Taihape Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 October 1947, Page 3

Taihape Notes

NIGHT PROWLER SENT TO PRISON (0.C.) Taihapo. Oct. 3. A hall-caste Maori named Thomas Darcy Gilroy, aged 26, described as a labourer, ot Wellington, who was arrested in Taihape on Thursday morning, following a complaint, was charged before Messrs E. Loader and A. McCalman, Justices of the Peace, in the Taihape Court on Thursday afternoon that on October 1 lie was deemed a rogue and a vagabond, in that he was found by night, without lawful excuse, in Bennett s Buildings, Tui Street. Defendant entered a plea of guilty. Sergeant A. Doel said that at 8.15 on Wednesday evening one of the occupiers of a Hat on the upper floor of Bennett's Buildings saw someone in the passage outside the flat and asked him what lie wanted there. Jle said he was “looking for the railway station.'' Site directed him to the railway station. At 10.30 p.m. the occupants of the fiat heard noises in the passage and one peered through the Keyhole and saw defendant crawling along tlie passage up to the door, and when he reached it he tried to peer through the keyhole. He was chased and took refuge in a convenience. Defendant was on the railway station at 1.30 on Thursday morning, but did not catch the train. Mr. McCalman: Did you have any war service? —1 served six months in New Zealand; I did not manage to get away. To Mr. Loader, who asked why he had not reported to the police at Taihape, according to the terms of his licence. Gilroy said he had not been told to do so. Gilroy was convicted and sentenced to a month in Wanganui prison. PERSONAL Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Thompson and family,. Whangamomona, spent the week-end visiting friends in Utiku. Mr. and Mrs. J Ibell, Petone, have returned home ’ after spending two weeks’ holiday with Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Transom, Ohotu. Mr. C. James, formerly of Murchison, has taken up duties on the staff of the Taihape Co-op. Dairy Factory. Messrs A W. Horton and W. Quilter, who have been engaged in shearing in Australia for the past five months, arrived in Auckland by Tasman Airways flying-boat on Sunday. With their new teacher, Mr Hogan, and tlie boys of Standard 11. and their teacher, Mr. Neil, as guests, the girls of Standard II staged a pleasing little function at the Taihape D.H. School to farewell their popular teacher, Miss June Barron, who left ’.he school to-day for Ohakune D.H.S. after about six months' stay. The girls had arranged items among themselves, which took the form ot singing and dancing, and brought bunches of flowers and small gifts. Miss Barron expressed her pleasure and surprise at their action. MEN TO PLAY WOMEN AT BASKETBALL. Tlie Taihape basketball season will be closed on Saturday with a tournament in which equal numbers of men's and girls’ teams will be opposed. All teams will play on handicap. Some games will be played in the morning, and the draw will appear later. Tlie games will be of five minutes each way, with a minute interval to change over and two minutes between games. Games will be run by the bell, and any team late going on to the court will not have extra time. There will be a prize for the team with the most points (two for a win, one for a draw), and a “boot. VITAL STATISTIC’S During September the clerk of the Court (Mr. C. G Cross) received notification of 14 births, three deaths and two marriages. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. Viscount Addison, Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and Lady Addison visited Taihape on Wednesday on their way north by road. The distinSshed visitors and members of their party, totalling

seven, who travelled in three cars, enjoyed a special luncheon at the Gretna Hotel.

DESTRUCTIVE GARDEN PESTS. A resident of Kaka Road, who put his garden seeds in nine weeks ago, waited in vain for tlie appearance of tlie plants, and yesterday dug a piece of the planted ground to find out what had happened. It was found that the soil literally teemed with millions ot small insects or organisms resembling small centipedes. These had evidently devoured all the planted seeds Last season three bags of lime were put on the soil, and before planting this season the ground was manured with blood and bone. Inquiries are being made to ascertain the species of the pest, and preventive measures required. UTIKU SCHOOL Good prqgress is being made by a contractor with the removal of pinus insignis trees from the Utiku schoolgrounds, and fheir absence should be of benefit to the school and surround<g grounds. A large amount of millable timber has been recovered. LAMBING PERCENTAGES. Given a fine week, the majority ot local farmers will have completed their docking operations. Already there are indications of a very high percentage of lambs. There appear to be a greater number of twins than in previous years, while on practically every farm there are several cases of triplets. Percentages of 115 to 126 are fairly common throughout the district, and one Taoroa farmer reports as high as 160 per cent, in one paddock. UTIKU FLOWER SHOW. The Utiku Women's Institute held their annual flower show in tlie hall on Saturday afternoon and eveiVng. There were large entries in many of the classes and competition was keen, tlie standard of blooms on display being high. Fully stocked trading stalls also drew their fair share of patronage from a large attendance of members and friends.