Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21576, 12 February 1940, Page 6

Local and General News

Railway Picnic The railway employees’ picnic took place at Fairlie yesterday. A total of 720 left by the special train from Tlmaru. The Pig Pays the Rent A return placed before the Wellington District Pig Council last week showed that a Kopane farmer's pig returns were equal to £2 IDs pet- cow milked. This was commented on as very good. Excursion Traffic Tlmaru maintains its popularity as a week-end centre for visitors from the north, and yesterday’s two trains from Christchurch brought more than 1000 excursionists, exceeding the high figure of 948 set last week. The number travelling north from Timaru, however, showed a decided drop, being 184 as compared with 393. Car Leaves Road Leaving the road about 3 a.m. yesterday, a heavy car struck the side of a low stone bridge on the Main South Road between Pareora and Kingsdown. The force of the impact broke the side of the bridge and the car, which Was extensively damaged, finished up in the creek bed with the engine practically in pieces. The driver was admitted to the Timaru Hospital, where his condition last night was described as not serious. Likes the Hills The opinion that the hills of New Zealand were a pleasant change after the flooded paddy fields of his country was expressed by a travelled from Manila, Philippine Islands to a reporter on a Central Otago-bound bus on Friday. The visitor was delighted with what he had seen of New Zealand so far, and was expecting great things of the lakes district. He said that he had no objections to the somewhat unseasonable weather as it, too, afforded a contrast with the heat to which he was accustomed. University Degree Subject The Auckland Junior Chamber of Commerce some time ago made representations to the New Zealand University authorities in favour of the inclusion of English as a subject for the Bachelor of Commerce degree. Advice has now been received by the registrar of the university to the effect that in the new scheme for the degree, which is to be progressively introduced between 1940 and 1945, English will be compulsory for candidates who are not taking a foreign language. A Veteran’s Attempt

A veteran of the Boer War, a resident of Lawrence, stimulated by the call to arms, travelled to Dunedin last week in a hope that he would succeed in gaining admission to some department of the Special Force. Although he was physically fit and young for his years, he was disappointed in his quest. His keenness should hearten the recruiting officials and serve to stimulate others who are not debarred by age or other obstacles from offering for some form of national service. It has been openly stated that some men of 57 years have passed the medical boards, but this particular applicant had passed the three-score mark. Solid Mustard Gas

The futility of propaganda issued regarding the alleged use of mustard gas by the Soviet forces operating in Finland, was mentioned by Dr. A. Reifer, B.Sc., in the course of an address in Napier. Dr. Reifer said that it was at least known to scientists that mustard gas could not be used in gas form in the cold temperatures of Finland. With the temperature 35 degrees below zero in Finland the gas would become solid. “The Russian troops would have to pick it up and rub it on the noses of the Finns before it would kill them,” said Dr. Reifer, amid laughter.

Rowing Shells Collide The East Coast champion sculler W. McLeod, aged 30, married, received a deep wound in the thigh in a rowing accident when two racing craft collided on the Taruheru River, Gisborne. McLeod was struck by the prow of the other boat. He was taken to a private hospital and several stitches were necessary to close the wound. No bones were broken. Just before the accident McLeod was putting in a finishing sprint after having been over the course and the Gisborne Club’s senior crew had pulled out from the club staging. The Gisborne crew took its boat off to the racing start, and after about 12 strokes there was a crash and the two shells came to a complete stop. Soldiers’ Graves Not Forgotten When Mr J. H. Duncan, of Dunedin, was touring Great Britain last autumn, he paid a visit to the New Zealand soldiers’ cemetery at Brockenhurst, and there saw an elderly woman placing flowers on the New Zealanders’ graves. She had, she said, carried out this little act for more than 20 years. On this occasion she had a large number of flowers, and told Mr Duncan that a Mr Thomas Ritchie, of Dunedin, had passed through the cemetery some days previously and he and his party of tourists had subscribed a sum of money to purchase flowers. It was merely a coincidence that Mr Duncan should be visiting the cemetery when this Englishwoman, Mrs Annie Botting, should be carrying out her selfimposed labour of love, and when he returned to Dunedin he told Mr Ritchie that she had faithfully carried out the arrangement made with the party of New Zealand tourists.

Election of Director

Owing to war conditions, the ship which carried to England the voting papers in respect of the election of a shareholders' director for the Bank of New Zealand was delayed, and in consequence it has been found necessary to extend the time for the receipt by the returning officer of the voting papers ol proprietors on the London register. Under section 26 of the Bank of New Zealand Act, 1926, these voting papers are required to reach the head office of the bank not later than February 10. This date, so far as shareholders on the London register are concerned, has been extended to March 18 next by Order in Council under the Emergency Regulations Act, 1939. This Order in Council was made at a meeting of the executive on February 1, 1940. The Order in Council does not extend the time within which shareholders on the New Zealand and Australian registers must return their voting papers to the returning officer.