LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23082, 22 December 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

For Polish Children.—Recently, Mr E. B. Corbett, M.P., and Mrs Corbett, organised a garden party at Okato, a scattered Taranaki farming district. Though very little publicity was given to the function, £lO2 was raised to provide Christmas cheer for the Polish children who recently arrived in New Zealand.

Fees Paid to Architects.—Since 193839, architects* fees paid by the Wellington Hospital Board have totalled £69,382/1/2 for Wellington and Hutt hospital contracts. The principal expenditure has been £19,171/16/6 for the proposed centenary block and £17,058/1/6 for the Hutt hospital main block and nurses’ home.

Alcohol from Timber.—A huge new venture in the shape of a wood distilling plant which was being constructed on the North Pacific coast of the United States was referred to by Mr Carlton Pollard during an address in Auckland. Wood was the only product which could meet the shortage of a vital type of alcohol. “We’ may yet hear New Zealanders calling for rimu and raspberry, kahikatea cocktails or a pinus insignis special,’’ Mr Pollard remarked. Barclay Prize.—Advice has been received that Rua Downes, a pupil of the Waimataitai School, was successful in winning first place for the Barclay Prize award in the recent scholarship examination. The value of the award is £3, which is to be expended on books, other than text-books. In this examination, prizes of £3 and £l/10/- are awarded to the first and second candidates respectively from large and small schools in the old South Canterbury Education District.

Car Conversion.—Two youths aged 16 and 17 appeared before Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M., in the Timaru Children’s Court yesterday charged with the unlawful conversion of a car but without intent of theft. It was stated that they took a car from a garage on December 2, went to a dance in it and returned it to the garage. On December 15 they again took a car but returned it in a damaged condition and were caught. Ordering the youths to make restitution of the damage to the car £5/4/-, the Magistrate placed them under the care of the Child Welfare Officer for two years.

Former Councillor Remembered.— As a mark of appreciation of his services to the town, and to extend the season’s greetings and best wishes for the future, two members of the Timaru Borough Council and three former members yesterday made a presentation to Mr H. J. Mathers, who has been indisposed for some time. The presentation was made by Mr P. B. Foote, who was supported by Councillors J. M. Jenkins and A. S. Kinsman, Messrs J. J. Heasley and W. H. Hall and the Town Clerk, Mr E. A. S. Killick. The gesture was greatly appreciated by Mr Mathers.

Many Regulations.—Since the war 1350 Government regulations had been passed, said a solicitor when appearing before the No. 2 Industrial Manpower Committee, Auckland, on behalf of an accountancy firm who appealed against the direction of an employee to work with the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co. In 1942 alone, he said, 350 regulations had been passed. This, he added, had resulted in additional work for accountants and, in consequence, the Minister of Manpower had gone so far as to say that members of accountancy staffs would not be called upon except in extreme emergency. The committee allowed the appeal.

A Patriotic Windfall.—A handsome contribution of £3524/17/7 towards the Red Cross Funds, through the DunedinSt. Kilda Sub-zone Patriotic Committee, has recently been made by a group of traders in. Dunedin. This was the profit derived from the salvage of a recent fire. The goods were consigned to New York, and the proceeds handed to the Red Cross. One firm in New York, Meskin Brothers, has forwarded a further sum of 200 dollars, which was the profit made by it on the manufacturing of part of the goods. Another well-known New York firm of brokers waived its commission.

Refresher Courses.—Through assistance given by the Education Department three teachers’ associations will hold refresher courses for post-primary teachers in January. The Department states that one of the courses will be at the Fielding Agricultural High School for North Island teachers, and another at St. Andrew’s College, Christchurch, for South Island teachers. The subjects to be covered will be social studies and allied subjects. As the first in what it is hoped will be annual refresher courses for teachers, the January courses will mark an important step forward in educational practice in New Zealand.

Large Steelhead Trout.—A steelhead trout weighing 911 b, believed to be the largest caught in the Taupo district, was landed by Captain T. R. Levecy, of Burma, when fishing the evening rise from the stone groyne near the Taupo wharf. The steelhead is always a good fighter, but in the average of small size. The groyne, being built of large, loose rocks, forms a natural haven for koura and bulli, large numbers of which can be seen in the vicinity. The number of big fish being caught there is making the spot very popular with local anglers. Dr. F. N. Harvey and party, of Napier, at Whakaipo, took 29 fish including one of 8»lb.

“A Dangerous Age.”—“lt may be the worst thing that can happen to young persons to get control of a considerable sum of money at the age of 21,” said Mr Justice Fair, in Auckland, when considering the disposal of an estate. “There is much more danger that it will not be well spent than if it were entrusted to the persons concerned a little later. I notice that Mr Justice Northcroft holds the same point of view, and gave practical effect to it by postponing payment to the children until they reached the age of 25. I think it is a good practice to adopt. Twenty-one is a dangerous age so far as the ownership of ‘ any considerable amount of property is concerned,” concluded his Honour.

A Lucky Escape.—A child who became lost in the crowd in an Auckland city store on Monday afternoon had a fortunate escape from serious injury. While his mother was shopping the child, aged two, wandered away through the crowd to the back of the premises. A few minutes after his mother started to look for him cries were heard and after a brief search he was found lying at the bottom of a lift well. He had fallen about 10 feet on to the concrete floor of the well and it was thought he had been seriously injured. However, when he was taken to hospital by ambulance it was found that he was not hurt and he was able to go home after being examined.