LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20891, 22 November 1937, Page 8

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Hedge Fire A macrocarpa hedge on the property of Mr A. Paterson, High Street, was partly destroyed by fire at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The Timaru Fire Brigade were soon on the scene and prevented the fire from spreading. Railway Excursions A large party of Dunedin visitors increased traffic on the Sunday excursion trains to Timaru yesterday. The train from the south brought 500 passengers while 450 arrived by the Christchurch train. The train which left Timaru for Christchurch took 250 passengers. Visit to Lake Heron More than 20 members of the South Canterbury Anglers’ Club visited Lake Heron yesterday. In spite of an unpleasant nor’-wester which prevailed throughout the day, a considerable number of fish was caught, the prize for the heaviest bag being won by Mr W. Kidd, whose catch totalled 221 b. Seven Oamaru anglers were also present. Early Drafts of Lambs Early drafts of fat lambs are now going forward to the freezing works operating in North Canterbury. During the dry weather, where feed was available, the lambs did remarkably well and fattened more readily than has been the case for some time. The price being paid, 9id per lb, is most satisfactory, particularly when the lower value of the skin is taken into consideration. Building Activity The value of building permits issued in the 21 larger centres during the month of September was £706,934, a decrease of £97,583 compared with the previous month, but an increase of £266,697 above the total in September, 1936. The number of new dwellings for which permits were issued in September was 406 as compared with 458 in the previous month, and 314 in September, 1936. Marine Engineers’ Skill “An extra chief engineer’s British marine certificate will get a man a job ashore as well as afloat, anywhere in the world,” said Mr J. Roberts, of Wellington, who represented the workers in an Arbitration Court case at Auckland, in stressing the value of men in various dairy factories holding marine certificates. “It is the highest-standing examination in the world,” Mr Roberts added. A Different Point of View Believing a claim of £9/9/- was too high for the value of a suit damaged in a motor collision, counsel sought an admission from a litigant in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth. There was some blood on the cloth, but the lawyer suggested that when it was cleaned the suit would be quite presentable and wearable. Counsel even admitted he would wear it himself. “That is all very well for you,” replied witness, “but I have to be -well dressed.” He was an insurance agent. Unusual Donation A Nelson Hospital patient on paying his fees account recently, expressed his appreciation of his treatment, and added that if he had the means he would make a handsome donation to the hospital. However, he would give the board a chance of benefiting by taking out a “Tatts” ticket in favour of the hospital. The ticket proved a lucky one, and the result of the man’s offer was acknowledged at the monthly meeting of the Hospital Board when a donation of £5 was received. Just for Show A Jersey cattle breeder, a foreigner, was being cross-examined by counsel in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court in connection with a dispute regarding the breeding of a Jersey bull, and he was asked why he used wire to train the horns of a Jersey calf. “Was it to deceive the public?” asked counsel. “Why do you put on your best clothes and wash your face when you come out?” asked witness. “It is just the same with breeding.] We do it for show,” he added. The unexpected rejoinder caused hearty laughter in the Court. Moral Value of the Navy An example of the moral value of the British Navy was given by Commander C. M. Tinley when speaking at a luncheon of the Auckland Creditmen’s Club. The commander said he was serving in a ship at Malta in 1929 when it was ordered to proceed to Palestine owing to disturbances which had broken out. The officers and crew practised assiduously so as to be prepared to quell any violence. They arrived late one night and first thing in the morning a message came from the Army on shore inviting the ship’s officers to go duck-shooting. The mere presence of the warship had been sufficient to remove the danger of an uprising among the native inhabitants. Rare Flower on Exhibition At present on exhibition at the Auckland War Memorial Museum is a speciment of a rare member of the lily family known as Xeromena. This plant, which has a magnificent red bloom of several hundred flowers hanging in clusters, each flower rather like a toothbrush in appearance, is common on the Poor Knights and Taranga Islands, but has hitherto not been successfully grown on the mainland. It was first found in 1924, and since then many attempts have been made to cultivate it, this being the first case on record of the full flower having been developed. Numerous plants are at present under cultivation, but so far Mr Kealey, of St. Heller’s, who grew this specimen, is the only one to develop the full bloom.