GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19958, 16 November 1934, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

Theft Alleged. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning Frederick William Burbery was charged with the theft of a quantity of gas valued at 7/-, the property of the Timaru Gas, Coal and Coke Company. The case was adjourned till December 20. A Harried Hawk. While proceeding along Rangitikei Line near Kauwhata, a motorist saw two magpies chasing a hawk. The hawk slowly lost speed, as it was hampered by the food it was carrying. When the magpies caught up to it, the hawk opened its claws, and two fullygrown rats fell to the ground. The rats had apparently only been recently caught, and still showed signs of life. “Fairly Drunk” Defined. Mild amusement was occasioned in the Supreme Court, Wellington, when a witness gave an unexpected definition of the condition of an intoxicated person whom he had described as “fairly drunk.” “What do you mean by that?” his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) asked with a smile. “He had had a few more than I had,” the witness replied, and counsel and the jurors also smiled. Fog Over Waterfront. Dense fog enveloped the waterfront and town yesterday morning and did not lift until it was dispelled by the sun about 9.30. The Union Company’s intercolonial steamer Waikouaiti arrived in the roadstead from Dunedin early in the morning. but she was unable to enter the port on account of the poor visibility. She lay outside until 10.30 when she was brought into the harbour and berthed at No. 3 wharf. Band Congratulated. A motion of congratulation to the Woolston Band on its excellent performance at the Ballarat contest was moved by Mr A. L. Gee and carried by acclamation at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Band Contest General Committee. The chairman (Mr G. J. Wallace) said that Woolston had given a very good account of itself at Melbourne, and he was pleased that the Band had entered for the contest at Timaru. Procuring Liquor. Charges of drunkenness and procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order were admitted by Sidney James Gibson in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr C. R. Orr Walker yesterday. On the first charge he was convicted and discharged, but for a breach of his prohibition order he was convicted and fined 20/- in default three days’ imprisonment. Defendant was allowed a fortnight in which to pay the fine. “Sold Out.” “My client tells me that it is often difficult to procure unemployment stamps at the small country post office near where he resides, remarked counsel for a defendant charged with a breach of the unemployment regulations at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Mr E. C. J. Foot who appeared for the Unemployment Board: “There , was a shortage at the post office in question on one day, but only once—the day the Board’s inspector began to operate in the district.” Highway Improvement. Traffic on the main highway between Christchurch and Nelson is frequently held up because of flooding on the road. Recently the South Island Motor Union wrote to the Main Highways Board asking that alterations be made at certain points. The Motor Union last night had before it the reply of the Highways Board, stating that plans had been considered or were under consideration for all the points mentioned, and it was hoped that all the works would be commenced if not completed during this season. Trentham Scholarship Fund. The executive of Trentham Scholarship Fund considered 444 applications for bursaries for 1935. Forty-four applications were declined and the 400 awards made totalled £4338. This amount is greatly in excess of the amount available annually, but it was considered by the executive that even at the risk of shortening the life of the fund, it was better to meet the claims of children of dead and disabled soldiers requiring assistance at the present time. Since the inception of the fund £60.591/12/6 has been applied to provide secondary education for children of dead and disabled men who served in the Great War.

Road Sign Needed. The necessity for erecting a sign at the junction of White Street and Evans Street to indicate to northbound motorists that the main highday deflected to the right was pointed out at a meeting of the Executive of the South Canterbury Automobile Association last night by the patrolman (Mr F. Owers). Mr Owers stated that Strangers to the district at night repeatedly carried straight on into White Street and, when they realised their mistake, were forced to swerve dangerously to regain the main road. There was nothing to indicate that the road turned sharply. It was decided to suggest to the Timaru Borough Council that an illuminated sign be erected at the corner. Definition Wanted. When a motorist drives his car into a creek and becomes stuck can the car said to be broken down? This was a poser which confronted the Executive of the South Canterbury Automobile Association at its meeting last night, when an account for service of that nature was being considered under the free “break down” scheme. In the case under consideration, the motorist had entered a creek at night and the ignition had been flooded, but Mr F. S. Shrimpton pointed out that it was possible for a car to be stuck in a creek without the engine being affected. Would the Association pay towage in a case of that nature? After considering the circumstances of the case members agreed to recognise the claim, but decided to inquire from other Associations what attitude they were adopting in the matter. Ruling Sought. An inquiry as to whether a man could act as a member of the Brass Band Contest Committee and the Pipe Band Contest Committee was made by Mr W. Andrew at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Band Contest General Committee. The chairman (Mr G. J. Wallace) said he could see no reason why a man should not be a member of both committees, but if there was a clash between the two committees over some matter it might then be inadvisable. The matter, he thought, was in the hands of the man himself. The Band Contest Committee had no mortgage over the day selected for the Pipe Band contest and whether it was advisable or not for that contest to be held on the date chosen was not the concern of the Band Contest Committee. He thought that a man could quite easily give of his best on both committees.