, is the first coal-carrying ship equipped with special grabs for the discharge of her coal cargo, to visit Timaru. The grabs, which are attached to the vessel’s handling gear, are a vast improvement on the old basket method of discharge, which has operated at this port for a great number of years.

A Karaka farmer who 'makes regular trips to the North buying stock, etc., used to take three days aw'ay from home and the farm on the trip by car and train. He then got “airminded,” and an aeroplane now calls for him on his farm at 8 o’clock in the morning, takes him North for his business, and lands him back on his farm at 5 o’clock on the evening of the same day, saving two clear days.

The Commercial Bank of Australia and Edwin Percy Yaldivyn, manager of the Bank’s* Wellington branch, succeeded in the full court yesterday in obtaining an order to have an action brought against them by Frederick William Moore tried by a judge alone instead of by a judge and a special jury and the motion was heard before Chief Justice the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, Mr Justice Reed and Mr Justice Blair.

I a the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr C. R. Orr-V/alker S.M., Charles George Gibbs was charged that on divers dates between December, 1932, and December 10, 1933, he did steal a qualtity of ammunition, valued at £3, the property of the New Zealand Government, the police asked for a remand until Thursday, stating that further charges were pending. Bail was allowed in self £IOO, and one surety of £IOO, or two sureties of £SO.

The Timaru Unemployment Committee last night decided to forward seasonal greetings to the Minister of Employment and the Unemployment Board, and also to express appreciation of the w’ork being done by the Board. A motion to this effect was moved by the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) who said that they had had occasion to protest to the Board on several occasions, but he felt that it would be a fine gesture on the part of the committee to extend the compliments of the season to the Minister and the Board. “Too many regard handwork as handwork only; they do not understand the intellectual training that is involved in handwork, especially when machines are used to assist in the training of the hands,” said the principal of the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Mr G. J. Park, at the annual prize-giving ceremony. “There are many minds of the kind that require something more concrete than books and words as the material on which to work. It has been stated definitely by an eminent overseas educationalist that New Zealand’s system of post-primary education is too ‘bookish.’ That it what schools of the type of this college attempt to correct.”

“It would mean a great deal of delight to me if my recent visit should have served to cement and strengthen the ties of friendship which I hope will for ever bind New Zealand and Japan,” said Captain N. Hayashi in a letter received by the Auckland City Council. On behalf of the officers, cadets and crew of the Japanese Government training ship Shintoku Maru, which recently visited Auckland, Captain Hayashi expressed his deepest appreciation of the courtesies and generous assistance extended to them by the City Council and the citizens of Auckland in making their stay in the city both enjoyable and profitable.

Complimentary reference to the work of the Investigation Committee was made at a meeting of the Timaru Unemployment Committee last night. Several speakers emphasised the fact that the work of the Committee, which comprises the Rev. Father Murphy, S. Rev. A. J. H. Dow, and Messrs H. J. Mathers and J. McCort, had been invaluable, and had taken a good deal of responsibility off the shoulders of the main committee. The Certifying Officer (Mr G. McKessar) and the secretary of the Committee (Mr E. C. J. Foot) were also complimented on the manner in which they had carried out their respective tasks, the meeting unanimously deciding to forward a letter of appreciation to each, a copy to be sent to headquarters in Wellington. A narrow escape from serious injury as a result of an explosion was experienced by Mr William Neilson, well-borer, when engaged boring a well at the back of a residence in the vicinity of Kalkohe. In accordance with his practice he was using gelignite to shatter the ground below the pipe which he was driving. To carry this out a plug of gelignite is inserted in the end of a smaller pipe, which is placed in the inside of the larger one and pushed down, the charge being exploded by means of a fuse. However, on this occasion the charge exploded above the ground. Pieces of the Piping were scattered broadcast and Mr Neilsen’s boots were almost torn off. Fortunately, he suffered only minor flesh wounds. A Maori working near Mr Neilson was not injured. In his annual report to the Board of Managers of the Timaru Technical College last night, the principal (Mr T. L. N. Tuck), said that the Dominionwide stagnation of the building trades was very evident in Timaru where there were now scarcely any apprentices. Consequently, only four small classes functioned, where formerly the College had nine. In this connection a most interesting and helpful analysis of the situation appeared in the last annual report of the superintendent of technical education, "There is no doubt that a permanent change has occurred in the conditions of industry throughout the world and in the requirements to be met in the training of young workers. The day technical schools are best fitted to meet this need in providing as a foundation an intelligent training in handwork and the cultivation of a general adaptability and resourcefulness in our young people which will fit them to meet successfully the rapidly changing conditions.” If Father Christmas won’t give you a Meccano Set, try Dad. Tell him what fun It is building bridges, building cranes, cars, etc. Parents, too, should realise that Meccano develops a boy’s creative abilities and makes him work out problems and construct things for himself. England. Mcßae, Mock Meccano Sets in all sizes from 23, and the famous Hornby Engines, Trucks and Carriages, Speed Boats and Aeroplane and Car construction sets. Bring the boys to England, Mcßae's