Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21052, 2 June 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Aerial Survey The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, stated after a Cabinet meeting yesterday that it has been decided to make an aerial survey of the railway route between Taneatua and Opotiki, with the idea of having the line completed. French Sloop At Dunedin The French sloop Rigault de Genouilly arrived at Dunedin yesterday morning, after a good trip down the coast. This is the first time since March, 1928, that a French warship has berthed at Dunedin. The usual round of official visits was paid. The sloop will remain at Dunedin till June 6, thence for Tahiti. Earth Tremor An earthquake, which apparently was not felt in other districts, occurred in the Waihao Downs, Redcliff and Waihaorunga districts about 1.45 p.m. on Saturday. Residents stgte that the tremor was heralded by a deep rumbling sound, after which the earth took on a gentle swaying movement lasting, for several seconds. The movement was sufficient to set electric lights swinging, and a swaying movement could be seen in high wireless poles. No damage resulted. Communications Business Brisk The Post Office recently called attention to a greatly improved volume of telegraphic traffic as evidence that the remarkable popularity of telephone communications has not forced the telegraph side of its business into a decline. On the contrary, there was a good increase for the last financial year, which has been maintained, the April' telegraphic figures with their total of 407, 276 messages showing an improvement compared with the corresponding month last year of 23.899, which is equal to a rise of 6.23 per cent. More Land For Technical College The following telegram was received yesterday by the Rev. Clyde Carr. M.P., from the Hon. Peter Fraser, Minister of Education, regarding the purchase by the Government of the property adjoining the Timaru Technical School: “In view of your strong recommendations in the matter I have decided that the property adjoining the Timaru Technical School should be purchased and as the option expired on Tuesday I asked the Department to inform the Board of my intention. Cabinet’s authority for the necessary grant has been obtained.” Lead From South Canterbury The valuable lead that South Canterbury had given in the Junior Chamber of Commerce movement was mentioned at last night’s annual meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce by Mr A. O. Heany, secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Recalling the speeches that the South Canterbury Junior Chamber representatives had made at the annual conference in Timaru of the Associated Chambers, Mr Heany said that these had borne fruit. Dunedin had formed a Junior Chamber and Wellington was in the process of doing so. Strathallan Street Crossing Replying to Mr C. E. Kerr at last night’s annual meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the acting-president (Mr J. M. Jenkins) explained that the Council of the Chamber had the matter of the Strathallan Street crossing in hand. A committee representative of the citizens of the town was behind an improvement proposal and was wholeheartedly supported by the Council of the Chamber. There were, however, said Mr Jenkins, three Government Departments involved in the matter, and once the committee was able to get in touch with the three Departments at the right time, some definite move could be anticipated. King’s Birthday Observance Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association, states that there seems to be some doubt amongst employers and workers regarding the observance of the King’s Birthday this year. He advises that, under the Sovereign’s Birthday Observance Act of 1937, it is definitely provided that in spite of the fact that the present King’s Birthday falls in December, the holiday in so far as the Dominion of New Zealand is concerned, will be held on Monday next, June 6, and in all subsequent years on the first Monday in June. This applies to all awards, industrial agreements, apprenticeship orders, and to all establishments covered by the Shops and Offices Act and Factories Act, and the provisions of such awards and Act in so far as they apply to the observance of a holiday on the King’s Birthday, or payment for work done on the King’s Birthday, apply this year to Monday next. Waikato Winter Show In opening the Waikato Winter Show yesterday, Lord Galway heartily congratulated the show officials on the excellence of the exhibition and, commenting upon the progress made in dairying, stated it was exhibitions such as this that assisted the farmer to realise the many improvements invented during a year. “I was sorry to hear of the outbreak of facial eczema in the Waikato, and I wish to condole with those who have suffered heavy losses,” said his Excellency. “I hope that by research work it will be possible to identify the cause and effect a remedy. Agricultural work, including dairy farming, is a very progressive industry and the farmer must keep abreast of the times, take note of all the new improvements if he wishes to increase the value of his alnd, assist towards prosperity and expand production. I hope the exhibition will be the indirect cause of more prosperity, more happiness and more people for the Waikato.”