Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 4

Local and General News

Service in the Dark

“Lead, Kindly Light” would have been an appropriate hymn for the congregation of St. Andrew’s Church, Wellington, to have sung on Sunday night, for during the service the lights suddenly failed and remained off. However, the choir carried on and other well-known hymns were sung instead, and the preacher had the unusual experience of delivering his sermon in the dark.

“As Lady Drivers Go”

"As lady drivers go, she is a good driver,” said counsel in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, when defending a woman who was charged with dangerous driving. “What do you mean when you say ‘as lady drivers go?’" asked Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. Counsel admitted that as far as his experience went he always felt a little uneasy when meeting lady drivers on the road. No 15cwt. Trucks Some idea of the difficulty of procuring motor vehicles was contained in a report presented to the South Canterbury Power Board yesterday by the engineer (Mr A. F. Lee-Smith). A paragraph in the report said: “Tenders have been called for two new vehicles, and the result, to say the least, is disappointing. Not one of seven firms is able to offer a 15cwt. chassis. Two local firms were able to offer a lighter type, namely lOcwt. and 6cwt. models. Had Enough Uncongenial occupations exist in plenty and no doubt coal-mining with its hazards can be classed as one of them. Evidence that it was difficult to obtain and train men for coal-mining was given by a mineowner in a statement submitted at the sitting of the No. 6 Armed Forces Appeal Board in Gore. “There are not many men who like to work in an underground mine,” he said. “One man whose services I obtained was down for two hours; he then thought he had had enough and decided to go home.” Presbyterian “Old Boys” Overseas “It is interesting to note,” states the annual report of the South Canterbury Presbyterian Social Service Association (which controls the Children’s Home), “that seven of our ‘old boyS’ are overseas with the Forces: Private N. L. Partridge, Sapper H. A. Partridge, Private D. A. Partridge, Private A. M. Smith, Private W. J. Woods, Naval Airman J. L. Wood, Air Sergeant W. W. Wood. They are assured of the prayers of the committee and friends, for their welfare and safe return.” Players Before Property Big hits in cricket have their reward, but the spectacular flight of the ball over the fence for six sometimes ends disastrously—for what happens to be in the way. The question of insurance of property adjoining cricket grounds is at present under consideration in Wellington cricket circles as the result of a proposal by the Kilbirnie Cricket Club. In considering the matter at its annual meeting the Onslow Cricket Club adopted the view that an insurance scheme for players would be of more benefit to the clubs generally than the one proposed. Russian Gold Coin A gold coin was displayed at the pro-RusSian meeting in the Auckland Town Hall last week by one of the speakers, the Rev. Percy Paris. He said that it was a Soviet coin and had been sent in by a man with a Russian name. The donor’s suggestion was that it should be auctioned, and he offered to bid £5. “I am afraid that would be illegal,” said Mr Paris. “The police are present, and in any case we cannot hold an auction here.” The chairman, Professor W. A. Sewell, agreed that it would be difficult to get round the law, and the proposal was allowed to rest. “It Takes Time” When he was a member of the Waimate Borough Council 10 years ago, the Mayor (Mr W. F. Boland) told the Council on Monday night, an effort had been made to have an unsightly paling fence in front of the Courthouse removed. He was pleased to be able to report that the final paling had been removed that day. Cr. G. R. Watters: Some of it was there recently. The Mayor: None of it is there now. We obtained permission to take the last of it away. Cr. W. G. Paul: We were agitating for that 20 years ago. The Mayor: It takes time. Healthy Church Funds A surplus of £3788 in the general L funds of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church for the year ended Juhe 30 is reported by the acting-treasurer of the church, in the “Outlook.” This enables the deficit in the mission fund account to be reduced from £7952 to £4359. The surplus was largely brought about by reduction in expenditure, the estimated expenditure for the year having been £47,214, and the actual amount £44,987. Congregations throughout the Dominion were asked to find £40,943 for the general funds and gave £39,925. The total receipts for the year were £48,775, raised without any special appeal. Farm Labour Shortage “During the last three days there have been eight men looking for jobs on farms,” said Mr G. M. Hall at the sitting of the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Waimate yesterday. “Yet we are repeatedly told here that the labour market is exhausted; that there are no men offering; and that if you write to these men who are offering they are no good anyhow.” He went on to say that he had had no difficulty in securing labour for his own farm. One man he had met recently had told him that he had spent 25/- in advertising for positions and had received no replies. He had told that man to write to a farmer in the Waimate district, but no reply had been received. “Yet you come here,” Mr Hall told an appellant, “and say that you can’t get labour.” Explanation Offered On the afternoon of August 24 electric power was supposed to have been cut off in the Borough of Timaru and in the South Canterbury Power Board area, but the advertised action was not taken. The explanation was contained in the following statement made to the Power Board at its monthly meeting yesterday by the engineer (Mr A. F. Lee-Smith): “The advertised outage over the whole of the Board’s area for August 24 as requested by the Public Works Department for maintenance reasons at Grant’s Hill, had to be cancelled at the last minute, owing, in the main, to the number of poultry producers in Waimate County and a few elsewhere, to whom this cut-off would have meant a terrific loss. Apart from needless wastage, action for compensation from this Board would have resulted. Postponement until mid-October has been agreed to, subject to Grant’s Hill sub-station being able to carry on.”