Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 6

Local and General News

Auction Sale of Liquor There was spirited bidding at an auction sale held in Hamilton on behalf of the Police Department of 1390 bottles of confiscated beer, wine, whisky and gin. The liquor met with a keen demand, and a total clearance was effected at satisfactory prices. Cows Electrocuted Six cows were electrocuted when a power-pole was broken by the force of the wind on Mr L. Robertson’s farm, Te Matai Road, near Te Puke. The cows were being driven in for the morning milking when the pole broke, and in the dim light the drovers could not see that the wires were on the ground. Only their prompt action prevented more cows from being electrocuted. Children’s Court Charges of theft and of converting a car were preferred against two youths who appeared in the Timaru Children’s Court before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., yesterday. One youth was admonished and discharged after being ordered to pay compensation, and the other, against whom two more charges of theft were brought, was placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer for a period of 12 months. Dishonesty Among Children “I do not know what is happening that so many children are coming before the Children's Courts charged with dishonesty,” said Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Children’s Court at Timaru yesterday. "I do not know whether' the fault lies in the homes, in the influence of pernicious films or in the example set by other boys. It is a very serious problem affecting the youth of this country.” Dominion Revisited In fulfilment of his plan to visit New Zealand each summer, Commander Fitzhugh Green, a distinguished American author, arrived by the Monterey last week. Commander Green, who is a retired United States Navy officer, first came to the Dominion in 1936 and was so attracted by the country, and especially the Taupo region, that he decided to make the trip an annual one. With this in view he built an attractive bungalow near the Huka Falls, where he resides during his visits. Seven Sons Enlist To have seven sons enlisted for service with the Maori battalion is the fine record of the Waenga family of Opotiki. Two of the brothers enlisted for service at Gisborne and were passed as fit. Four more were examined in Opotiki on Thursday, all passing the medical test. The seventh brother, who is married, arrived in Opotiki too late to be examined, but he is also expected to pass as fit. Should he be accepted for service the family will have the distinction of having seven sons in the main body of the Maori battalion. Waikokopu Being Deserted Waikokopu, which for a long time has been the scene of great activity because of the construction of the East Coast railway, is gradually being deserted by the Public Works Department. The large cookhouse has already been, dismantled and most of the men have been transferred to other jobs. It appears that it will not be long before Waikokopu will be only one of the side stations on the East Coast railway, unless those engaged in oil-boring in that area meet with success. The Bible in Germany It is generally assumed that Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” has been the best-seller throughout Germany in recent years, states the Manchester Guardian. But, according to a belated report of the Prussian Bible Society recently received in London, the Bible has been outstripping "Mein Kampf” by 200,000 copies a year. Curiously enough, ever since the Nazis came to power in 1933 the sales of the Bible have soared, reaching an average of 950,000 copies a year, or nearly 6,000,000 in the six years. Commenting on this an official of one of the British missionary societies said that the new interest in Bible study in the Lutheran and Reformed Churches as a result of persecution had probably led to this widespread buying. A Surprise in Berlin A big surprise awaited Mr R. E. Champtaloup, of Auckland, when he was in Berlin with his wife last May. When standing in the Unter den Linden one morning, Mrs Champtaloup remarked that it would be wonderful to read an English newspaper. “That’s out of the question, I'm afraid,” replied Mr Champtaloup, in the belief that papers from Britain were “verboten.” As he replied, his eye caught a bold headline on a newspaper which was one of several displayed on a news stand in tiers. Closer examination revealed that it was the Daily Telegraph, and above it was the Times. Mr Champtaloup bought both, and read that momentous happenings were expected that night in Danzig. There were critical references to Hitler in both newspapers Automobile Association Recently the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) wrote to the Timaru Borough Council suggesting that any contemplated alterations to the traffic by-laws should be submitted to the Association for comment. A letter from the Town Clerk (Mr E. A. S. Killick) was received at the monthly meeting of the Association last evening stating that the contents of their letter had been noted and would be effected as far as possible in the future. Those present at the meeting were: Messrs R. Wilson (who presided), M. B. Richards, T. D. Urguhart, G. J. Walker, 8. G. McClelland, H. W. Lomas, J. Palliser, W. J. Foote and N. P. Nelson. The monthly report of the service officer (Mr F. Owers) said that the total mileage was 1930, signposting mileage 959 and hours spent erecting signs 114. A large amount of patrol work had been necessary during the holidays. All signs on the main highway had been checked and a new batch of sings had been erected in the Kerrytown district and leading out of Pleasant Point. Resigning the Pleasant PointMiddle Valley route via Raincliff was continuing. A Symbolic sign at the Geraldine bridge had recently disappeared and had been found later in a hedge at the Upper Orari School.