LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20640, 1 February 1937, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Abolition of Ridings The first step in the abolition of the riding system has been taken by the Rangitikei County Council with the approval—subject to confirmation—of a special order. Following an interesting discussion, a decision was made by five votes to four sponsoring the proposal. Councillor R. G. Dalziell said that the riding system was antiquated and a change would be made compulsory sooner or later. Publicity For Author The publicity given at New Zealand House, London, to the book written by Mr J. A. Lee, M.P., “The Hunted,” is the subject of adverse comment by a New Zealander writing in London. Stating that the greater part of one window on to the Strand was in December devoted to advertising the book, he could not help feeling that the Dominion would have been better served by displaying some more valuable product. Small Excursions Probably due to the fact that they received short notice of the change, very few people patronised the Sunday excursion trains yesterday. The service was suspended some weeks ago at the instruction of the health authorities and it was only on Friday that the announcement of its resumption was made. Two trains from Christchurch brought only 113 people to Timaru, 52 on the first and 61 on the second. The north-bound train carried 72 passengers when it left Timaru. “Heart Failure” “I think the term ‘coronary thrombosis’ should be translated; it may not be known to most members of the general public,” remarked Detective-Sergeant H. Nuttall during an inquest held in Napier last week. “Coronary thrombosis is a form of heart failure, is it not?” asked the Coroner, Mr A. E. Bedford, J.P., of Dr. A. G. Clark, one of the medical witnesses. “It would be more correct to say that it is a cause of heart failure,” the doctor replied. “As a matter of fact,” he added smilingly, “most deaths are the result of heart failure.” * Maori’s Cheque The young Maori walked rather sheepishly into a country bank and presented a cheque to the teller. Something furtive in Hori’s manner prompted the bank official to examine the cheque more closely, the “drawer” of the cheque being a well-known and wealthy citizen. Turning sternly to the Maori, he thundered, “Did you sign this cheque?” “No,” quavered the customer. “Well, who did sign it, and where is he?” barked the teller. Hori, by this time thoroughly cowed, murmured, “My friend te Maori outside, him sign, but him too ashame to come in.” Band Contest Through the public-spirited action of a Wanganui citizen in depositing in trust with the Tourist and Development League the sum of money required as a guarantee, the League has now made formal application to the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association to have the 1938 Dominion Brass Bands’ Contest held in Wanganui. It is well-known that such an event is of tremendous value to the city, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the Tourist and Development League will be successful in their effort to promote the welfare of the community in this respect. Cabbage Tree or Cabbage Do the white butterflies that have caused so much heartburning to both professional and amateur gardeners regard the native cabbage tree as part of their food supply? This question appears to have been answered in the affirmative by the experience of a resident of Highland Park, Wellington, who has had a fine cabbage tree turned into a tattered apology for a plant during the summer. Practically every leaf on the cabbage tree has been attacked by caterpillars, some being cut full of holes, while others, nearer the heart, have been stripped of vegetable matter. Several other garden plants have also been attacked, but only in a half-hearted way. The King’s Farm In the opinion of Mr A. S. Holms, of Waimahaka, the King’s farm at Windsor is worthy of the claim made for it that it is the show farm of the world. Mr Holms has returned from an extensive trip to Great Britain and the Continent, and he told the directors of the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Association on Friday that the Windsor estate was a magnificent farm. There were 1000 acres of farm land, and parks and a golf course, and the stock and everything about it were wonderful. “There is a very fine herd of beef Shorthorns and a mixed dairy herd,” said Mr Holms, “and it is impossible to imagine better accommodation and fittings. The piggeries are fit for human habitation.” Arrested On Serious Charge Taken into custody on Saturday morning, Lyall Dewar, aged 42, a jeweller, later appeared in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., when he was charged that on January 14 he unlawfully used an instrument on Mabel Harding with intent to procure a certain result. Mr A. D. Mcßae appeared for accused who, on the application of Detective E. M. Thomas, was remanded until Thursday. The Magistrate fixed bail at £2OO, with one surety of £2OO or two approved sureties of £lOO each. Accused was ordered to report daily to the police. The arrest was made following investigations into the sudden death of Mabel Harding, a 21-year-old married woman with two children, at her home, Turnbull Street, on Thursday evening, January 14.