TIMARU AND SOUTH CANTERBURY NEWS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20097, 28 November 1930, Page 7

TIMARU AND SOUTH CANTERBURY NEWS.

TIMARU.

| tOtAL TIMARU LODGE. 3flie half-yearijf meeting of the Loyal Titriaru Lodge of Oddfellows, 1.0.0. F., M.tJ., was held on Wednesday night, when Bro. Geo. Dobier presided. Welcomes were extended to the Provincial Grand Master, who, in company with the District officers, paid an official visit to the Loyal United Past Grands' Lodge, and to Bro. Jaine3 D. Williams, a niember of Loyal Gladstone Lodge, London. One hew member was initiated, Bro. Robt. Murray acting as conductor* The sick report was exceedingly satisfactory. Five had declared on the funds for short periods, and three off. Only one child was in hospital under the Hospital Bed scheme. On behalf of the South Canterbury District, Bro. Wm. Dempsey, Prov. G.M:, presented P.G. Bro. W. J. Tonkin with the District's MembershijJ Jewel for having secured twenty new memberfs for the Manchester Unity Oddfellows. Good reports on the two juvenile lodges were submitted by the official visitors. For the positions of officers for the ensuing half-year the following were installed, P.G. Bro. George Dobier acting as installing master:—Noble Grand, Bro. Peter Hanlin; Vice-Grand, Bro. Robt. Murray; 1.P.N.G., Sister Ivy Harris; warden, Bro. J. Box; gur Man, Bro. Hy. Coates; , senior conductor, Sister Myrtle Kelly; junior conductor, Bro. James Duncan; elective secretary, P.P.G.M. Bro. T. E. Webb; sick visitor, P.P.G.M. Bro. Geo. Hilton; supporters to Noble Grand, P.G. Bros. Geo. Dobier and Emast Lane; supporters to Vice-Grand, Bros. AVm. Sapwel I and tjeslie MnKenssie.. It was resolved that P.G. Bro. G. Dobier's name bo placed on the Merit Board, that he receive his Past Grand's certificate, and that lie be recommended Tor his Purple Degree. Traffic Domes. interesting comment on the Motor Regulations in relation to traffic domes was made by Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.Mi, in giving reserved judgment yesterday in a case in which Patrick MoAteer, a taxi-driver, was charged with driving a motor-car in Stafford street in a manner which, having regard to the circumstances, might be dangerous to the public; and also with, on the samo occasion, failing to keep to tho loft of a traffic dome placed at the intersection of Stafford and George streets. With regard to the charge of failing to keep to the left of the traffic dome, the Magistrate said it appeared that there were really no traffic domes at this particular intersection. There were, however, four white-painted circular indicators for the same purpose as domes, nrd the information should be amended accordingly. Regulation 11. (12) provided that motor-vehicles must keep to the left of any traffic dome or other indicator placed at "Intersections by local authorities for the direction of traffic. It was clear that theso white indicators were placed there by the Timaru Borough Council for the direction of traffic. He was of the opinion that when the Motor Regulati na were passed, Sub-clause 12 of Regulation 11., had, in contemplation, only one dome as indicator, ill or near the centre of an Intersection, If the placing of indicators ftt the four points of the intersection were in contemplation, he thought the regulation would have been differently worded. To enforce compliance with the strict wording of the sub-clause would be absurd, for a driver, iii driving south across George street, Would have to turn from Stafford street into Georgo street, and out again into Stafford street. As the regulation was framed ho could not see that it could bo enforced in cases where there was more than one dome or indicator. Apart from the question of legal enforceability of the regulation in this case, on the facts he did not propse to enter a conviction. The defendant drove a matter of a few feet to the right of the southernmost indicator, but this was after he had turned out in an endeavour to avoid a collision with a car passing across from his left, and had come into collision with that car. Under these circumstances it would bo wrong to eonvict for an offence under this sub-clause, as at most it was a technical breach of the regulation. The information Would, therefore, be dis- | missed, under Clause 92 of the Justices of the Peace Act, and he would leave undecided the question of law as to whether the regulation was legally enforceable whore there were several domes or indicators at an intersection.

In connexion with the dangerous driving charge his Worship continued that there were rather remarkable discrepancies in the estimated speed of defendant's car, and he was not satisfied that there was any specially fast speed on defendant's part. After reviewing the evidence the Magistrate said that after careful consideration he had come to the conclusion that the facts did not support the charge, and the information would therefore be dismissed. Thefts from Till. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr C. E. Orr Walker, S.M., Stanley Charles Smith, aged 20 years, ft labourer, of Pleasant Point (Mr F. J. Eolleston), pleaded guilty to the theft of £22 4a 6d from the garage of John Alfred Smith, Pleasant Point, between July loth and October 26th, He also pleaded guilty to stealing &2 from the bakehouse of Stanley Charles Smith, of Pleasant Point. Mr Kolleston said that the thefts were admitted, but only £l2 10s had been taken from the garage, and restitution had been made of that amount to Mr Smith.

Senior-Sorgeant I. H. Mathieson said that the police could not quite agree, As they had the evidence of the cashier that ton or twelve visits had been made to*"the till, and a total of £22 had been stolen, and the till was in the front of the garage. On one occasion a man named Andrew had seen accused take something from the till Andrew accosted him, and accused admitted taking £l. Accused admitted that he had stolen the money, and had spent it on tobacco, dances, and pictures. In 1927 accused had been convicted of stealing £2 from a wallet belonging to one of the men with whom he was living in a hut. Mr Bolleston said that the only explanation was that accused, although out of work, continued his usual mode of living. The money had not been spent in drinking or gambling. The whole trouble was due to lack of employment. He was willing to go to the back-country if work could be Obtained for him. ' T , The Probation Officer (Mr <3. McKessar) said that accused had given the Clirlstchurch Probation Officer a fair amount of trouble during hi» previous period of probation. His Worship said that it was a ease either for reformative treatment or the Borstal Institute. It was quite obvious that accused would only carry on the aame wrt of business if he were allowed to remain without WOfk. The

previous theft had Been A Somewhat mean one, and the present case® wore instances Of sneak thieving. Accused was committed to the Borstal Institute for two years, on the major charge, arid tfriis convicted and ordered to coine up for sentence if called upon oh the other charge. Magistrate's Court. A sitting of the Magistrate '& Court was held yesterday, Mi 0. R. Or? Walker, 8.M., presiding. Rodger Bee, of Kingsdowri, who plained in a letter that his action had been in the nature of a jdke, was fined 10s and costs for driving a motor-car on the footpath in Otipua road. Harry Home, a cyclist, who had failed to stop when requested bjr a traffic inspector, was fined £>l aitd costs; Alister Patrick Boyle was fined £1 and costs for driving at a speed Which might bo dangerous. The Canterbury Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association (Mr C. W. Webber) was fined £3 and costs for permitting Malcolm McColl to use an unregistered motor-vehicle. Arising from the saine charge, McOoll was ordered to pay costs for using an unregistered vehicle. Philip Worledge Young (Mr L. M. Inglis) pleaded not guilty (1) to negii; gently driving a motor-car in Stafford street; (2) to passing another vehicle on the left side; (3) to overtaking another vehicle at an intersection when such vehicle was travelling at more than six miles an hour. Defondant was fined & 3 and costs, and was ordered to pay &2 compensation to Lieutenant L. A. Clements, who was injured in the accident. The other charges were dismissed. A charge of allowing six cattle to wander on the railway line at Washdylce, preferred against Adolphus Bennetts, was withdrawn. The application of John Leonard, for remission of arrears of a maintenance order in respect of his three children, was granted, the arrears being remitted and the order reduced to 5s weekly for each child.

Robert Haldane Grieve pleaded guilty to committing a breach of the terms of a maintenance order in respect of his wife and two children, the arrears amounting to £270 to September 23rd last. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said that although thfc order had been made in February, 1926, defendant had not paid ono shilling. There was no excuse for the man, who had cleared out and left the family to get on as best thoy could. Defendant explained that he did not know till recently that an order had been issued against him. Ho was convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour, the warant to be suspended so long as he paid £5 forthwith, keeps up the payment of the present order regularly, and pays Is a week off the arrears in respect of each order. Outbreak of Tire. The Timaru Fire Brigade responded to a call to the premises of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, George ptreet, at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. The outbreak, a minor one, was promptly suppressed with a chemical extinguisher. Admitted to Hospital. John Foster Lithgow, aged 10 years, of Trafalgar street, Timaru, was admitted to hospital yesterday, suffering from slight concussion. He was felling a tree on the racecourse, at Washdyke, when a bough Struck him. Oscar Garden's Visit. The Mayor of Timaru (Mr W. Angland) received a reply from Mr Oscar Garden yesterday, stating that the aviator would now arrive in Tlmftru at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th. Mr Garden will remain in Timaru during the week-end and leave on Monday morning for Nelson. The Timaru branch Of the Canterbury Aero Club is endeavouring to arrange for six aeroplanes to visit Timaru on the occasion of Mr Garden's visit. There will probably bo two Club machines, two Government aeroplanes, and a private company's aeroplane which will escort Mr Garden. Arrangements for the reception havo not yet been completed, but it will probably take place at Caroline Bay. If not held on the Bay it will bo held at tho Aoro Club's landing ground at "Washdyke. It is hoped that flights will be given to club members. A dinner is being arranged for Saturday evening under the auspices of the civic authorities and the Timaru Aero Club. The New Aerodrome. Mr J. Mercer, pilot-instructor Of the Canterbury Aero Club, flew to Timaru yesterday to inspect the new landing ground, which has been secured by the Timaru branch of the Canterbury Aero Club at Washdyke. Mr Mercer was accompanied by Mr <T. C. Guinness, of Ealing (president of the Mid-Canterbury branch of the club), whom he picked up on the flight south. They were mot by Mr S. D. Mason (president of the Timaru Club) and Messrs H. Lister and W. Angus, mombers of the local committee. The area of the new landing ground is approximately 75 acres, which has been socured on a temporary lease from Mr Donald Grant. There are very few houses in the vicinity, and only one or two trees, on the western side. It is very suitable for flying purposes, as it is practically square in shape. Owing to the limited number of houses in the vicinity, the situation is ideal for early-morning flying, as tho noise of the engines will not create an annoyance. The club intends to commence the erection of a hangar shortly, and it is hoped to be ablo to commence instructional flying before Christmas. FAIRLIE. A well attended meeting of representatives of local school committees was held in the Fairlle School, in connexion with the proposed dental Clinic. The following schools were represented:Albury, Ashwick, Allandale, Burkeg Pass, Cricklewood, Cave, Fairlie, Kimbell, Mount Nessing, Mona Vale, Pleasant Point, and Sherwood. An apology for absence was received from the Skipton School. Mr H. Carlton was elected chairman. The chairman mibmitted details of the cost of erecting a B type clinic, and stated that it would be necessary to raise approximately £l2O, the balance being found by the Education Department. It would also be necessary to elect a representative committee to deal with all matters in connexion with the formation of the clinic. It was decided to elect a provisional committee from the representatives present, with power tb add, and the following Were appointed:—Albury (W. Ross), Ashwick (F. J. Carter), Allandale (T, B. Crampton), Burke's Pass (J. H. Willetts), Cricklewood (H. P. Lee), Cftve (A. E. Gillingham), Kimbell (L. Connelly), Mount Nessing (P. Kidd), Mona Vale (B. Davidson), Sherwood (G. W. Armitage), Fairlie (C. J. Talbot), Pleasant Point (W. B. Oborn). At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr C. J. •falbot was elected chairman, and Mr Carlton, interim secretary. It was decided that each primary school be asked to contribute it2 for every 10 pupils on the roll, towards the expenses of the erection of buildings mad famishing*.

temuka. dcally-grown strawberries arft now obtainable in email quantities. That the money from the Band competition, namely, £l7 i os , be devoted to the formation of a f und to provide a wS » Unda iD , tbe Temuka. Domain of thn v Clßlo , n 0 a co ®mittee meeting A? mUka Municipal Band. , 01 ? Wednesday ra i n Cotatitnip 1< ** * n emu ' ta i and it continued intermittently throughout the Afternoon and evening. Although it did not ram heavily for any length of time, it necessitated the Shopping Week epor s and dance, which wpre to have been held in King street, being postponed until this evening. The only part of the programme that was carr out to schedule was a boxing tournaiiient staged in the Dominion Theatres. ."kmber of novice bouts, as well as Exhibition fights, were included in the programme, and those who attended were treated to a good all-round exhibition of boxing. Results were as follows: Paper-weight (exhibition) —G. Bohhftm (4st 31b) beat G. Murdoch (4st Gib). v Feather-weight—lfirtit round: Murphy (Bst 81b) beat Rlundeh (Sat); R.Grant (Temuka, (9st) beat V. O'Brien, Tiniaru (9st). Semi-final: Murphy (Bst 81b) beat Horgan, Temuka (Bst 12lb). Final: Murphy beat Grant. Welter-weight— L. Connolly (iOst 6lb) beat A. Hit] (lOat ?lb); D. Black (lOst 41b) beat D. Reid (lOet 91b). Final: Connolly beat Black. Exhibition bouts were fougtit between H. Gunn and H. Ouliirtiore, nrid between Eddie Parker and Freddie Parker.

Arrangements for the ChriSttiias camp of the Christehurch Division of the Salvation Army at Temuka are now nearly complete. the oanip will be for boys and girls. A follow-on camp for the poorer children of Christehurch will be held immediately after the first camp. The Mayor (Mr C. S. Ayres) and councillors of Rangiora paid a short visit to Temuka yesterday. Arriving at midday, they were entertained to lunch by the Temuka Borough Council, and were thert conductod on a tour of inspection of the N.2S. Insulators' Works and the South Canterbury Acdlimatisation Society's fish hatchery, after which they visited a garden party at the residence of Miss G. Brown, held by tho Methodist Ladies' Guild.