TIMARU ITEMS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12708, 20 March 1911, Page 8

TIMARU ITEMS.

(Per Press Association.) TIMARU, March 18

The Mackenzie County Council is faced with a difficulty in enforcing a heavy traffic by-law against traction engine traffic. The defence raised in certain prosecutions was that the Council was non est, never having been properly constituted. The question is to be fdught out.

A 150-acre farm at Kingsdown, 5 miles from Timaru, was offered for auction and passed in at £23. The perennial complaint of shortage of railway trucks is again heard in this district and the demand is even more urgent than usual, as the threshing season is fine and short straw enabled the mills to make quick work. Record tallies for a day's work have been made. '

The/seaman who deserted the Kumara at Sydney and was recognised by the Captain of the Kumara on the Everton Grange here, was arrested for desertion. The charge was heard to-day and the S.M. dismissed it on the ground that the man has an excuse, as he was suffering from a broken jaw, the result of a fall, when lie left the Kumara. Five men were charged with playing two-up at the Pareroa Freezing Works on Sunday last, and were caught :in the rush by Detective Fahey ; and Constable McClatchy. There was difficulty in identifying them as the party of a score or so "bolted into the rooms when the police ?cycled up. Three were dismissed, but two were convicted and fined £3 each, or 14 days' imprisonment.

Rain in much needed in South Canterbury. The country is very dry and there is no growth in feed. The recent rainfall in the south did not reach so far except in ineffectual drizzles. -

The victorious members of the Fire Erigade who returned from Hokitika in the evening were given an enthusiastic welcome by the Mayor and a crowd of townspeople.