GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19933, 18 October 1934, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

Inspection of Territorials. The official mid-year inspection cf D (S) Company will take place on Tuesday next by Lieut.-Colonel S. D. Mason, Officer Commanding Ist Battalion Canterbury Regiment. Major Jennings, Staff Officer and Captain Murphy, Adjutant of the Canterbury Regiment, will also be in attendance. House Destroyed. A five-roomed residence owned by Mr Kelcher, Kingsdown, was destroyed by fire on Tuesday. The occupant left in the morning to Yisit Temuka and when he returned at 4 p.m. he found only the chimneys of the house standing. It is understood that there was no chance of checking the fire, as it had practically completed its work of destruction before it was noticed. Worst For Many Years. The opinion that without a doubt this was the worst season for sowing that South Canterbury had experienced for 20 or 30 years was expressed to a representative of “The Timaru Herald” yesterday by a farmer. In many parts of the district, he said, wheat was still being sown, while a number of farmers had not yet been able to put in their oat crops. Cup for Territorial Gun-drill. The annual competition for the Airport Cup was recently held by the officers and men of D <S) Company, Ist Battalion Canterbury Regiment. This cup is given for the best team in a gun-drill competition. The time limit was 10 minutes, the winners being Corporal Verdon’s section. The competition does much to improve the gun-drill of the company and judging by the various performances much practice had been necessary to attain such a standard of efficiency.

Main School Diamond Jubilee. Many visitors have already arrived to participate in the Timaru Main School Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The opening ceremony will take place to-morrow afternoon, and a first class programme has been arranged. Visitors will have an opportunity cf seeing the pupils at their tasks and of inspecting a display of handwork. There will be Maypole dances by the infants, a spectacular drill display, a ribbon dance by the girls and an exh bition of physical drill by the boys.

First Poverty Bay Wool Clip. Probably the first wool to be shorn in the Gisborne district this season ?s already in Napier awaiting sale. It was shipped last week. The consignment comprised 12 bales of ewe and wether fleece, and it was received in store at Gisborne over three weeks ago. This is only an exceptional line, however, and apart from the shearing of stud rams little fleece has come off in the district yet, although arrangements are being made for a start on some stations within a few days.

Efficiency Club. The weekly meeting of the Efficiency Club was held last evening. Mr J. Healey welcomed the visitors and introduced Mr H. D. Oddie whose task was to sell a cinematograph camera to members present. Mr Oddie ran off approximately 400 feet of film and explained the working of the machine, after which members commented on the sale. Mr Sexton gave a short resume on the lives of Lord Leverhulme and Sir George Cadbury. The sub-committee reported that arrangements were well in hand for the visit of Dr Wm. G. Fern.

A Generous Act. That the milk of human kindness still flows was strongly brought home on Tuesday to Mr John McKinnon, a blind piano-tuner of Invercargill. Reaching home after a morning job. he found his backyard literally commandeered by radio service men, for a 40-foot mast and all the necessary paraphernalia were being erected. Having resisted up to that time the blandishments of wireless salesmen. Mr McKinnon, astonished, inquired of the workers by what authority they were installing a set. His surprise, however, was considerably heightened when he was informed that a friend, who desired his identity shrouded in anonymity, had purchased a six-valve wireless set and ordered its installation for Mr McKinnon’s enjoyment. Churches Summed Up. A story illustrating the characteristics popularly associated with various denominations was told by the Rev. L. McMaster at an anniversary service of the Onehunga Presbyterian Church. An architect visiting an American city desired to inspect the various churches. Describing their location, a local resident informed him the Synagogue was next to the bank, the Baptist Church near the swimming bath, the Methodist Church close to the gas works, the Congregationalists alongside the laundry, the Anglicans adjoining the theatre, the Salvation Army opposite the fire brigade, and the Presbyterians alongside the refrigerator. Mr McMaster urged the cultivation of a warmer spint of cordiality among members of the congregation.

The “Sunroom Gleaner.” “I would again remind you that our paper Is merely an amusing pastime, and for full enjoyment must be taken as such.” This extract from an editorial in the "Sunroom Gleaner” conveys some idea of the spirit which prompted two inmates of the Timaru Hospital to publish daily what might be termed a magazine, in which was chronicled in breezy fashion events of the previous 24 hours. The news items gathered by an energetic editor and sub-editor from all quarters of the hospital, concerned chiefly the patients and staff, both medical and nursing, who were often subjected to goodnatured banter. Caricatures by the printer and publisher, Mr F. J. Scott_ formed a very interesting section of each publication, which was eagerly sought after by all the patients, as it served in no small measure to take their minds off their ailments. Mr D J. Foley was associated with Mr Scott in the publication of the "Gleaner.” and both earned the gratitude of patients on their efforts to brighten the existence of the inmates.