LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23319, 1 October 1945, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Valuable Estate.—The estate of Mr Alexander Stewart, who for many years was licensee of the Law Courts Hotel, Dunedin, has been sworn for probate purposes at under £60,009. A Rig Vote.—The voting for the election of two directors representing stockholders in the Canterbury Farmers' Cooperative Association, Ltd. resulted a:: follows:—John Dempsey, 24,268; G. Bart Baker, 24,174; John Waddell, 3435. Ewe With Six Lambs.—Although not without precedent, instances of a ewe giving birth to six lambs (states a North Otago correspondent) must be very rare. A ewe on the property of Mr, A. Hill, at Cormacks, has prddiiced six lambs, five of which are still alive and doing well.

Orchard Workers.—An amendment to the agricultural workers’ extension order gazetted last week increases the minimum rates of wages for workers in orchards, and also the amount to be deducted where board and lodgings is provided.

Singapore Banks.—The Wellington branch of the Bank of New South Wales states that the Singapore offices of the following banks contemplate opening for new business on October I:—Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, Mercantile Bank of India, Ltd, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Eastern Bank Limited, National City Bank of New York.

Biscuits for Middle East.—Shipping space for 54,000 cases of biscuits to be loaded at Timaru has been reserved in the Marie Bakke, now at Sydney and due here in the near future. The biscuits, the property of the Imperial Government, have been consigned to the Middle East, After this shipment is cleared, a few thousand cases will remain in store in the town.

Work on North Mole.—ln reply to a question by Mr A. F. Campbell at a meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board last week, the engineer (Mr B. W. Charman) said that the work of completing the new north mole would begin about the end of October. Stone would be obtained from the butt of the eastern extension, but the first job would be the realignment of railway tracks.

Dairy Farm Employees.—“ There appears to be some confusion about the recent wage increases gazetted for farm workers,” said A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary of the Farmers’ Union recently. “I would like to make it clear that these increases apply only to workers on dairy farms. Adult workers on dairy farms have had their minimum wage rate increases to £4/5/- a week exclusive of keep, but the minimum wage rate for workers on sheep and agricultural farms has not been increased.”

Fine Imposed.— Pleading guilty to selling £663 worth of tailors’ trimming material without the approval of the Price Tribunal when no price order had been made in respect of such goods. Woollen Distributors, Ltd.. Wellington, were fined £5 and costs by Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M., last week. Counsel for the defence said that this was the first case of its kind in Wellington. There had been some confusion as to the exapt responsibility of the company, and' the goods had been marked at cost, which it was thought would have the approval of the Tribunal.

Last Patriotic Parcels.—What will probably be the last patriotic parcels sent overseas will be packed in Timaru to-morrow, the quota for this quarter being 996. During the last five years many women have taken their turn in making up the cartons and packing the foodstuffs under the directions of the Women’s Patriotic Committee, and members of Toe H have assisted with the packing of cases. On this occasion the committee is asking for the assistance of a few more men to do the heavier work of wiring and handling the cases.

Ambulance Association.—At recent examinations held under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association, the following were successful: First Aid, A. Adie, K. Smith, S. Andrew, L. Bentley, A. Burtenshaw, I. Wills, J. Munro, R. Cross. H. Beck. P. Cotterell. Preliminary First Aid, H. Arthur, J. Wilkinson, D. Stenhouse, J. Burtenshaw, J. Lane, M. Whitley, M. Sandry, M. Cuddihy, R. Niles, P. Baker, M. Richards, N. Rogers, J. O’Donoghue, N. Burberry, F. Wilson, H. Burtenshaw, S. Gibbs, D, Turner, Hadley, V. McBride. Preliminary Home Nursing, J. Lane, H. Arthur, P. Baker. M. Cuddihy, M. Sandry, A. Bowden, J. Serpell, C. Hogg, V. Bowden, M. Tozer, J. Burtenshaw.

Greater Responsibilities.—lmmediate ■action is being taken (says a Press Association telegram from New Plymouth) to establish the Maori War Effort Organisation on a permanent statutory post-war basis. The change is being made in accordance with instructions issued by the Prime Minister. “This will mean that the Maoris are to play a greater part in the conduct of their own affairs in the future,” said Captain Ralph M. Love, liaison officer for the organisation in Taranaki and Wanganui, speaking at Wanganui last night. The Maoris, he added, were anxious to assume greater responsibilitiees in the post-war period in an endeavour to overcome many of the problems affecting their welfare that had been so often referred to recently.

Linseed Oil Factory.— The chairman of Fletcher Holdings, Ltd., Mr James Fletcher, said that information which had reached the directors indicated that the loss by fire at the factory of the company’s subsidiary. Dominion Industries. Ltd., at Dunedin, was confined to the No. 1 linseed unit. The main unit. Incorporating the modern expeller plant, which was in the course of installation, was not affected, except in a very minor regree. “It was fortunate that the stock of seed at the time of the fire was at a minimum." said Mr Fletcher. “A large consignment, which would have represented a serious loss, had been delayed in transit and ,had not arrived. The' buildings and plant and stocks of cattle-cake, oils, sacks, chemicals, and the laboratory and office equipment, which were destroyed, were fully covered by insurance. In addition, the company was covered by a loss of profits policy.”