GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20217, 19 September 1935, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS

Library Grants. Replying to a deputation seeking the reinstatement of the grants to country and school libraries, the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Education, expressed his sympathy and undertook to represent the matter strongly to the Cabinet. It was all a question of finance.—Wellington message. Concert at Old People’s Home. Last night the Baptist Church choir and friends visited the Old People’s Home. Under the baton of Mr J. Brownlie, they gave the cantata “Rolling Seasons” and recitations, songs and community singing provided further entertainment. The inmates expressed their appreciation and everyone did justice to the sweets and supper provided by the visitors.

Dog Flies to Show. An English setter pup which was exhibited at the ribbon parade of the Hutt Valley Kennel Club on Saturday has the distinction of having been transported to the show by aeroplane. The owner, Mr E. Leslie, and the dog, Dalesford Gay, left Blenheim in the morning by aeroplane, and arrived in plenty of time to enter for the parade. Evidently not disturbed by the air trip, the dog won three classes.

Health Stamps. Reference to the good work being done by the Health Camp Committee was made at a meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night. It was pointed out that Timaru had been third on the list last year ,n the sale of Health Stamps, and if the public supported the matter, a great deal of good would be done. The camp was to be held at Waimate this year, when it was hoped to have 50 children in camp. ’ The Chamber decided to purchase fl worth of stamps.

Magistrate's Court. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., judgment for plaintiff by default was entered in the following cases: T. Rose v. H. Sheed £7/10/9, costs £l/10/6; .1. H. Spencer v. H. Wheeler £5/17/6, costs £l/10/6; South Canterbury Hospital Board v. Frederick Read £6/16/6, costs £l/10/6. In a claim against James Watson (Mr W. D. Campbell) for chattels valued at £77/19/- and damages £5, Ruby Mabel Watson (Mr L. M.. Inglis) was non-suited and each party was ordered to pay its own costs.

Dominion’s Barley Crop. The barley crop in New Zealai\d this year being very much below the average, 270,000 bushels had to be bought in Australia. It may be assumed as a matter of course that such a shortage will prompt some of our farmers to try for a greater harvesting next autumn. As spring sowing is still going on the officers of the Agricultural Department do not yet know what will be the total acreage thus laid down, but it is reasonably sure to be such as will give security against importing on a large scale.

A Misleading Statement. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J. Savage, stated last night that his attention had been drawn to a recent Press Association message purporting to be an account of a Caucus meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party in connection with the present European situation. Mr Savage stated that the message referred to was very misleading. It was true that the Caucus had incidentally discussed the Abyssinian trouble, but after a general discussion it was decided to postpone consideration of the matter pending further information.

Services Appreciated A knighthood of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, has been con-! ferred by the President of that country upon Caotain A. H, Davey, commander of the Union liner Marama, in recognition of services rendered by him as master of the Monowai to the Finnish barque Favell, in April, 1934. The Monowai at the time was en route from Sydney to Wellington, and received a message that the Finnish barque Favell needed urgent medical aid for a case of acute appendicitis. The Monowai altered her course, and picked up a cadet named Lauri Gronlund, from the barque. The Monowai came on to Wellington, where the pat.iont was successfully operated upon in the Wellington hospital, and made a rapid recovery.

Grass-grub Plague. Grass-grub threatens to drive a Taranaki nurseryman from a property of five acres which has been providing him with a good livelihood. The pest has devoured the roots of practically every plant on the property, and every effort has failed to destroy the grubs. Eight thousand two-year-old macrocarpa trees are withered and dying, as well as other trees and flowers. The nurseryman applied to the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North for help, but was informed that there is no known remedy. Similar trouble has been experienced before by the owner of the property, but never on the same scale. He had heard cold temperatures destroyed the grubs, and as an experiment he rolled 30 grubs in a ball of snow and kept it for a fortnight. At the end of that period the ball was broken open and the grubs were as vigorous as ever.

Unusual Claim for Damages. Wet weather in August was the real reason for the Morrinsville Borough Council being called on to compensate a householder for the loss of three fox terrier pups. In anticipation of celebrating Arbor Day with a parade of school children, the council instructed its workmen to dig holes for planting trees in Cureton Street, but heavy rain fell the next day, filling the holes with water. A resident of this street missed his three pups, and after advertising and notifying the police, found them drowned in one of the holes intended for the trees. After considering his claim for compensation, the council decided to offer him 15/- “without prejudice.” It was considered that the pups had a market value of 5/- each at the time they met their untimely end.

Filming of Timaru. The Publicity and Progress Committee of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce reported to a meeting last night that an offer by a film company to undertake a publicity campaign per medium of a sound picture of 1000 feet (11 minutes screening time) had been discussed. The film, the production of which would cost £SOO, would be placed on circuit in New Zealand and on steamers travelling to New Zealand. The committee felt that the proposition was one which could not be handled at the present time, but it recommended that the representative of the company be asked to call on the Chamber at some convenient time for a fuller discussion. The committee further recommended that the Government Publicity Department be approached to ensure that South Canterbury, was featured in the moving picture of New Zealand scenes at present being made. It would be remembered that South Canterbury had not been featured on earlier productions of New Zealand scenes. The suggestions of the committee were adopted.