Mt. Benger Mail WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12, 1938. Be Just and Fear Not. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mt Benger Mail, 12 October 1938, Page 3

Mt. Benger Mail WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12, 1938. Be Just and Fear Not. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rainfall. The postmaster at Lawrence (Mr F L. McFarlane) supplies the following comparative rainfalls for the month of August:—Lawrence, 94 points on 10 days; Roxburgh, 28 points on 4days; Roxburgh East, 27 points on 4 days; Raes Junction, 99 points on 8 days; Milton, 77 points on 11 days; Clinton, 133 points on 11 days; Balclutha, 98 points on 12 days; Dunedin 82 points on 8 days.

The appointment of Mi* William Kerr Dallas, N.D.H. as director of the Horticulture division of the Department of Agriculture in succession to the late Mr J. A, Campbell is of interest to local residents. Mr Dallas is a son of Mr John Dallas, formerly of “Finegand,” Balclutha, and now of Christchurch, and was born at Kaitangata. After studying overseas Mr Dallas enlisted with the expeditionary force and saw active service in France. He received his discharge on his return to New Zealand in 1919 and was appointed orchard instructor and stationed in Christchurch. In 1924 he was transferred to Dunedin and Roxburgh district, and in 1930 he was seconded for duty to the plant research station. During the past three years Mr Dallas was closely associated with Mr Campbell as acting assistant director of the Horticulture Division.

Voices of Prophecy. A rather uncanny but wellauthenticated story comes to hand concerning a lady living in the southern parti of Wellington province. On a recent day she was driving a departing visitor to catch a train in Wellington, and en route they offered a lift to an road. The lift was accepted, and when the aged passenger had reached the point of alighting he thanked them for the help given. “Now,” said he, “I am going to say somethin? which you will think very strange. Before you reach Wellington you will have a dead body in your car, and before Christmas Hitler will be killed by a bullet.” Strange indeed was it that upon reaching a small town near the city the ladies’ car was stopped by the police, who asked if they would mind taking into' Wellington a man injured in a motor accident. Consent given, the injured man was placed in the car, and before reaching the city he was dead. The speculation now, of course, is whether the second part of the prophecy will prove as true as the first.—Recorded that 33 years ago a group of students of the Elam School of Art, Auckland, were fooling with a “planchette board”—one of the “aids to the occult,” and by the application of hands it rapped out its answers, one knock for “yes,” two for “no,” etc. Someone politically-minded propounded a poser: “Will Mr Seddon be returned to power at the elections?” Two knocks from the board—- “ No.” Cries of scorn and “what nonsense!” True—Mr Seddon, who was overseas died on the return journey.—He was not a candidate !

“Alcohol kills more men than war, and kills them more dishonourably.” VOTE; No-Licence, .. Prohibition.

Ladies Golf. In the semi-final of the Knockout competition Mrs Tough beat Miss Cockburn; Mrs Johnstone beat Mrs Elder. Next Saturday the last L.G.U. Medal Match for the season will be played. Personal. Mrs C. B. Jordan is away on a brief holiday, and in the course of it is attending the Methodist Women’s Missionary Conference at Feilding, as representative from Roxburgh. Mr G. Mclndoe Orchard Instructor, Dunedin, has been transferred to Hawkes Bay. Welcome Rain. The district has experienced over the weekend a very welcome rain, a total of 140 points beingregistered. The continued dry spell had become very serious to the district -as a whole, the; sowing of seed having been delayed and the pastures were beginning to show signs of drought. A fairly heavy fall of snow fell during the Monday night covering the surrounding hills with a white coat. The fruit grower will be watching the weather from now as the fruit is well advanced and a frost would be disastrous. Apricots are the size of small cherry plums and anples and pears are at present in blossom. Rarely has the district had such good prospects for a bumper fruit crop, every tree carrying its full quota. Already some growers are thinning apricots as indications are for a very early season.