Shannon News FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1923.

Shannon News, 27 April 1923, Page 2

Shannon News FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1923.

At Hie councillors’ meeting on Tuesday, Mr Murray said the Recreation Reserve upkeep should be included in the estimates for the roads.

At Tuesday's meeting the Mayor (Mr Murdoch) apologised for the absence of Cr. Gardner, who was indisposed, and made reference to the good work he had done on the Council.

We would like to again remind lriends of the Methodist Sunday School anniversary tea to be held in Parish Halt to-night commencing at 6 o’clock. A good programme has been arranged and the committee would be pleased to see as many old friends as possible come along. Admission If-. A local wag, referring to the election of the Borough Council, forwards ud the following conundrum “If Grumwald went Gunning to the Butts! what would lie do?’’ The answer is: “He would take his Hook and go to tfhe nearest Quarrie, Bob Down and Hyde.”

A~~questiou which raised a heated argument was asked the Mayor (Mr Murdoch) at Tuesday night’s meeting. It was whether the Council were behind him when he requested the police to prevent Paddy Webb from speaking in the street during the genera] elec-

tion. lie gave an emphatic denial that lie did so, and stated he only asked the police to make a clearance on the footpath so that the women could get their perambulators past. Some one in the rear of the hall contradicted Ills Worship several times, . and he again denied it.

On Auzac Day a kind and thoughtful act was performed by some person or persons unknown who went to the local cemetery and placed wreaths with the names attached of local boys Avho fell in the Avar, on the graves of their relatives. Such a kindly action as this cannot he too highly commended and shows a tine spirit; of remembrance.

Cr. Hyde, at the meeting on Tuesday night, referred in eulogistic terms to starting of Shannon’s paper, the "News.” lie slid that paragraphs had been copied from it by papers from one end of Ncav Zealand to the other, and that it had been the means of ■placing Shannon on the map. Mr Beard, a candidate for the Council on Tuesday evening, speaking on the future prospects of Shannon, said he had it on good authority that the flax industry was coming back and it Avas estimated that in ten years from now 1000 more men would be employed in the industry in this district.

Cr. Hyde on Tuesday night, advocated bringing Koputaroa closer to Shannon by road. lie said the distance at present, to Koputaroa. by rail is only four miles and by road eleven miles. He states that- the length of poad to be completed along the railway line is only If miles. At present the whole of the business from that district went to Levin, hut Shannon Avas close- and if the road wa.s f.ut through- he was sure Shannon would get, a good share. He suggested that, the Council wait on the. Horowhanua rangement can be come to and have County Council to see if some arthe present road carried right through.

'Mp Beard, oil returning thanks to those who had placed him on the list of successful candidates, stated that his return had been a double event one, in that besides securing a seal on the Council, his wife had that evening presented him with a son. This remark was greeted with hearty cheers.

In the Wellington Magistrate's Court, Allan fSaunders, in the employ ol the Tourist Department, pleaded guilty to the theft of £B, the Dropeity of -the Treasury Department, and was committed to the Court for sentence.

A. correspondent in a Sydney paper asks--\v>liy smoked mullet, should be *ju to I/- per lb when New Zealand snapper can be bought in Oxford street, at 1/4 each. New Zealanders will be anxious to know why similar snapper should cost-from if- to 3/liere. '

“In 1882, when the telephone was first established in New Zealand,” said Mr Markman yesterday, “the rates charged were £l7 10s per annum, for all*-connections. The following year tlie charge was fixed at £l2 per annum- for the first year and £lO for each succeeding year. There were very few subscribers then; in fad the total number in both the years tnen- ■ lioned was only 379 throughout the whole of New Zealand. Now, when it is possible to connect with almost every town in the North Island the charges are less than when there were o'nlv those few, subscribers.

Mr Markman, Assistant Secretary to the Post and Telegraph Department, speaking at the , meeting convened yesterday by the Levin Chamber of Commerce, said that it nfight be of interest to note that 64 per cent of the telephones of the.world were held, in the United States, 25 per cent, in Great Britain, Germany, France and other European States, and the remaining 11 per cent, in; the rest of the world. The United States being the home of telephones has 12 telephones per 100, Canada 10, and Denmark 8, whilst New Zealand is fourth on the list with. 7, or one to'every 14 persons. “Tt 'vill probably not be long,” Mr Markman added, “before New Zealand is claiming third position as at present we have 94,000 subscribers connected with over 2000 applicants, waiting.”

The “gonl old days” of public finance were recalled by Mr Goldsmith in his election address last night. He said Sir Joseph Ward, when Colonial Treasurer, introduced a curious piece of legislation with the idea'of encouraging local bodies to..invest their sinking funds with the Public Trustee instead of privately. It provided that il local bodies would-tfo this, the Govern" /merit would pay half the sinking fund. The locfil Beyrouth Council at the time was a wide-awake body and it lost no time in taking advantage of ibis. wonderful offer. As a result the Government Was helping to pav off a loan of £IB,OOO for the Council at the rate of £135 a year for 36 years!

There was a fair yarding of at classes of stock with the exception ol ni<rs which came forward m reduced numbers, at the Levin sale on Tucsdav. Prices were unchanged. I ig* l - Weaners *)/- to 15/-, porkers 29/- to 35/6 small 19/- to 26/-, sow to fariow £4 17/6. Sheep.—4th to f.l.m. ewes 22'6 l.m. ewes 14/- to 22/6, cull ewes 12/6’, good mixed sex lambs 23/-, o’hers 15/-. Cattle.—Fat cows £2 17/6 to/ £4 il- good conditioned cows 32/6 to A7/b, in-calf heifers £4 10/- to £7 12/6, good weaner boilers £2 -4/- to £2 19/6, thiee-Vcar-old steers £3 18/-, two-year-old steers £2 7/6 to £3 5/, bulls 37/6 to £3 7/6.