Shannon News TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1923.

Shannon News, 14 August 1923, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1923.

A conference of engineers in connection with thq Shannon bridge is to he held in. the Council Chambers on Wednesday next at 11.15 a.m.

Among thq victims to the ‘‘flu” is the local medico (Dr. J. W. Macdonald) and Dr. Bryson, ©1 Levin, is here relieving. Mr A. L. Seil'ert has notified the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce that h© will he pleased to address a public meeting in Shannon at an early date, to he arranged on the research work being carried out by the Flax-millers’ Association. The address .will he under the auspices of the local Chamber of Commerce. Owing to the flood 1 hank on Mr Bryant’s property becoming unsafe owing to thei flood waters undermining it, another bank further back lias been built which is just about complete#. Thei work has. heen carried out by Mr Bryant’s manager (Mr Burlings) and the neighbours whose properties were affected. The new bank is about ten; chains in length. On one occasion the old bank was washed away, but was rebuilt, hut- t-hq flood waters have undermined it to such an extent that it was deemed necessary to form a new bank farther back.

At 'last week’s inqeting of the County Council, the chairman replied in ‘answer to a councillor’s question that the County, although a one time responsible for putting in one culvert across a watertable into a settler’s property, was. so no longer. In certain cases where work done by the Council necessitated a culvert, this would be supplied, but each case would be considered on its mqrits. There was, however, no reason why a settler should not put a .culvert in to his own property provided it did. not interfere with the flow of water, etc. Howard Andrew’s, Ltd., sale began on .Saitu/rdaiy la.stf and people were eagerly waiting at the doors long before) 9 o’clock to secure the many bargains. ■ A record day was made in the history of the Drapery House, Shannon, and 300 customers were more than satisfied. The large staff of assistants were kqpt very busy all day. On page 4 a fulrther list of bargains is advertised whilst everything in the shop has been substantially reduced. The sale will bq a short swift one, and bargain seeker# are urged to inspect, early,.

The Waiteimata County Council recently received no less than 140 applications tor the position of county inspector and ranger. Forty per cent, of patients admitted to mental hospitals in the Dominion last year were cured. Eight hundred and thirty-night patients were admitted for title year.

The Egmont County Council are not losing sight of the proposal tar-seal their roads, and yesterday a deputation left for Wellington to make enquiries with regard to a loan of £55,000. According to an exchange, a Feeding stock firm is lamenting the departure of a client who has not honoured a little account of approximately £llOO on a deal in sheep, the latter having been purchased in the Wairarapa.

“Now,” said the school-teacher during reading lessons, “glancing round the class, “can any of you tell me what is the meaning of ‘divers diseases.’P” “Please, sir,” 'Said Tommy, with superb confidence, “divers diseases is water on the brain.” In .the new penny stamp designed to mark the reintroduction of penny postage in New Zealand, the chief feature Is. a miniature map of the Dominion, with side, borders in Maori scroll. The colour is pink. The other day a man met his old schoolmaster whom he had not seen for thirty years. The old master looked blank and -said, “You have thia advantage of me.” His erstwhile pupil replied ‘.‘Thirty years ago you had the advantage of me.” Then recognition was mutulal.

At the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council Saturday it was announced that the conference of engineers tq consider the question of the erosion at the Shannon Bridge will be held at Shannon: all 11 -a.nl. on Wednesday, 15th of this month. The wide-spread effect of the influenza epidemic was evidenced at today’s meeting of the County Council when the Engineer (Mr W. N. Anderson) mentioned that there -had been a, considerable amount of work .held up owing to a number of the County staff and surfacemen being laid up during the past fortnight. The ManaWatu Evening Standard is at present working under great difficulties, no- less than seventeen members of their permanent staff being effected with thq prevailing epidemic. Generous .assistance from other offices has enabled them to cope with a certain amount of reading matter and publish the paper as usual. A mass meeting of returned soldiers is to be held at the Returned Soldiers’ Club in (Palmerston North, on Friday, August 17th, at 11.30 a.m., for the purpose of discussing the revaluation proposals. As this is a matter that closely concerns a large number of soldier sellers in this district it is to be hoped there will be a representative attendance.

Regarding the work . done by the Kopuitaroa East Drainage Board, Cr. Broadbelt mentioned at to-day’s meeting of the County Council, that the work done had been very successful, and that the water a-t the Koputaroa bridge was now lowered by at least 18 inches, with a consequent drainage of a considerable extent of property. If It be true, as Le Matin reports, that a recen-ly discovered manuscript reveals the secret of Cremona, - some of the surviving “Strads”,. ought to benefit thereby . The tone of an old violin depends largely upon the thickness of it’s varnish. The first coats applied soak thorough into the wood and stop there, however much' the! instrument is used, but consant handling is apt to wear away the upper coats of varnish, and bring about a certain thinness of tone. Hitherto this could not (be -remedied, for it would, of course, be sacrilege to restore a Si-rad or an 'Amati with modern varnish.

A small paddock at the 1 rear of the Burwood School of Arts used to return a small income in agistment fees to that body, and an ancient billy goat grazing there for a few weeks excited the interest -of the school children next door. As several Masonic lodges met in the School of Art buildings, the boys got the idea that it was used in the initiation ceremonies. Much speculation went on as Jo his bucking abilities. Suddenly he disappeared and on the first meeting night of the lodge fifteen boys with fifteen billy goats were on the door step with rival claims for sale, each averring that his goat could buck the -others into the middle of next week.

Recently an ambitious Wellington assistant was promoted to the position of manager of the firm’s Christchurch branch. Being a stickler for efficiency it rather irritated him to see a hoy leaning against the counter. He promptly remonstrated with the youth and told him to get along with his work. Fifteen minutes later the boy was still leaning on the counter so he was immediately called into the office and asked what his wages were. ‘‘Twelve shillings and sixpence,” replied the boy. He was given 50/- and told not to come back. This ended the matter till late in the afternoon a customer of the firm rang up and asked “When our boy was hi your warehouse this morning you) gave him 50/- and told him not to come hack. What did you mean?” “I mean the joke’s on me; tell him to keep it. 5 ’

The scene was a Wellington fish and chips emporium, where four Rug- I b|y veterans had (gathered, and in ( the long wait for the “steak and the o-yst” the North and South match was discussed. “Tactics are not what they we're,” sid the veteran who had worn the silver fern. “Say this knife is the half-back and this—lie reached for the milk jug—is the first fiveeighth.” He suickly gathered his tieiam together, and illustrated how the milk jug passed to the tea. cup. I and when the tea cup had successfully dummied the sit cellar the latter passed to the Worcester sauce. It left the condiment with only the sugar basin to side-step for a tiy. At this ; stage “the steak and the oyst” invaded the field of play and by mutual j consent the team was commandeered.