LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20928, 6 January 1938, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Coui-t Returns Plaints numbering 2745 and representing a total amount of £35,574/5/- were filed in the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court during the 12 months ended on December 31. Of those cases 1639 actually went to court, the amount claimed being £21.592 and the total amount recovered £18,787/4/6. Dairy Zoning At the request of Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., the Executive Commission of Agriculture, in addition to hearing individual complaints of suppliers to the Ashburton Dairy Company on Tuesday next as already arranged, will discuss general questions with an open meeting of suppliers in the Geraldine Parish Hall the following day. A Precautionary Measure A girl from the health camp at the Waimate High School was yesterday admitted to the isolation ward at the Waimate Hospital as a precautionary measure. The child has a rash, but is without the accompanying symptoms of fever, and no definite diagnosis has been made. In the meantime life at the camp Is proceeding normally. School Consolidation At a meeting of householders held in the Mona Vale School on Monday evening, the proposal for consolidation with Pleasant Point was negatived. It was decided to approach the authorities with a view to reopening the Cave School .and a suggestion was made that a meeting of the interested householders be held at Cave to discuss the matter. Horse Attacked by Hees A Marlborough farmer had an unusual and exciting experience last week. While he was riding along a narrow track, his horse was attacked by a swarm of bees, and after the horse had careered around for some time the rider scrambled off, suffering severe bruises in the fall. The maddened horse jumped over a cliff and was killed. Christmas Aboard Ship For the 115 passengers who arrived at Auckland on Friday by the Mataroa from Southampton, Christmas aboard ship in the South Pacific was an occasion of extra jollity. The ship was dressed with decorations and on Christmas Eve a fancy dress ball was held, the passengers organising a number of cabaret items. On Christmas Day a special dinner was served, so that the passengers would lose nothing by being at sea. The ship’s novelty shop was also well patronised, and friends of the voyage were able to observe the formalities of the season in a proper manner. Outsize in Eels Campers at Oakura Beach, Taranaki, have made some good hauls of schnapper and cod with the line recently. While out fishing with a party in a boat one visitor hooked an outsize in conger eels, which after a royal struggle he brought to the side of the boat, where it was found to be a monster about eight feet long. Landing it, however, proved an insurmountable difficulty. Attempts were made to spear the eel—no eask task under the conditions. The first throw of the spear found its target but did not kill the eel. The second throw missel the eel but struck the taut line, which was severed, and the eel got away.

Fisheries Report

Dealing in a most comprehensive way with conditions in the fishing industry in the Dominion, the report of the Fisheries Investigation Committee will be presented to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and the Minister of Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser) next week. The chairman of the committee (Mr J. Thorn, M.P.) has been busy during the holidays putting the finishing touches to the report, upon which he has been engaged since the House of Representatives adjourned. The reports consists of 274 typewritten foolscap sides, and these do not Include voluminous appendices, which deal in detail with practically every phase of the industry.

Naming of Children

The changing fashion in Christian names was again demonstrated in the registrations of births in the Auckland district last year. Girls’ names showed a tendency to be fanciful, in many coses the parents insisting on rather odd spellings, but boys’ names showed little change, except in one or two cases, where the influence of the cinema was apparent. The only name reflecting current events (says the “New Zealand Herald") was bestowed on a boy, who was given the Christian names Franco Bruce. Unusual names for girls were Kirsty Margaret, Genyth, Marlyn, Glendys, Karen, Camilla, Jillean, Briar, Raywyne, Merelyn, Marilynn, Selda, Sonia, Junice, and Jacqueline Philis. The increasing popularity of Judith, Dawn and Beverley, or Beverly, was shown in a number of varying combinations of the names. Jennifer, Janice, Carol. Marlene, and Olivia also appeared freqently. Among the boys, the names John Wesley were bestowed on the son of a minister, but the frequent choice of Errol and Gary definitely suggested a leaning toward the cinema. Alan, in a variety of spellings, and Graeme, again were chosen in many instances. Neither George nor Edward appeared to be particularly favoured.