LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20612, 29 December 1936, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Stamp-Seller's Record Considered to be an individual record throughout New Zealand since the inception of health stamp campaigns, the sale of over £lOO worth of stamps in 13 days lias been achieved by a Wanganui woman, Mrs O. Eide. Mrs Eide volunteered for the job, and for the first few days it absorbed her spare time. Latterly business increased to such an extent that she was obliged to remain in the Chief Post Office lobby for at least six hours per day. Early Morning Fire An outhouse usde as a lumber room, on the property of Mr J. Moody, Park View Terrace, was completely destroyed by fire shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday morning. The occupants of the house were awakened by the reflection from the flames, but the blaze had gained a good hold before it was discovered and the Timaru Fire Brigade had no chance of saving the building. Good work was accomplished, however, in keeping the fire from spreading to a nearby building where several pheasants were housed. Lake Fishing Improves A considerable improvement in the fishing at Lake Alexandrlna is reported by Mr F. W. Pellett, the Acclimatisation Society's ranger. He states that Mr J. Ireland recently landed nine rainbow trout, the largest weighing 91b, in four hours. Mr J. Barnard, of Timaru, hooked a brown trout weighing 871 b which careered around for 100 minutes before it was eventually landed with the assistance of Mr W. Kidd. Mr J. Morrison played an 81b brown trout for an hour before netting it. All the fish examined in the baskets have been in good condition. More Power Plant An outhouse used as a lumber room on the property units at the ’Waikaremoana electric-power station has been placed by the Public Works Department with Metropolitan-Vlckers, Limited. It consists of a water turbine to be made by Boving and Company, an English firm, and a generator to be made by Metropolltan-Vickers, Limited. It will be about 15 months before the set arrives in New Zealand. Two of the units are now working and the third will serve as a standby when it is necessary to effect working repairs. “The Wife in the Background” “When I see a man reach a great position I am always inclined to look over his shoulder to see what is the driving force behind him,” remarked Sir Thomas Wilford, formerly New Zealand High Commissioner in London, recently, when paying a tribute to the work of Lord Elibank. “Some men reach the high places in spite of their wives, but the man who has achieved greatness usually owes a great deal to the help of the wife in the background—whose advice he pooh-poohs and then follows,” said Sir Thomas, amid laughter. Precautions for Swimmers Six golden rules for swimmers are laid down in a circular issued by the Health Department. Here they are: Do not go bathing until at least an hour and a half after meals; do not dive into unknown waters; do not overtax your strength—work up gradually to a long swim by strengthening your muscles first; do not swim alone; do not do too many “stunts” unless you are expert; do not rock the boat; do not get into such difficulty that someone will have to risk life to save yours; adequate supervision of bathing beaches and water sports in general prevent fatalities. Water is not man’s natural element. Respect it. Legality of Half-Season Licenses That the holding of half-season fishing licenses issued by Acclimatisation Societies in other parts qf the Dominion did not permit the bearers to fish in the South Canterbury district was a point made by the South Canterbury ranger (Mr F. W. Pellett) when discussing the fishing season yesterday. “We do not want to prosecute visitors, and so it is well to warn them because we must see that their licenses are in order,” said Mr Pellett. He added that half-season or day licenses or permits of any kind were not legal in South Canterbury, because the local society did not follow the practice of issuing them, and that therefore users of any kind of short-term licenses were as illegally fishing as though they had no license of any kind.