Shannon News TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1923.

Shannon News, 18 September 1923, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1923.

During the week end ,a large consignment! 01 bullocks, .were railed from, the local railway station fur transhipment to Melbourne. In .view of the coal strike, should it last lor .any length of time, it might have a serious ene.ct on the: completion o| thie. Mangiahao Works, as a considerable quantity of coal is always used. The plain and fancy dress ball organised by the committee oi the Pibre Quieen takes place tat; the Druids’ Hall on Friday evening and judging by the number of enquiries tor ticket* there should be a record attendance. Trophies are being given as follow:—The best ladies’ dress, most original, best gents’ and most original. The death occurred at the Palmerston North Public Hospital on Satur-

day evening oi Beryl Eileen, the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Lionel Buckman, of Shannon. The little girl, who was only six years of age, was at school on Wednesday last, but was taken ill in the evening and was .at once removed to the hospital where she passed away on Saturday evening. The funeral takes place at Shannon cemetery to-day. Some time ago the Shannon people were asked to assist in the fund for a Pearson Memorial in aid of the blind. Owing to so many functions being on in the township it was found rather difficult to fit in a fundraising effort. Shannon is still very ■busy .with its two carnivals, but arrangements are being made for a combined Levin choir to give a sacred concert in the Presbyterian Church on Thursday, September 27. This is by the permission bf the church committee. This will give Shannon residents an opportunity iof assisting in this well deserving cause. Mr Jack, representing the Horowhenua .Electric Power Board;, is now in town interviewing owners of etc., re the installation oi the elecric light. He is giving all information lor the installation of electrical fittings and equipment and the cost of power. Arrangements have been, made in the case oi tenants for a deposit of £l, which will he refunded in the event of them leaving the house, ~providing all charges are paid up. He reports that he is meeting Avith an excellent response. The first .group of 5Q consumers is just completed 'and no time will be lost in making a start with the installations.

At the local court yesterday morning, heifo-re Messrs Gunning and Murdoch, J.’sP., John Kinley, charged with drunkenness, was fined £1 in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Darcy Campbell and Francis McDarvltt were charged with using obscene language, to which both pleaded guilty. Campbell was also charged with drunkenness. On the first . charge Campbell was fined £3, in one month’s imprisonment and on the second charge he was ordered to pay 10s, in default 48 hours imprisonment. McDavitt was fined £2„ in default 14 days’ imprisonment. Readers will be well advised to! turn to page) 2 and avail themselves of Howard Andrew, Ltd.’s special presentation of £1 10s.

Th.e dredge, -which is engaged in (hanking the Otauru stream, is now working about six chains from the Manawatu bridge. A garden party will he held at Mr s Watterston’s residence, Stout street, to-morrow afternoon in' aid of Billy Brown’s candidature for the school carnival queen contest. See. advertisement in this issue.

A meeting of delegates of the Shannon Borough Council and residents of the Koputaroa district which was to have. been, held on Saturday evening for the purpose of discussing further activities in connection with the. agitation for the Koputaroa-Buek-ley road, was postponed owing to the wet weather.

Police constable (at Thames Police Court) ; There was a general melody. M(agistrate: A .what? Police constable: A melody-HBi general scuffle. In conversation with a reporter a Wellington business man 1 stated that during the past month or so. there has been quite an influx of German printing m/atter into New Zealand, especially export catalogues covering almost every phase of manufacture. “Don’t invest your-money until you have been working a year. Don’t expect to (be given something for nothing. Use your head when you work with your hands, and ‘be prepared to Use your hands When you work with your head.’’—Hints to Settlers contained in the new handbook of the Dominion sent to England for the guidance of immigrants. A raft, about 12 feet long by six feet wide 1 , was recently washed upside down on the rocks skirting the beach at, Opumake. Empty tar barrels encased in strong wooden supports securely fastened by long tie bolts give buoyancy to the structure which, judging by-the manner of its construction, -was evidently built to enable workmen to work at some object from the surface of the water. One end of the raft has been severely Watered by the. waves, but there are no marks, howevfer, either on the barrels or on jhe woodien framework to .indicate the origin of the structure. The New Plymouth Chamber of Commferce is inviting applications from farmers who are desirous of obtaining youths, from England for farm work. It is proposed to bring out lads from, 17 to 2Q years of age, fresh from the secondary schools, and selected by the chamber’s representative at Home. The lads would require to receive, training in farm work for a minimum of two years, and treated as members of the family, the remuneration for the first six months to be nominal: and afterwards such as the improvement in the work marranted 1 , with a minimum of 15s petr week.

Tn ispontanejius generosity, the Maori sets an example which may well be followed by his white brethren (states the “Manawatu Times”). Captain Preeoe, of Palmerston North, has received a note from' his old friend and Maori War associate, Captain Gilbert Mair, who is now well over 80 years of age, and in hospital, in which he says he has received the following telegram from the Ngatiwhakahe tribe':—“Unanimously, and with love and gratitude in our hearts remembering your inestimable services to our tribe, we beg your acceptance of an annuity of £IOO to commence forthwith.” '

In order to lay down permanent roads under modem methods, the Egmont County Council propose to borrow £65,000. The matter has been occupying the attention of the Council -a good deal, lately, and finally, at Tuesday’s meieting, instuctions were given to the clerk to take the necessary steps to submit the proposals to the ratepayers’ vote. Their decision will determine whether the county will have good roads. similar to other countries or whether they will remain hs at present. '

Mr H. W. Walker speaks highly of the excellent work being performed by the Methodist missionaries in the Fiji group in the education of the natives. On the Re\va river near Suva., splendid schools and colleges are situated Where several hundred scholars are taught by teachers, mostly draAvn from Australia. Throughout the Islands, Mr Walker Avas greatly impressed Avith the apparently real spirit of religion which existed amongst the natives, each of whom attended church at least once during the Sabbath, joining in the services Avith the, greatest devotion. Probably the highest proof of this is thaiti the morality of the natives is very high.

To lose the sight of his right eye and then have his house, together with its contents, including £250 in notes received from an insurance company by Ava.y of compensation, is the misfortune that .has befallen Mr Len Wood, an old NeAV Plymouth boy, Avho was burnt out at Awakino recently. He. wras struck in the eye by a flying staple whilst fencing, and tike loss of sight of that eye eventually resulted. Last Aveek, as reported, the .house in Avhich he Avas living, together with his workmates, was burnt to the ground and besides much valuable gear £250 in notes was destroyed, the mioney he had received in compensation for the loss of sight. “In every hundred boys there - are about isix brilliant ones, about six rather dull and .the others are average,” remarked Mr George Lancaster,

headmaster of the Christchurch Boys’. High School. “Well, I like to look 1 after the average boy, not only in the ( class Avork but in the sports'.” He j made it clear that his policy was to \ improve the average rather than to! sieek special limelight for the school j by giving more than a fair share of I attention to the exceptionally clever j lads. Some years ago Mr J. P. Firth j (formerly headmaster of Wellington’ College) 'expressed similar opinions, AAdien it was complained that the college Avasi not Avinning as many scholarships as some of the other secondary schools. Mr Fifth explained that others schools had a, habit of “push- , ing on” the brighter boys. Hie mere- ( ly staled his policy—and his record . showed that, he acted on it, to the i advantage of the pupils in the aggre- . gate.

The Masterton Dairy Company has refused offers from Is 6§d to is 6£d for its make for the. three months.

The Foxton Borough Council has decided to grant the dog registrar permission to destroy all unclaimed dogs roaming the streets. An advertiser in the “Hawera Star’ 1 ' offered a. reward of £5 for information leading to the conviction <!’ the person who cut a daffodil bloom in his garden.

It was stated at the Arbitration Court at 'Wellington, that New Zealand. has now a protective tariff of approximately 38$ per cent, in connection with the boot industry, also shipping . and incidental charges against Australia/

A concrete tower 600 feet high is to be erected at Wembley, near London, England, to give visitors a view of the surrounding country. A searchlight powerful enough to be seen from the coast of. France will be installed in, the. tower. A cage will make the trip to the top of the tower spirally. ‘ The following incident is authentic, and can be vouched for; two Auckland provincial travellers recently tnefy and one asked, the other how It was they had not met at a certain hotel the previous evening. “You may think me funny,” he replied, “but I left that hotel because they would persist in putting ‘dry’ mustard on the table.”

The loss on milk bottles used in connection with the Wellington municipal supply is £l9O per month. Most of the loss occurs in putting the bottles through the washing machine at the depot. It is hoped that English bottles, which will shortly replace American, will be better annealed than those in use.

Speaking at, a reception at Cambridge Mr Bosworth, manager of the New South Wales footballers, said there was something wrong with his team’s play. If they were only enabled to play the game in their own way, tjhey would undoubtedly do better, but the fact was that their opponents were too strong for them, and they were a little overshadowed.

Two of those injured in the Ongarue train disaster of July 6, Mr W. Campbell, the fireman,on the express, and Mr C. MrFarlane, a passenger, have been admitted to the Auckland hospital. Mr McFarlane is suffering from fractures of all his. limbs, while Mr Campbell has not yet recovered fom injuries to his face, his sight being somewhat affected. County councillors in the Cambridge district are getting quite a reputation as pugilists, says the Independent. The latest to figure in this respect is a member of the Waipa County Council, who will shortly appear in-court to answer to a charge of striking one of the Council’s workmen. The hearing of the case will probably be very interesting. A peculiar incident resulted from the sharp shock of earthquake felt in Pahiajtua on; Wednesday morning. On the mantelpiece of the county clerk’s office' stands a clock, which; for oyer a year has refused to tick, despite the frequent attentions of a certain clock repairer. Imagine the surprise of the clerk when, half-an-hour after the shock, this instrument commenced ;a fresh career by striking twelve.—Herald. The late Mr Noel Wilson, son of Sir Jamies and Lady Wilson, was married only five months -ago, to Miss Barbara Loughnan, daughter of Mr Charles Loughnan, of Palmerston North. He. was taken ill at Auckland about seven weeks ago oil returning from a trip to Australia, but was eventually able to be moved into his beautiful new home “Greenvale,” Awapuni. the planning of which had been the last great interest of his life. In spite of every effort of medical skill and attention he passed away quietly and peacefully. Though never robust, he was at one time a very keen polo player.

Alderman Bridge, of the Sydney City Council, has returned to Australia after a twelve months’ tour of Europe. Being interested in the wool trade he made enquiries while abroad as to the position of the wool market. He informed a Sydney Sun reporter that as soon as the Ruhr question is settled great things could be expected in wool between Australia and Germany. “The smallest people in Germany speak and think in millions. To go on a thorougpi tour of inspection it. is necessary to hire a motor car to carry your money,” declared Alderman Bridge.

The alleged refusal of the matron of the 'Palmerston North Hospital to sign the nursing certificate of Miss A. E. Hally formed the subject of a letter from a solicitor which was received 'by the Hospital Board at yesterday’s meeting of tha body. The letter stated that (apparently the matron’s refusal to sign was due to a breach pf discipline on Miss Hally’s part, land the only breach that that lady could' think of was that she had worn a black sports., coat over her. uniform instead of a grey one. The writer further stated that Miss Hally was absent at the time the regulation was made, and when the offence was committed she was 'ignorant of the regulation.

The following paragraph evidently ; originated in official sources, has been published: in. Wellington: “The treeferns and palms required for the British Empire Exhibition cannot be t sent from New Zealand, as they, would not stand the journey, and ' so the authorities are faced with the purchase of Ntew Zealand pun gas in England at, prices that seem unbelievable here. Flax is being obtained from Torquay, where a considerable quantity is available, but a. number of tree ferns are being bought at from £3 3s for 9ft stems to £2 for 4ft stems. They are of the variety known, as “Dicksouia.” Th© statement, that punigas will not- stand the journey to England can be controverted as in pre-war days, a Palmerston nurseryman regularly exported large consignments of j tree ferns to the Continent with com- ’ [ilete success. i

Among the hints given to settlers coming from England to the Dominion in the latest handbook issued by the Immigration Department are the following: “Make .sure that you have enough money in your pocket when you land, overseas to cover any travelling aind other expenses, and to keep you agoing until you can get work.”’ “Don't let strangers know how much money you have brought with you. Don’t trust strangers, however friendly they may seem, but apply to Government agents, who will always do l their best to help you.” An exhibit included among the many articles brought back from tne land of the Esquimaux by the Rev. W. S. Tremaine, of Palmerston, is a pair of coloured glasses. The wearer was a man name St-alkeson,. navigation officer in the Canadian Arctic party under Stefaiisson. For two years he had drifted on the ice solely dependent on his gun to supply him with food and the wearing of the glasses had saved him from the torture of snd\v blindness. The -na-" tives wear for this purpose a piece of wood across the eye with a narrow slit cut therein.

The Education Department has notified the R.S.A. that the Lutheran school at Rongotea is not a German school. Religious instruction, in conformity with the beliefs of the Lutheran Church, was to he given, hut the,. German language was not to be used. It was quite clear that the 'school could not be a “German school” but only a school that was to be atttnded by the children of adherents to tlie Lutheran Church. The teacher had taken the oath of allegiance, and a guarantee had been given in the following terms“ Loyal British sentiments and patriotism VviH be taught as a matter oi religion and consciences.”

A problem which the authorities of Samoa will have to face before long, says Mr H. W. Walker, who has just returned from th)e Islands, is that of the Indians who were indentured as labour for the plantations, and after their term of service had expired, permitted to remain in the country. There are now 65,000 such Indians in the country as against 85,000 natives. Physically they are of a poor type as a rule, with no inclination, for hard work, and are drifting into the towns in increasing numbers, where they loaf around in unsavoury quarters. The only redeeming feature is that the, contempt in which they are held - by the natives prevents any intercourse between the two races.

Reporting to the Mauawatu-Oroua Power Board on the recent dismtssaf of a pole-erection, gang, the Engineer (Mr Waters) said: Tne total wages paid for the four and a-half days previous to dismissal were £45 5s 5Ju. The average number of men 'employed was 14, the number of poles erected 40, the number of spare holes dug 10, and the cost per pole £1 2s 7%a. The cost per pole tor the last day was over £1 6s. As to the work done by the new gang tor the first five days of its operations, the report stated that the total waggs paid for that period were £49 13s The average number of men employed was 12.4 (this average figure being due to several being paid off and others taken on), the number of pofes erected was 76, the number of spare holes dug 10, and the cost note 13s o|d. “After the first two days,” stated the report, “the gang got used to the work and for the last day (Friday), when .14 men were engaged (same as. the paidoff gang), they cost of under 10s ll|d 'each. The conditions of work and the tools were identical. All the" above costs include digging holes and putting up poles, cases.”

Several little incidents in connection with the competitions have been recorded from time to time, but a story told of the Wanganui competitions is worth relating. A certain gentleman who liacTbee-n in the habit of acting as host usually -conveyed the invitation to partake of a iictle refreshment in the remark: “Gate to have a look at the old gentleman toefor we screw him down?’’ In the evening two gentlemen in clerical attire, who had been good iriends to the competitions were seated in the iront irow, and it was thought that they would not be averse to a little liquid refreshment, so one of the officials approached them in a stage whisper: "“Like to. see the old gentie-i man before we screw him down?” They were greatly shocked, 'and the question had to be repeated, with the result that they, left for the rear of the stage with elongated countenances. Decorously they entered the ante-room, when, much to their sur-prise—-and pleasure they were asked to partake of a “spot,” which soon served to disperse the gloom which had shown itself in their faces. In fact it was twice dispelled.

Some time ago. the French Government sent out a warship to investigate the ways of wireless, Mr' W. Siirimpton told Rotarians at a recent, meeting. This wa,s the Aldebaran, which kept in touch with the station at Lafayette. As the vessel got out of the 'Mediterranean and passed .the Red Sea into thef centre of the Indian Ocean it wia, s that the signals faded away entirely, but as the warship., approached New Zealand they were picked up again at a gradually increasing strength to those which had been received in the ■Mediterranean. One explanation of this which had been g/iven was that New Zealand was the antipodes of France,

and that the' wireless waves came round both sides of the earth and met hear the Dominion. But the real explanation was, of course, otherwise. From .the Dominion to England the shortest wav home was due north, up through Behring Strait, past, the North Pole, and then southward. This was the way which would b© taken in a trip Home by aeroplane, and the way of the. wireless waves. And as they knew that wireless could be sent, three or four times further over sea than land, and that most of this route was over wateL these facts fore out the theory. So New Zealand is very aptly placed for receiving messages from European stations.