NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Retiring Rectors The co-operation between King’s High School and the Otago Boys’ High School was of the highest order, said the retiring rector of the latter school, Mr H. P. Kidson, at a farewell function yesterday. Indeed, he and Mr Chisholm, the retiring rector of King's, had sometimes used the same gown for official functions. “ Modesty forbids that I tell you who owned the gown,” he added. Mr Kidson said that the average length of retirement of secondary schoolmasters was 14 months. "Mr Chisholm and I will make the most of it, I assure you,” he said.

Swedish Anniversary The fortieth anniversary of the accession to the throne of King Gustav of Sweden was marked in Dunedin yesterday by the flying of the Swedish flag over the consulate. The occasion was celebrated in Sweden as a national day.

Ballantyne’s Stock Two hundred lengths of men’s suitings, “a huge quantity” of toys, crystal, china, and vacuum cleaners are among the salvaged stock from J. Ballantyne and Company's fire, which will be sold by auction at Christchurch to-morrow and Thursday. Rates Paid in Error

By remitting £lO, the Raglan County Council has in some measure compensated a ratepayer who for 48 years has been paying rates on land he has never owned. It was explained at a meeting of the council that there was a mistake in the original survey made 50 years ago, and the settler had paid rates on five acres of land which were not part of his property. Wheat From Australia

The last shipment of Australian wheat to the Dominion for this year arrived from Port Lincoln in the British steamer Mountpark on Saturday. Under the five-year agreement signed by the two Governments in 1946 New Zealand is receiving 4,500,000 bushels a year. The Mountpark, which anchored in the stream to await a berth, has 9000 tons of wheat in her holds. Car Enters River When a resident of Henley went to the spot where he had parked his car overnight, he found yesterday morning that it had run down to the edge of the Taieri River. Fortunately its progress had been arrested by some willows growing along the river bank and only a part of the front was submerged. The owner spent a busy time last night trying to rescue it from its precarious position.

Whisky and Cars Again

The motor vessel Haparangi, like her sister ship, the Norfolk, brought a general cargo from Liverpool, including 2500 tons for discharge at Port Chalmers, where she ended her maiden voyage on Sunday. Consignments similar to those landed from the Norfolk comprise motor vehicles and some 1000 cases of whisky. There are 23 cars and 6 vans, all unpacked, and 16 cases of motor cycles. Vehicles Collide When a motor car driven by a young man named Tre.vor Watson was travelling south along the North-East Valley road about 1.30 p.m. yesterday it collided with a furniture van turning into Beechwood road. The car was extensively damaged, and slight damage was done to the front of the van. The driver of the car was treated at the Public Hospital for bruises, but was not admitted. The accident caused trams on the route to be held up for a short time.

Tramway Services Delayed A fault which developed early yesterday morning in transformer at the Halfway Bush power station, Wakari, and the consequent reduction in the power supplied to the converter station in Cumberland street, resulted in passengers on early trams being delayed in reaching their destinations. The first trams out of the sheds ran to a slower and abbreviated time table, which. did not reach normal until 7.35 auh-, although the, full power supply was resumed at 7.20 a.m. No Lawnmowers

A Christchurch man and his wife had a slight argument all over a lawnmower. He wanted a new model and she objected on the grounds of expense. The wage-earner insisted on his rights—he was the one who would use it, after all. So in spite of the frigid atmosphere over the breakfast table, he marched out of the house announcing his intention to buy. In the evening a slightly less defiant husband returned —without lawnmower, or the hope of acquiring one. He had tried six stores and each was sold out. One firm waiting list of 106. To Increase Interest /

That before local body elections Federated Farmers should send a‘circular to their branches with a view to stimulating ratepayers’ interests and to urge members to record their votes, was the recommendation contained in a remit received from the Wendonside branch at a meeting of Federated Farmers of Southland. The apathy of the ratepayers was resulting in the increased power of the residential vote, said Mr J. Dennis, of Balfour. “It is in the interests of ratepayers to record their votes, as otherwise the time will come when the ratepayers will be in the minority on local bodies.” LOCAL

Work of Heritage

Two hundred and nine families and 315 children are now t under the care -of Heritage in Otago. The annual report of the organisation states, however, that as the majority of the children are under 12 years, and assistance is more necessary to them after that age, when they begin to fit themselves for their careers, the bulk of the society’s work still lies ahead. In view of this, opportunity was taken during the year to adjust the system of records to facilitate the work of the Visiting Committee. The membership of the society has grown, and now stands at 1323. The report adds that a gratifying aspect of the increase is the interest being taken by the younger returned men of the past war.