Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21029, 6 May 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Bequest To Church The will of the late Annie Eliza Pigeon, of Timaru, provides for a bequest of £3OO to St. Mary's Church. Probates Granted Probate in the estates of the following deceased South Canterbury residents has been granted by his Honour Mr Justice Northcroft:—Octavius David Bryan, William Bell, Jessie Gibson Dick, and Annie Eliza Pigeon. Electoral Roll The new electoral roll for the Parliamentary election at the end of the year is at present in course of preparation. A good deal of work is involved, including the purging of the old roll. As yet no date has been fixed for the closing of the roll. School Buildings For Geraldine Advice has been received by Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., from- the Minister of Education, the Hon. Peter Fraser, that Cabinet has approved a grant to the Geraldine Public School for the erection of manual training buildings and additional accommodation for the school. Bees Drowned Among the heavy .sufferers in the recent Hawke’s Bay floods were beekeepers situated on the plains surrounding Napier and Hastings. The apiary instructor to the Department of Agrciulture at Hastings. Mr L. Roisterer, said yesterday that many thousands of bees had been drowned after being forced to climb to the top of their hives. A number of beekeepers had had their entire apiaries destroyed, many of which contained 20 colonies of bees. A Lone Watch After keeping watch over thausands of acres of trees for six lonely months, the ranger stationed on the summit of Rainbow Mountain, 17 miles from Rotorua, to report to existence of any fires in the State forests in the district, was relieved of his duties for the winter months this week. Since last November he was required to be constantly on the alert to detect signs of fire on the immense area of trees planted within the last 40 years. From the windows of his cabin he could see. on clear days, an I area of several hundred square miles. Wages Dispute Because of a dispute over wages, the men employed in the fertiliser works at Westfield of Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. <N.Z. Drug Coy., Ltd.), refused to work yesterday. It is stated that the men were brought back on Wednesday evening to load manure, but as the trucks offering were inadequate work soon ceased, and two hours’ wages were paid. The men claimed eight hours as for a full shift. The trouble is not related to the dispute a few days ago at the Challenge Phosphate Works at Otahuhu. In that dispute the men resumed after ceasing work for half a day, but subsequently stopped work again. Their dispute has now been settled. Motorist Imprisoned Pleading guilty to being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car, Eric James Hornell, aged 23, was sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment at Auckland yesterday by Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. His driving licence was suspended for the remainder of the present period, and he was prohibited from holding another for two years. “This is a very bad case, a wicked case of a man coming out drunk on to a road on which there was a lot of traffic,” said the Magistrate in imposing sentence. “Accused was definitely drunk at the time and there might have been serious consequences if an inspector had not stopped him.” Prizes Presented In presenting the various cups and certificates to successful exhibitors at the Timaru Horticultural Society’s Chrysanthemum Show at the Bay Hall last night, the president (Mr D. B. Shand) said that although the bad weather recently experienced had effected the quantity of the exhibits, nevertheless the quality was quite up to standard. In other parts, even as far north as Auckland, shows had to be cancelled on account of the inclement season. Mr Shand paid a tribute to the judges for their excellent services, and to Miss E. Elworthy, who had contributed a fine display of blooms, a feature of which was Cascade chrysanthemums. These flowers are trained to grow down and form a cascading effect to the length of six feet when fully grown. Congratulations were also extended to Mr T. H. Macdonald and Mr T. Segar, who contributed such excellent blooms. The president also complimented the competitors on the quality of their displays. Warehousemen’s Award The hearing of the application by general warehousemen (other than soft goods) for a new award for Northern Wellington, Taranaki, Canterbury and Otago and Southland industrial districts was started in a Conciliation Council at Wellington yesterday. Agreement was reached on a number of minor clauses and when the Council adjourned till this morning, the workers had before them an offer by the employers. That offer, made without prejudice, was an increase in wages for males from £4/15/- to £5 and for females from £2/15/- to £2/17/6, provided the workers consented to the employers’ demand for a five and a half day week. The employees want a five-day week of 374 hours. The employers offered £5/5/- for first salesmen and £5/12/6 for town and country travellers, town travellers to undergo a probationary period of 12 months at £4/15/- a week. Travellers are not to come under the award except with regard to wages. The employers offered the employees one week’s holiday on full pay. The employees are asking for two weeks on full pay. The workers’ proposal asked for wages ranging from 20/- to 25/- for males under 17 to £6/5/-, and from 17/6 and 21/6 under 17 to £3/10/- for females. The counter-proposals on wages of the employers ranged for males from 15/- and 19/- under 17 to £4/15/-, and for females from 15/- to 19/- for under 17 to £4/15/-. Against the employers’ offer of 2/9 for casuals, the workers are asking for 3/9 an hour.