Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21817, 21 November 1940, Page 4

Local and General News

To Report for Training The following recruits have been Instructed to report to the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Levin, for preliminary training: Pilots I. T. Hay, R. R. A. McLaughian and I. J. Shepherd (Timaru), Air observer, J. B. Wright (Milford). Judgment by Default At a short sitting of the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following civil claims: George William Moorhead v. Lawrence John Busbridge, claim £l3/8/10, costs £2/17/-; C. S. Fraser v. E. J. M. Drapper 10/6, costs 11/-; W. D. Hume v. Murray Ross £2/2/-, costs £l/4/6. Peas for Canning Crops of peas which have been planted for canning in Hastings are how approaching the stage of growth when they will be ready for harvesting. About 230 acres have been planted for this purpose in the district, which is about the same acreage as last year. More than 500 persons will find temporary employment in picking the crops, and two mechanical pea Viners will operate in the flatland district. Milk for Troops A suggestion that powdered milk should be sent to soldiers serving in Egypt Instead of milk preserved in tins is contained in a letter received this week from a member of the First Echelon by relatives in Auckland. He says that as soon as a tin of milk is opened it has to be used and this does,not prove economical. The letter also mentions that the men are well supplied with salt-water soap. Triplets Born With the birth of girl triplets to them at Ngaruawahia on Saturday, Mr and Mrs K. L. Harvey, of Lake Road, Ohinewal, now have five children under the age of 3) years. Triplets are of rare occurrence. During the years 1929-38 there were only 17 cases in New Zealand. In four cases all three children were males, in five cases all were females, in one case there were two males and one female, and in seven cases two of the children were females. Unpaid Native Rates Difficulties confronting local bodies, in whose areas are situated large tracts of native land, were the subject of deputations to the Minister of Education and Justice, Mr Mason, during his tour of Northland. In telling the deputations that he would confer with the Minister of Native Affairs on the question, Mr Mason said he realised their difficulties. The chairman of the Whangarei County Council, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay said that during the last three years his council had struck rates amounting to £5403 on native land and had not collected any money. Bottle Top Swallowed Alexander Phillips, Taumarunui, the well-known King Country Rugby footballer, had an unpleasant experience when attempting to bite the metal cap off a bottle of home brew. The liquid blew out with such force that the cap became lodged in his gullet. Mr Phillips drank the contents of the bottle in the hope of washing the cap down, but was unsuccessful. He was later taken to a medical officer who, after an examination, ordered the patient to the Hamilton Hospital for special treatment for the removal of the cap. Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry Next Saturday four officers and 50 other ranks of C Squadron, Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, will proceed to Washdyke where a week-end of training will be carried out. Men from Timaru, Geraldine, Waimate, Temuka and Fairlie districts will attend. The week-end bivouac will offer an opportunity for non-commissioned officers to carry out training in preparation for the work involved in the intensive training period which will commence early in the New Year. Washdyke is the ideal spot for a week-end bivouac. It is handy to all the districts concerned and there are good camping facilities. Guards Ordered Under the recently gazetted Protected Places Emergency Regulations, some factory owners in Auckland have been required by the superintendent of police to provide watchmen for their premises. Occupiers must bear the cost of such guard and in one Instance at least, a request was refused that one watchman should be permitted to look after several buildings. Among manufacturers in Auckland and elsewhere there is a strong opinion that the responsibilities imposed on them by the regulations are too great, and the question is expected to come before the impending annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association. Nest in Letter-Box The determination of a pair of starlings to nest in a letter-box in Hastings, has resulted in some inconvenience to the householder and an unending task for the birds. As fast as the starlings have carried straw and scraps of other rubbish to the box and started shaping a nest, it has been cleaned out. The birds have taken exception to letters being placed in the box, and several times the mail has been found lying on the ground, apparently thrown out by the starlings. The birds show no sign of weakening in their determination to hatch their young in the letterbox, and the householder is as much decided that they shall find some other home.