LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20984, 12 March 1938, Page 10

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Ratings Return From England A naval draft of 18 New Zealanders returned by the Rangitata yesterday morning after three years with the Royal Navy, under the exchange system. They left later for Auckland to join the Philomel. A Lucky Escape A motor car which collided at midnight on Thursday with a telephone pole at Spring Creek, Blenheim, smashed a length of several feet clean out. The driver, Patrick Ryan, licensee of the Junction Hotel, Spring Creek, who was returning from Blenheim, luckily escaped with a chest and leg injuries. A Cruise Ship The last of this season’s summer cruisers, the P. and O. liner Strathmore, arrived at Auckland early yesterday afternoon, after a pleasant Tasman trip, bringing 1000 cruise passengers, and 51 disembarking passengers. She will leave for Wellington at 11 p.m. to-morrow. A fleet of cars and buses was lined up at the wharfslde to take passengers on overland tours, and on to Wellington. Exports To Britain Advice has been received by the Customs Department, stated that Hon. W. Nash last night, to the effect that the use of the form of invoice and certificate or origin for goods entering the United Kingdom notified In the New Zealand Gazette on April 1, 1937, will be insisted on in respect to all goods imported after March 31, 1938. Acceptance of the old forms of invoice and certificate of origin can no longer be allowedA Social Evil A long debate on the prevalence of abortion was heard at the National Conference of Justices of the Peace at New Plymouth last night, when the following resolution was carried: “In view of the great, prevalence of criminal abortion, in respect of which it is almost impossible to obtain convictions, and in view of the great harm such crimes do to the community in respect of its health and numbers, this federation urges the Government to amend the Crimes Act, all parties to the committal of the crime being liable to prosecution, and that the sale of contraceptives and instruments be illegal and a criminal procedure except on medical advice.” Labour Party’s Social The weekly dance and euchre party organised by the Social Committee of the Timaru Labour Party, held in the Scottish Hall on Thursday, was well patronised. During an interval, the winners of the maxina competition, Mr McKenzie and Miss C. Garner, were introduced by Mr J. Keenan. Mrs Robinson then presented them with the cups attached to this event. The winners of the destiny waltzing competition were Mr Mclvor and Miss Wilford, Mr Amyes and Miss Downes, and Mr Crocome and Mrs Hitchcock. The Monte Carlo was won by Mrs Smith and Miss Clinch, and the euchre prizes by Mrs Bilson I, Mrs Wade 2, Mr Wilson and Mr Easton. Mr F. Lowry was master of ceremonies. Timaru Municipal Band Numerous congratulatory messages have been received by the Timaru Municipal Band on its performances at the recent Dominion Brass Bands’ contest at Palmerston North. Among those who followed the performances of the Band with keen interest was Lieutenant W. H. Osborne, who was predecessor to the present conductor (Lieutenant R. J. Simpson), and Lieutenant Osborne writes extending his congratulations to the Band on its success, and on its consistently good performances. It will be remembered that Lieutenant Osborne succeeded in winning the B grade championship with the Ashburton Silver Band, and he expresses his thanks to the many Timaru friends who forwarded congratulatory telegrams to him. Men Return to Work The stoppage of work on the waterfront at Napier ended yesterday, when all the gangs returned to work at 1 p.m., but the dispute concerning the payment of wages for Saturday and Wednesday last has not yet been settled. Tire National Disputes Committee sat in Napier all day without reaching a basis of agreement. The chairman of the Napier HarbourBoard, Mr T. M. Geddis, sent the following massage to the Prime Minister and a copy to Mr Barnard:— “The continuation of the waterside trouble threatens to cause large quantities of exports to be diverted to Wellington; also, the overseas vessels idle here are likely to be diverted. The position is really serious, and I would respectfully urge that everything possible be done to restore the normal operation of the waterfront without delay.” Ruined By Floods Several farmers on the Poverty Bay flats whose properties were left under a thick coating of silt as a result of the heavy flooding last month are, it is understood, seriously considering abandoning their holdings and seeking land or employment elsewhere. The men concerned are farmers on leasehold lands, and consequently have no particular stake in the properties. The areas were washed by flood waters and left covered with silt and driftwood, and now present a desolate scene. Rather than face the labour and expense of clearing and regrasslng those areas which are not their own, they feel it would be more economical from their own viewpoint to seek a home elsewhere. A similar course is being considered by some who suffered on the East Coast. One farmer who recently took a property of his own and who lost even his furniture in the floods, is reported to have walked off the farm, contending that he could never retrieve what he had lost by remaining there, and it was cheaper to abandon the property and make a fresh start elsewhere.