LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20585, 26 November 1936, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Civil Case Struck Out In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday mention was made by Mr W. D. Campbell of a civil case which had been reported as having been settled, whereas the action had been withdrawn. The Magistrate said he was not concerned in what had been said. The case had been struck out by the Court. Civil Case In the Timaru Magistrate's Court yesterday, Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiff by default in the following civil case:—South Canterbury Hospital Board v. Edward J. Rooney, claim £5/14/-, costs £l/14,6. Sheep Suffer in Snow Storm A Timaru resident who returned from Central Otago via the Ltadis Pass yesterday informed a representative of "The Timaru Herald" that there had been a heavy fall of snow in the high country of North Otago during Tuesday night. Shorn sheep had been unable to stand the rigour of the storm, and in nearly every paddock passed numbers of dead sheep were to be seen. A Slip of the Tongue An amusing slip was made by Mr D. J. Cummings, Commissioner of Police, when speaking at the farewell to Constable F. Baker, in the Masonic Hall. Island Bay. Apologising for the absence of Superintendent D. C, Fraser, the commissioner said: “The superintendent was unfortunately committed to-night—” and was for the moment at a loss to understand the laughter that greeted the apology. Obliging the Public When Mr Justice Callan had dealt with an undefended divorce case in the Supreme Court at Hamilton on Saturday morning, counsel for petitioner thanked his Honour for making it possible for the case to be heard on a Saturday morning, thereby saving his client considerable inconvenience. "Judges are public servants,” replied his Honour, “and all public servants should oblige the public when they can do so.” Superstition and Educationists The election of 13 officers to a special committee representative of the educational bodies of Auckland gave rise to comment at a meeting of the Auckland Institute for Educational Research. It was a woman who drew attention to the number, whereupon the chairman, Dr. A. B. Fitt, remarked: "I do not think there is any superstition among those responsible for the education of the community; at least, I have never discovered any.” The number was allowed to stand.

Shag Attacks Duck

From the Wainul-o-Mata district is reported a fight, in a pool of the stream, between a domestic duck and a shag, with two harrier hawks as timekeepers. The referee, in the person of a farmer’s daughter, was compelled to intervene, after the duck had been considerably damaged. An interesting Question is whether the two harrier hawks on the bank of the stream were there as spectators or as probable participants in a meal. Trout are reported to be scarce in this lower part of the Wainui-o-Mata stream, and many shags are reported to be there.

Quartz Specimens

A resident of the southern portion of the Borough of Te Aroha, which was first built on in the gold rush days, recently made an interesting discovery of a fine collection of quartz specimens. They were probably stored about fifty years ago. The residence is one of the original buildings on the field, and is at present in the process of remodelling. A trapdoor with a ring-bolt was discovered, and under this was discovered a 12-inch down-pipe containing a large collection of gold-bearing quartz. Some of the specimens, however, showed iron pyrites and peacock ore. Experts state that the quartz are splendid samples. It has not yet been ascertained who lived in the house when it was first erected.

Heavy Rain

Very heavy rain fell in Timaru throughout Tuesday night. The day was dull and overcast, and rata set in early in the evening. During the night it became much heavier, and up till 9 o’clock yesterday morning 1.7 inches had been recorded. For a long time the rata was coming from the south, but the wind swung round to the north at 8.30 a.m. yesterday and a heavy downpour came from that quarter. The fall from November 1 up till yesterday morning was three and a half inches. Further rain fell durtag yesterday, 14 points being recorded, making the total fall in the 24 hours 1.84 inches. So far this year 28.98 inches of rata has fallen in Timaru, as against 18.57 for the corresponding period last year.

Guerilla Warfare

The guerilla warfare which is being waged in New Zealand between white butterflies, the enemy of gardeners and farmers, and the parasites released for the first time last year by the Department of Agriculture Is resulting in a definite diminution of the butterfly pest in the North Island. The Department considers that within the next two or three years the white butterfly will be fully controlled by the parasites. The pest causes considerable damage to crops of cabbages and cauliflowers and turnips, swedes and rape. Breeding of parasites is carried out by the Government entimologist in Palmerston North. Considerable quantities of these parasites are now being released in the South Island where, it is hoped, a similar measui'e of control will be achieved.