LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20670, 8 March 1937, Page 8

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Railway Excursions An excursion train from Dunedin, which brought about 600 passengers, saw a large increase in Sunday visitors to Timaru yesterday. The first train from Christchurch carried 267 passengers, while 228 arrived on the second. Timaru people who travelled on the train for Christchurch totalled 248. Masonic Convocation The annual convocation of the Royal Arch Freemasons of New Zealand will be held at Invercargill on Wednesday, when representatives will be present from all the Chapters throughout the Dominion. Colonel G. Barclay, of Dunedin, who has been selected as first Grand Principal for the ensuing year, will be installed in office. Japanese Runner In Timaru Kohei Murakoso, one of the two Japanese athletes at present touring the Dominion, paid a short visit to Timaru yesterday. He arrived on the excursion train from Dunedin and was met by officials of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Association and entertained at lunch at the Grosvenor. The visitor had a run at the Caledonian Grounds and was later taken for a drive before leaving for the north. Picnickers at Lake Tekapo Many people with little interest in the annual Tekapo sheep sale on Saturday took advantage of the fine day to picnic on the lakeside or in the Mackenzie Council’s camping grounds. There were probably more people in picnic parties around the lake, or taking a casual interest in the sale than there were potential buyers. Hundreds of cars lining the roadside were an unusual spectacle on a Mackenzie back-country highway. Most of the visitors no doubt spent an enjoyable day in Tekapo’s famed sunshine inspecting the many points of interest for which it is justly noted. Railway Social Club At the annual meeting of the Timaru Railway Social and Rifle Club the following officers were elected:—Patron, Mr C. J. Williams; president, Mr J. W. Maloney; vice-president, Mr A. Thomas; hon. secretary, Mi- M. J. Fitzharris; target checkers, Messrs K. Milne, D. Parsons and A. Ede; club captain, Mr J. Mclntyre; vice-captain, Mr D. Parsons; armourer, Mr J. O’Neill. It was decided to commence shooting for the season on April 6, the social evenings to begin on April 3. Milk Supply for Schools A meeting of representatives of school committees, teachers and others interested in the distribution of milk for school children was held in the Borough Council Chambers, the Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) presiding. It was decided to form a committee to consider the initial steps necessary to comply with the scheme. The following were appointed: Messrs G. Benstead (Education Board), Ruston (technical and secondary schools), Dephoff (School Committees’ Association), Garton (headmasters), Bro. Marcellin (Marist and Convent Schools), A. S. Kinsman (Timaru Borough Council), Wallwork (Health Department), Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., and representatives of the Stock and Agricultural Department. Mr A. S. Kinsman was elected chairman. Police Methods Praised Favourable comment about the methods adopted by the police in crime detection in New Zealand was heard in overseas countries by Mr F. J. T. Grigg, Government Analyst for Canterbury and Westland, who has returned from a visit to Great Britain and the Continent, where he studied among other things scientific criminal investigation. Mr Grigg visited Scotland Yard, the two great police laboratories in England at Hendon and Nottingham, and the criminal investigation departments in Belgium, Germany and France. He said that he had found the facilities and organisation for crime investigation in New Zealand compared favourably with those of other countries, and he had heard favourable comment on the conduct of several recent murder investigations in this country.