LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22723, 26 October 1943, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Charitable Bequest Under the will of Mrs Marion B< ic. of Mosgiel, a legacy of £4OO, subject to a prior life interest in the income, is bequeathed to the Presbyterian Social Service Association.

Magistrate’s Court Keil- Hardy Robertson appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., on a

charge of false pretences at Timaru on October 16. He was remanded to appear at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Early Kumara Gardens In one of Elsdon Best's books, it is mentioned that in pre-pakeha days, the kumara was the chief cultivated food plant of the Maori and that it was "grown as far south as Te Wai-atc Rua-ti, near Temuka, South Canterbury-.” An inquirer has asked if any reader could identify the site of these old-time kumara gardens.

Railway Revenue Net railway revenue from April 1 to September 18 amounted to £1,650.617. Revenue totalled £7,208.849, and expenditure £5,558.232. Passengers earned by the railways during that period totalled 19,180,015, arid passengers carried by the Department's road motor services numbered 5,275,619. For the four-weekly period ended September 18 the net revenue was £299,633.

New Plymouth Air Service The restoration of the New Plymouth air passenger and mail service is at present impracticable, according to advice from Union Airways, Limited. This was in reply to strong representations made by the New Plymouth Airport Board and the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce for the restoration of the service. Theft of Motor Tyres Concern at the prevalence of the theft of motor tyres was expressed by several members at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Automobile Association. Members quoted instances where two tyres had been removed from a motor-car in Ponsonby Road at 10 p.m, and where all four tyres were removed from a car left outside a city picture theatre during an evening performance. It was stated that the thefts were made easy by spectators assuming that anyone working on a car was the owner. Rationing Successful "The rationing of clothing, footwear, and household linen has been in operation some 16 months and the scheme can be said to have operated very successfully.” states the annual report jf the Wellington Drapers’, Clothiers' Mercers’, and Boot Retailers’ Asso.iation. “Members arc fortunate in that the New Zealand scheme presents a minimum of inconvenience to traders, having regard to the somewhat complicated systems operating in other countries. The continuation of the present system, however, will depend on traders honouring their obligations under the regulations and strictly adhering to the spirit as well as the letter of the legislation.” Aid to Rescue

A new rescue aid to the Army Air Force in the United States now being packed in all life raft emergency kits is a yellow green fluorescent dye that can be seen for many miles when spread on the water. Packed in metal tins and paper envelopes, the dye can rapidly be scattered on the surface of the water to attract the attention of a friendly aircraft. It is also used in “Mae West” life vests. It is,enclosed in a small packet that is cemented between the inflatable envelopes of the vest. On contact with the water the packet and dye dissolve, colouring the water for a large area.

Rabbits on Stewart Island A statement that his attention had been drawn to the matter two or three weeks ago was made by Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., when commenting on a discussion at a meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society about rabbits was liberated on Stewart Island. Mr Denham said that he had sent a telegram to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. J. G. Barclay), emphasising the disastrous consequences to the flora on the island. A reply had been received from the Minister advising that immediate steps would be taken to eradicate the rabbits and also to find the person or persons responsible for liberating them.

Holiday Work For Boys “It sounds like exploiting child labour,” remarked a member of the Seddon Memorial Technical College Board, Wellington, when a letter was received from the vocational guidance officer concerning the employment of secondary school pupils in vegetable production during the summer vacation. The principal, Mr G. J. Park, said the rates of pay were much less than one would expect. The children were to be paid 1/- an hour and would be charged £1 a week for board. Of the total roll of the Technical College only 29 had volunteered for the work. “I understand that only 30 boys from the Auckland Grammar School are willing to undertake the work," he said. Films in Tunisia

The part played by the New Zealand mobile cinema units in catering for thewelfare of the New Zealand Forces during and after the Tunisian campaign is mentioned in recent reports from Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, commissioner for the National Patriotic Fund Board in the Middle East. In three months 22 different programmes were presented and 182 shows were given to attendances estimated at 114,591. Before hostilities had actually ceased in Tunisia, the cinema plants had arrived in Enfidaville and on one occasion the “talkies” were being shown in a valley while brilliant fireworks were to be seen overhead. When the division left Tunisia the cinemas accompanied it all the way back to Cairo providing shows at the various stops on the way. English units as well as the New Zealanders were entertained.

Relic of Wairau Tragedy An Interesting relic of the Wairau tragedy of 100 years ago is a treasured possession of Mr Alfred Allport, of Te Puke, the eldest surviving grandson of Isaac Smith, one of the special constables from Nelson who fell in the conflict with Te Rauparaha’s force at Tua Marina, Marlborough, on June 17, 1843. Mr Smith’s watch was recovered from his body and restored to his widow, from whom it passed subsequently to her daughter, the late Mrs H. Allport, who resided at Mount Eden for more than 30 years prior to her death in 1929. The heirloom, which was received by Mr A. Allport from his mother, is an English Verge watch, manufactured by G. Preston, of London. in 1810-11. It is an excellent state of preservation and still capable of good service.