GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19942, 29 October 1934, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

Railway Excursionists. Fine weather was experienced by the 250 excursionists who arrived by the train from Christchurch yesterday morning. Passengers who left Tirnaru on the city-bound train totalled 243. Arbitration Court. The Arbitration Court was to have held a sitting in Tirnaru this week, but owing to pressure of northern business the Court will not sit here until after the Christchurch sitting, which commences on November 3. Memories of Tourists. “Tourists have longer memories than most people, especially for the hardest bed, the worst meal and places where they could not get a bottle of wine when they wanted one,” said Mr R. H. Nesbitt, trade and tourist commissioner for Australia, in a luncheon address to the Auckland Travel Club. Little touches of courtesy also were remembered, he said, and were most necessary when dealing with tourists. Death of Naval Mascot Ratings on the training ship H.M.S. Philomel are mourning the loss of their mascot “Woofit,” who died on Saturday. The dog, which was a fox terrier, had been with the vessel since 1929 and was very popular with the men. Residents of the North Shore had a high opinion of the animal’s intelligence, for it had often been seen returning on the ferries, unaccompanied, after a jaunt to the city. A suitable entry has been made in the ship’s log. Bands on Parade. Special services were held at the Salvation Army Citadel yesterday, with Colonel Hamilton, of Wellington, leading. In the evening a musicians’ service was held, and before this the Timaru Highland Pipe Band, under Drum-Major W. Andrew, the Tirnaru Municipal Band, under Lieutenant W. H. Osborne, led the Salvation Army Band, under Bandmaster G. Hawkey, in a march up Stafford Street, the Pipe Band subsequently assisting in the service at the Citadel. Vicar Rescues Boy. Quick action on the part of the Rev. W. S. Southward (St. Chad’s Anglican Church, North Linwood) probably saved a young boy from drowning at Stewart’s Gully. The boy who was 10 years of age, was playing on a jetty when he slipped and fell into the water. Mr Southward noticed the mishap and promptly entered the water, fully clothed, and brought him safely ashore. Beyond a wetting neither the rescuer nor. the rescued was the worse for the experience. Governor-General Passes Through. While the special train carrying the official party to the opening of the Waitaki Hydro Works was at Tirnaru on Saturday morning, the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) was met at the railway station by the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) and several citizens. His Excellency left his carriage to meet and chat with the party. The Mayor expressed regret at Lord Bledisloe's impending departure from the Dominion. Dog Does Penance A cocker spaniel doing penance for the sin of raiding a poultry yard was a mournful figure recently. For the greater part of the day he had to endure the enforced presence of a victim of his caprice, a fairly plump Black Orpington hen, the dead bird being secured to his collar by a short length of rope. When his first efforts to rid himself of the bird failed, he became resigned, but his disgust was apparent. Fanciers regard the practice as an almost infallible cure for poultry raiders. Localities of Fires. A sailing vessel, a church presbytery, and a railway signal box are included in the wide range of localities in which fires have occurred in the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board’s district in the six months ended September 30. according to a report presented by the superintendent, Mr W. L. Wilson, at a meeting of the board last week. Other places in which there were outbreaks included a brewery, a freezing works, a building in course of erection, a boat shed, wood-working factories of various kinds, an iron foundry, licensed and private hotels, an optician’s premises and a jeweller’s shop. Shearing Season. Provided there is no let-up in the present fine spell, shearing operations will commence this week in several parts of the Wairarapa. The season, however, will not be in full swing for another fortnight or so yet. As is the case about this time every year, shearers, like tennis players and cricketers, are keen to commence operations, and for the last week or so tallies and records have been an absorbing topic of conversation, particularly among the Maoris, who are invariably speedy and expert shearers and shed hands. This season shearers will receive increased pay, the rate per hundred having been increased from 18/- last year to 22/6. Other rates have also been increased somewhat. Steady Progress. “In New Zealand in spite of the recent acute industrial depression, the consumption of electricity for a variety of purposes has been significantly progressive and hopeful,” said Lord Bledisloe in the course of his address at the opening of the Waitaki HydroElectric Power Station on Saturday. “During the last nine years the number of consumers, which is now nearly 335,000, has more than doubled, the number of electric ranges has increased 25 times, that of electric water heaters has increased 8 times (and by 20 per cent, during the last 4 years), and that of electric milking machines 5 times (since 1928 by 60 per cent.). Last year 17,000 milking machines were driven by electric motors of approximately 28,000 aggregate horse-power.” —Press Association. Sunday Night Entertainment. The popularity of the Sunday night entertainments organised by the Timaru Municipal Band was evidenced last night when a large audience at the Theatre Royal was treated to an excellent programme by the Band, assisted by Mr Dan Foley, who leaves shortly for Melbourne, Mrs M. Johnston and Miss M. Kelly. Mr Foley’s tenor voice was heard to advantage in “Serenata” (Toselli), “The Garden Where the Praties Grow.” “Little Boy Blue,” “Rose of Tralee,” “The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door,” “Silver Hair and Heart of Gold,” “Bride of Tipperary,” “Sally Horner,” and “The Mountains of Mourne.” Miss Kelly’s acceptable elocutionary numbers were “The Auld Plaid Shawl,” “The Bridal Morn’’ and “Tit for Tat,” while Mrs Johnston was well recieved in her vocal numbers “My Ships,” “Sing, Sing Blackbird,” and “My Little Banjo.” The Band, under the conductorship of Lieut. W. H. Osborne, was in excellent form in march “Mount Egmont”; selection, “Chu Chin Chow”; cornet duet, triple-tongued polka, Lieut. Osborne and Bandsman R. Milligan, and hymn, “Stella.” The accompaniments were played by Misses L. Smith and M. Tubb. In thanking the assisting artists, Lieut. Osborne especially mentioned Mr Foley, and said that the secret of Mr Foley’s success was that he received just as much pleasure in singing as the audience received in listening.