Shannon News TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1923.

Shannon News, 9 March 1923, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1923.

A grand St. Patrick’s ball will be held in the Druids’ Hall on Friday evening next, the proceeds of which will be in aid of the Catholic Church fund. . .

All those interested in the formation of an Athletic Cluh in Shannon are. reminded that a meeting will he held in the Council Chambers this evening at 7.30 p.m. Mr Murdoch (the Mayor) is convening the meeting byi request, and it is hoped there will be a large, attendance. A limelight lecture by Mr J. Thompson, of the China Inland Mission, on “China and the Chinese," will be held in the Parish Hall this evening at 8 o’clock. Admission is free. Mr Thompson is well worth hearing, and has a very fine collection of slides. A smart capture was made on Wednesday by Constable McGregor at Shannon. A man was wanted by the Levin police on a charge of the theft of two shirts from Milne’s garage at Levin. It appears the accused sent his swag from Paekakariki by motor lorry about two weeks ago, to be left at the garage. He reached there himself on Wednesday by motor lorry on his way to Shannon, and when he removed his swag took the shirts, which were lying alongside the 6wag. The Levin police, were informed soon after accused left. They at once telephoned Constable McGregor, giving a description of the suspect, who was soon located in the. main street and the missing shirts Were found in his possession. The accused at the time of his arrest was going under the name of Thomas Joseph Smith, his real name being Spalding. He had a long list of previous convictions against him. He was escorted to Levin yesterday morning and appeared before Mr Goldsmith, J.P., pleading not guilty. Complainant identified the missing articles as belonging to him. Accused in his defence stated he took them, by mistake, thinking they were his own, as the end of his bag swag was open and he thought they had fallen out and had put them back. Other witnesses for the prosecution were able to prove that the swag was not open when accused took it, and that he had come back hand taken the shirts. The Bench did;hot accept his explanation and and fined him £t or 28 days’ ImprisonBlent

Good progress has been made lately with the dredging work at Makerua, just on 'Bo chains having now been completed. A meeting of about thirty local residents decided last night to form a Ratepayers’ Association for Shannon. A full report will appear in our next issue.

At the. Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening the Town Clerk mentioned the roll was now open and a special meeting”" was required during the month to amend the district electors’ list by adding or erasing electors names and making all necessary corrections.

A special meeting of the Shannon Borough Council was held last evening to deal with the tenders for the. three houses to be erected by the Council. Following were the tenders: No. 1, Mr Callaghan, £BBB 10/;. Messrs. Spencer and Booker, £754 (accepted). No. 2: Mr Callaghan, £920; Messrs. Metcalf and Gray (Palmerston North), £935; Messrs. Spencer and Booker, £786 (accepted)- No. 3, Mr Callaghan £BBS 5/, Messrs. Spencer and Booker £836 (accepted). / • The usual fortnightly euchre tourney and dance, was held in the Parish Hall by the Shannon Tennis Club, and again proved a great success. The euchre, tourney for gentlemen wa6 won by Mr McKechnie, and the ladies’ section by Miss Myrtle Gray, the consolation prizes going to Mr J. H. Taylor and Miss R. Terry. The club must, be congratulated on arranging these pleasant evenings, and a word of praise is due to Mr W. Quarrie, the club captain, Mr J. V. Burns, the secretary, and the ladies who so willing applied the refreshments gratis. The. committee are trying to arrange special attractions for next Tuesday week, and as all profits are devoted towards the fund for putting down the new courts, we are confident there will be a large attendance.

The sheep-guessing competition (dead weight) at Te Horo was won by Mr L. I. Howell, who guessed 771bs (correct weight 781bs), while Mr Walter Gawler won the dead weight, guessing 13 libs (correct weight 130 lbs). The competition yielded £4 18s.

Mr W. Subritzky, who has been connected with the Otaki Post Office staff for the past 18 months, left to-day for Kaitaia (North Auckland). During his stay in Otaki Mr Subritzky has proved very popular and leaves behind many friends. As a footballer he was in the front rank and will be missed by his old club.

“Daylight saving” has been tried at the Otaki Native College with great success, the principal (Mr Wills) being so pleased at its working that he would not revert to the old order of things during summer months. The boarders are also delighted with the change.

The folly of motorists keeping to the wrong side of the road, especially when turning corners, was demonstrated in Otaki on when a Ford car crashed into a gig at Aotaki Street intersection- The mud-guard of the car was damaged while the occupants of the gig were almost thrown out by the impact.

A young blood met a lady friend in town the other day (says the Timaru Herald). He, a gallant, requested the lady’s company at afternoon tea. He had byt the way just come in from the farm, and was arrayed in his smartest apparel. The lady agreed. They had tea. Then came the usual parade to the cash desk. Customers seated near the desk saw the young i chap blush, then recover his normal colour. He blushed again and dived into every . pocket. * But no change was forthcoming. He began to explain to the girl at the desk. He had changed his clothes; forgotten his purse, etc. But she cut him off with, “Same old game, eh’’ You’re the third one this week.’’ What was he to do! A brain wave smote him. He produced a few letters, handed them to the desk lady to keep on bond until he should arrive next day and pay up. There is apparently no reason to complain of the birthrate at the rising township of Glen Eden, if some of the ladies who gave evidence at the Supreme Court at Auckland in the course of the hearing of the Eden election petition can be taken as representative of the good wives of the settlement. Two of them stated that although they had paid special attention to that part of the Hon. C. J. Parr's address dealing wih education and child welfare, they could not recall the speaker’s references to some other subjects, and explained that their babies occupied so much of their attention that they could not give theiT undivided thoughts to the words of the candidate. One of these ladies stated that she did not stay very long at the meeting, as her baby ran outside, and she had to follow it. This led Mr Justice Hosking to remark that, he supposed the baby might be termed a rival candidate. Yet another witness took her place in the witness-box carrying a chubby and well-behaved infant in her arms, and when a fanner explained that his wife did not go to the meeting, as she had a young baby to look rafter, His Honour observed that thejF&ifti evidently keeping the cradles foil at Glen Eden.

The Auckland Labour Party'has decided not to contest the Tauranga election—Press Association. Rifleman ■ Loveday, the King’s Prize winner, wpn the same event about nine years ago, and also the King’s Prize at Bisley at the first meeting alter the war, the following year finishing seventeenth on the list.

A London cable announces the death of James Jebusa Shannon, R.A., the portrait painter. He was an American who went to England in 1878. Local dairy farmers will be interested to know that a lecture will be given in Levin on Thursday evening, March 22, by, Mr R. H. Mead, M.R.G.V.S., on “Diseases m Dairy Stock.” The lecture is being given under the auspices of the Levin Dairy Company.

“I’d do something for that cough if I were you, old man.” “That cough, my dear boy, is indispensable. When ever a life insurance agent calls to see me I turn it on and he never stays longer than three minutes-”.

The present fishing- season has not been marked locally by any outstandingly large baskets being obtained. Fishing in the Otaki River last week, however, a local fisherman landed thirteen good fish, six; being over three pounds. He states that-the fish ars very erratic,' and although rising well on occasions, are extremely difficult to tempt as a rule.

It was reported at the Methodist conference at Dunedin that the residence of Dr. Thacker, in Latimer Square, Christchurch, has been purchased at £4OOO as a new Deaconess Home and Girls’ Hostel. The purchase has been repdered possible by the generosity and foresight of Mr Geo. Bowron, Colonel J. G. Smith, C.8.E., and Mr W. H. Seed. Mr Bowron’s assistance was equivalent to a contribution of £IOOO.

A scheme for harnessing the winds and making them give cheap electrical current for all rural districts, it is stated, is being considered by the British Ministry of Agriculture. The plan, it is said, requires low buildings, with great, wide wings projecting from each, to be placed on the hill tops. These wings, it seems, will not revolve like those of the ordinary windmill, but will go round and round, just above the ground, with a horizontal movement like that of a capstan. The Spectator, commenting on the scheme, says if the scheme is practicable there must be cheap electric storage to make it a success. One great advantage of wind power is its universality and inexhaustibility. No doubt there are calms when the winds are “up-gathered like sweeping flowers;” but such perfect anti-cy-clones are not usually lasting. We all remember the old Scots laird who favoured planting trees because “they’re growing while you are sleeping.” Even more pleasant would it be to hear the winds moaning and roaring while one lay in bed warmed by the blankets and the thought—“they are making me light and heat and motor transport for to-morrow.”