LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20932, 11 January 1938, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Picnic from Oamaru Gn Saturday next the annual excursion to Timaru of the Oamaru Friendly Societies will take place. Two special trains will arrive at Caroline Bay at 10.36 and 10.53 a.m. respectively. During the afternoon sports and a baby show will be held, while tennis and bowling matches will be arranged with Timaru players. A Road Patrol’s Comment Patrols of the Automobile Association (Auckland) are required to furnish reports of their activities on the road under various headings, one being “Humorous incidents.” Eloquent of his experience was the comment of one patrol who last week had to occupy his time on a particularly dusty stretch of country road. Under the humorous incidents heading he wrote: “None. The joke was on me.” Enjoyment! Holder of an important position in Auckland, one of the passengers carried-by the Centaurus on a short flight in Auckland last week was a little nervous. He was paler than usual before the takeoff, and was obviously wishing he had never left the shore. The ship took off, sailing serenely along, and the colour began to come back to the wan one’s cheeks. He leaned over confidently to the man in the next seat. “You know,” he said in an awed tone, “I think I’m enjoying myself." Story of Famous Cricketer An interesting personal reminiscence of W. G. Grace, the famous cricketer, was recalled on Friday by Mr J. V. Dingle, of Grafton, who yesterday reached his ninetieth birthday and the sixty-fourth anniversary of his wedding. Mr Dingle won a world bowling championship at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1901, and one of his fellow-competitors and his marksman was “W.G.” When the contest was over Grace congratulated Mr Dingle and said he was paritcularly glad that he had won it. , When Mr Dingle asked why, the reply was: “Because of the way you New Zealanders helped us in the South African War.”

Christmas Mails from Overseas An indication that prosperous times are being experienced In overseas countries also is given by the fact that before Christmas this year very large mails were received in New Zealand. The Niagara, which arrived at Auckland on December 13, brought 3318 bags of mail from the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, while the Mariposa, which arrived on December 24, landed 2556 bags. The mail received by the Niagara was the largest consignment of mail received from overseas by one vessel for more than 10 years. The New Zealand mail agents who travel on the Niagara were compelled to work very long hours on the inward trip to Auckland, and it is estimated that they sorted more than a million and a half letters during the voyage. Good Rain at Oamaru The heaviest rainfall in years was experienced at Oamaru, when 1.41 in was recorded in little less than 16 hours. Rain commenced to fall early on Friday night and continued without a break until well on in the afternoon of the following day. The fall was heavy, resembling a tropical downpour at times, there being almost a complete absence of wind. The total rainfall recorded in Oamaru since December 1 is 7.37 in, or about one-third of the Oamaru average annual rainfall. The total for January to date is 2.66 in. The rain was genera! throughout the district, particularly at Kurow and Hakataramea. Fortunately drying winds superseded the rain and swollen rivers and creeks soon reduced their high levels. The Kakanui and Waitaki rivers are in high flood at the moment. At Hakataramea the river reached the highest level for many years, causing parts of the land adjacent to the township to become inundated. The countryside is looking its best just now, the rain having caused prolific growth. The flush growth of pastures has allayed the fears of farmers, and it is now anticipated that there will be no shortage of winter feed.