Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 6

Local and General News

No Enlistments on Saturday There were no South Canterbury enlistments at the recruiting office at Timaru on Saturday, the total for the district remaining at 524. Child Scalded A young boy named Brian Gliddon, of Pleasant Point, was admitted to the Timaru Hospital at 9.15 p.m. yesterday suffering from fairly severe scalds. Details of the accident were not available. Minimum for English In future the minimum marks for the entrance examination in English will be reduced from 40 to 35 per cent, according to a decision reached by the University Senate. Yesterday’s Excursions More than 700 excursionists arrived in Timaru by the two trains from Christchurch yesterday, 366 by the first, and 360 by the second train. A outing evidently proved popular with Timaru residents, as 195 left by the special excursion train to Dunedin and 394 left for Christchurch. Magistrate’s Court On a charge of committing an indecent act in a public place on January 15, Max Alphonsus Roland, a musician, aged 21, appeared before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning and was admitted to probation for 12 months. Herbert Thomas Raxworthy, alias John Herbert Taaffe, also appeared charged with the unlawful conversion of a motor car, valued at £2OO, the property of Ronald Spellerberg, of Ashburton, on January 19. He was remanded to appear at Ashburton to-morrow. Cruel Prank An attempt to cause serious mutilation to a prize ram owned by Mr C. L. Crooks, of Waipukurau, last week was foiled only by the timely discovery of the plight of the unfortunate animal. The ram was located in a paddock on the Takapau road, and, when found, was nearly dead, with trick string bound tightly about its body. That it was not the work of children may be deduced from the fact that it would take two strong men to throw the ram before affixing the string. The occurrence is all the more serious in view of the fact that it was perpetrated on the eve of the Waipukurau Show, at which it was to be exhibited. Girl Falls in Tar To become covered with tar to such an extent that she had to be admitted to hospital for its removal was the experience of a small girl in Hastings when she fell into a pool of tar in the main street. Two 44-gallon drums had capsized off a lorry as it was turning a corner and broke over the roadway. The girl fell into a pool of the thick liquid, and, finding that she was unable to stand up, she chose to crawl on her hands and knees to the dry asphalt. It was a very bedraggled child who finally was able to regain her feet. She was tar from head to foot and was crying vigorously. Shortly afterwards a girl cyclist found her bicycle difficult to control in the greasy morass and suffered a fate somewhat similar to the other child. Swollen Feet Many people have found the hot weather irksome, and the constant walking on hard footpaths has resulted in sore and swollen feet. One Auckland woman had an unfortunate experience. She had been shopping and, feeling tired and footsore, decided to patronise a picture house. Once inside she slipped off her shoes and heaved a sigh of relief. But tired feet have a habit of swelling a little when relieved of their leather encasement, and, much to the consternation of the woman, she found, when ready to leave the theatre, that her shoes would not fit. Try as she would, she could not get them on, and finally had to leave the theatre in her stockinged feet, call a taxi, and be driven to the bus terminal, where she caught her bus for home. Municipal Band Concert An enjoyable programme was presented before a large audience by the Timaru Municipal Band under the baton of Lieutenant W. H. Osborne at the Caroline Bay Sound Shell last night. As the bandsmens’ hats and some of the uniforms are undergoing renovation before the band takes part in the contest at Wellington, the bandsmen paraded in mufti. The programme, which consisted largely of “request” numbers, was as follows: March, “New Zealand Centennial March”; hymns “Valerie” and “Stranger of Galilee” arranged by Bandmaster G. Hawkey of the Timaru Salvation Army Band, and “Silent Night”; selection “Tchaikovski” arranged by Rimmer; somet solo “Danny Boy” Bandsman R. Thomas; “Hallelujah Chorus” (Handel) and song “hits” “Hang Your Washing on the Siegfried Line” and “Roll out the Barrel” and march “March of the Herald.”

Lack of Supplies The fact that several essential cooking materials were now unprocurable from wholesale firms was mentioned at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Master Grocers’ Association, and it was decided to refer the matter to the Dominion conference, to be held at Wanganui on January 29. Mr R. M. Barker, secretary of the association, stated that housewives were unable to secure certain lines which were essential for baking purposes. Grocers wished to assure the public that their inability to supply full requirements of many lines was caused by circumstances entirely beyond their control. “The question is now not so much one of a shortage as of a complete lack of stocks,” Mr Barker said. “The most noticeable lack is in matches, both wooden and wax, cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda and cornflour. Grocers have been placed in the unenviable position where they are compelled to refuse custom.” Oamaru Picnic at Bay Reminiscent of the days of the carnival, Caroline Bay presented an animated scene on Saturday on the occasion of the annual Oamaru United Friendly Societies’ picnic. Taking advantage of the public holiday in Oamaru, about 800 persons travelled by the special train to Timaru, and it is estimated that the number who came by private cars brought the total visitors to 1000. A luncheon in the Bay Tea Rooms was attended by the Mayor of Timaru (Mr W. G. Tweedy) and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr P. B. Foote). Mr Tweedy extended a cordial welcome to the Oamaru visitors on their fourteenth annual picnic at Timaru, and a reply was made by Cr. J. Tait, of the Oamaru Borough Council. The day was beautifully fine and the bathing facilities were well patronised. The day’s programme included sports for children and adults, a baby show judged by Mrs W. G. Tweedy, a parade of the Oamaru Highland Pipe Band which also gave items from the Sound Shell, and Highland dancing. A Gruesome Discovery Nobody has yet been able to identify the body of a man which was washed up on the beach at Kuri Bush on Thursday night. The man appears to have been about 60 years of age, and the medical report shows that, in the doctor’s opinion, death took place about three weeks ago. The police have checked up with the description of all persons known to be missing from this district, and the remains cannot be associated with any of these men. The body, which was in an extreme state of decomposition, appeared to have been in the water for some time, and it was discovered lying face down on the sand. The deceased appeared to have been a well-built man, with grey hair. He was wearing navy blue trousers and a white shirt with blue stripes, which was fastened at the neck with a cuff link. He had two pairs of socks, a black woollen pair and a brown cotton pair with white checks. He was also wearing a narrow leather belt fastened with a buckle, and a truss, wrapped about with woollen material. He had no teeth.