LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23279, 15 August 1945, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Street Lighting To Wait— ln reply to a question by Mr H. J. Stowell s to when required street lighting in Waimate was likely to be installed the engineer <Mr A. F. Lee-Smith) told a meeting of the South Canterbury Power Board yesterday that wnat little wire was on hand was being reserved for house installations Street lighting was also required at St. Andrews and in the Levels County he said.

Rehabilitation Scheme.— Bishop Liston. of Auckland, has appointed Fathers A. Foreman and J. C. Pierce, chaplains each with more than five vears’ service to assist Roman Catholic men and women of all the forces in the diocese of Auckland, numbering several thousands, in their spiritual and temporal welfare after demobilisation. This (states a Press Association message) is a purely voluntary effort in which the bishop has invited the Catholic people of the diocese to join in a spirit of gratitude and justice to the members of the services. Other chaplains on release from active service will take part in the work, for which offices have now been set up. R.S.A. Club Progress.— Building operations on the R.S.A. clubrooms in Church Street continue to progress, the president (Mr Alex Bell) informed the quarterly meeting of the South Canterbury R.S.A. last night. While he could not say when the building would be completed, he was sure that the furnishings would be ready by that time. Financially, the club' would be running in the dark for a start. Mr Bell made an appeal for a supply of magazines to the club when it was opened. Many persons subscribed to different journals, he said, and after they had read them they found little use for them. These magazines would be greatly appreciated at the club. The Simple Things— Not until he found himself without them did he fully appreciate the simple things of life, such as water, electricity and the telephone. Said Mr R. E. White. Totara Valley, at a meeting of the South Canterbury Power Board yesterday. During the snowstorm last month his supply of electricity had been cut off, his water tank ran dry because of the failure of the Downlands .supply and his telephone was dead. He had uttered a prayer of thanksgiving when these three services were restored. Mr T. L. Hayman. Waimate. also mentioned how electricity was taken for granted; it was not realised just how essential electric power had become.

Women’s Labour Party.— The monthly meeting of the Timaru Women's Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party was held yesterday. Mrs D. Newlands, who presided, asked all to stand in silence as a tribute to fallen servicemen and women. Reference was made to the recent British elections and the favourable repercussions which would follow. Matters relating to postwar reconstruction were discussed, and several remits forwarded for discussion at the annual conference. Members were reminded of the efforts being made for the patriotic shop day, also that the next meeting would be held in the Centennial Rooms, when Mi A. N. Campbell, District Rehabilitation Officer, would give an address.

Truck Body Damaged— When the excitement of the false peace celebrations was at its height on Monday afternoon an added attraction for (lie crowd, but not for the owner, was a truck blazing in George Street. Parked by the owner, Mr George Baikie. close to the kerb, it is believed that the outbreak was caused by a carelessly thrown match or cigarette butt. The petrol was ignited and the engine and cab became a mass of flames. The Timaru Fire Brigade was promptly on the scene, and it was found necessary to use water from a hydrant to extinguish the flames which were well beyond the stage when a chemical extinguisher could cope with them. The truck was badly damaged.