Shannon News TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1923.

Shannon News, 2 October 1923, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1923.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening.

The following are the vital statistics for Shannon for the month of Septemberßirths 4, deaths 2, marriage 1. The returns for the quarter ending September 30th are: Deaths 4, births 19, marriages 2. Next Mondiay evening the final episode of “Buffalo Bill’’ will be screened at the Mainland Theatre. The same night the first episode of the serial “Around the World in Eighteen Days”' will be shown, featuring that popular film actor, Wm.. Desmond.

During the month of September rain fell on 12 days for a, total of 2.55 inches, the heaviest fall being on the 13th with .79 inches. For the corresponding, period last year rain fell on 7 days with a total of 0 inches, the heaviest being on the 11th with .81 inches. Intending members and friends are reminded' that thq opening-, of the green ,by the Bowling Club takes place on Saturday next. The green is reported to be in, excellent, order and given a fine day a pleasant afternoon should be spent by the bowlers and their friends.

At ai 'meeting' of boxing enthusi-* Qsts 'held on Thursday evening to make 'further arrangements for the forming of a Boxing Association, in it was decided to write the secretary' of the Manawatu Boxing Association for a copy of their rules for the purpose of drafting. A committee was appointed to draw up the rules when' the copy come's to hand. About forty names have been handed in for membership and there is every indication the • Association will start off with a good membership. It is with regret we have to announce the death of Mrs J. Newton, of Shannon, which took place at the Palmerston North Hospital on Saturday morning after a short illness. The deceased lady, who was the second daughter of Mr and Mrs Hunt la.te of Makenia, but now residing at. Otaki, was 27 years of age and leaves a husband and four young children, who will have the deepest, sympathy of a large circle of friends in their bereavement. The interment -takes place at Shannon this afternoon. On Saturday evening a motor lorry had a narrow escape from: destruction, on the Levin road, just outside the Shannon boundary. The occupants, discovering the benzine was giving out. decided to put a.notbetin full into the tank. The tin was duly opened and one of those present held a match over the tank to see how much it contained, when both the tank and tin became ignited. The former was smothered out), while one of the men kicked the tin over, causing it to explode, with the result that his clothes caught fire. It Was only by the prompt, action of his companions that he was net seriously burnt. The lorry was scorched '& good deal but not, "seriously damaged. Howard Andrew, Ltd., have a replace advertisement on 'page 2 in which rihey mention, the fact that their best advertisement is that their customers iaiie complimenting them: on their Bplendid range of summer materials. ,

A shop day in aid of the local Queen •in the Shannon School Carnival, mil be held by . the Mang;ore ladies committee, when amongst other attractions will be guessing and other competitions. Provisions,, etc., will bo gratefully received. : At the conclusion of the sacred concert on Thursday evening Mr Andrew said 1 with the talent available in Shannon he was sure & first-class choir t#r choral society could be formed in Shannon, judging by the appreciative manner in which the various items were received. The children treated at the Wanganui dental clinic up to the end of the Education Board’s year numbered 60(L ; There are 35 junior and 14 senior scholarships in force in' the Wanganui education\ district of a total value of £865. ' The amount paid last year by the Wanganui Education Board for con veyance and boarding allowance to school children amounted to £790. - About 100 persons will go from Wanganui town and district to the Hickson Mission at Palmerston, which will last two days. Possibly a special train will be run to convey the sick from Taranaki.

A demand on the part of the Auckland City Council for £l3l for heavy traffic license fees was replied to by the Auckland Fire Board contending that the motor vehicles, used in connection with fire-fightingvdid not come within the terms of the by-law respecting vehicles engaged in heavy traffic, and the board requested that the demand be withdrawn. The council decided toj adhere to its decision to charge, the Mayor stating that the council taxed its own vehicles. If the Fire Board’s vehicles were exempted by statute, that would 'be ascertained.

.According to the British Weekly. (London), the Rev. J. Napier Milne, the editor of the. New Zealand Methodist Times, is seeking re-admission into the ministry of British Methodism at the conference of 1924. He went 4»o New Zealand fotr reasons ol family health. His hope was not -fulfilled. Every inducement to remain in New Zealand has been offered to Mr Milne, and two years ago die was made connexional editor, but the pull of the Homeland is strong, and hie believes be. can still do his best work there. ■ \

A “Chronicle” representative who endeavoured to purchase one of the new penny stamps -at tne local Posi Office to-day was informed that these would not be on sale till Monday. He was, however, enabled to> inspect the new issue, and was not very favourably impressed with it from an artistic point of view. Instead of signalising /the return of penny postage by something 1 ) of, which the Dominion would have some reason to be proud, the Department, has chosen a very weak and ineffective design that is not a good advertisement for the Dominion. The new issue is. of an indefinite pink coloub, with a badly drawn map of New Zealand as its only relief. Admittedly the space available is very small, but it does not justify the general plainness and poverty of detail that characterises the stamps. Apparently lacking imagintion, the Dominion has followed Austral i,Vs lead in the matter of the map. We have had in the past, stamps, the design apd lithography of which have been striking in their beauty, and it is to be regretted that we should have so far fallen ’from the standard on this occasion. If it was desired to he unoriginal-it would have been, better to have adopted the simple dignity of the sovereign’s portrait, rather than a design that will be meaningless outside the Dominion’s borders.—Saturday's Levin “Chronicle.”

In the opinion of Sir Harold Beauchamp, the high prices ruling to-day for shares in first class companies indicate in the plainest possible terms the difficultly experienced by people in finding! suitable investments for then surplus capital. The . raising of a tax on debentures from Is* 6d. to 4s 6d in me £ wall not, I think, force lenders, as was assumed by some members el Parliament, to . advance money by way of. mortgages to fanners, unless, of couise, they can show a decent, margin on their landed securities. The reduction of rates in income "tax payable by investing companies is already reflected in the lowering of the rare ni interest on mortgages from 6£ to fi per cent. In view, however, of the strong demand there will probably be in the near future lor money in Australia and New Zealand for the requirements of the various Governments and public bodies for fresh loans and the ‘redemption of old ones, the* development of industrial concerns and for the erection of buildings for business and (residential purposes, i think it, is quite unlikely we shall sea any very appreciable fall in the value of money.

A demonstration of a new type of machine for eradicating weeds and digging potatoes, etc., patented by Mr.j. Roberston, was given at Waitati last week (says the Otago Daily Times), and proved highly successful. When operating in a paddock over-grown with twitch, sorrel, yarrow and other noxious weeds, the machine is set to dig a, desireg depth by means of a leverage system. The coulters cut the turf into strips in advance oi the ’furrow -maker, and as the machine progresses the strip-cut furrow is projected by means of the mould board into the rolling screen, and then pulverised by the rotating tines of the disintegrators. The soil is finally sieved through the rolling screen to the ground, . while the twitch and other weeds, separated from the soil, pass through the screen and are deposited therefrom oil the 1 surface of the ground. When the machine is used for lifting root crops, such as potatoes , etc., the plough- ! share is set sufficiently deep to lift the crop and deliver it with its surrounding soil into the screen, where the potato or other root, crops are separated from the soil and deposit- . ed on the surface of the ground in ’ rows. The screen can be detached and the machine can be worked as an ordinary plough;

“What do you do with your cock-. erels?” was a question asked of a| poultry raiser in a neighbouring dis- f trict. “I kill them as soon as I can | discover their sex,” was the reply. “It cost about 4s a head to rear cockerels, 'and when they are offered at auction, they probably fetch 2s 9d." A dairy farmer once said that wo mistake of his life had been that he' had not travelled more and seen how the best men in the business managed their farms. "I lost ten times the money it wold have cost me in blunders and unwise efforts that I need not have made.” He was right. There cannot be too much interchange of opinions and experiences a<mongst farmers. A lady advertising for a gardener stipulated for a.married man. The successful applicant for the post inquired what the duties for his wife would be, but was told there were none. ‘ ‘ Why, then, torn 'am, did you advertise for a married man, may I ask?” said he. “I advertised io\ a married man,” said the lady, “because I wanted one who was used to taking orders from a woman. ”

Rata Dairy Company is putting forward a scheme whereby suppliers may purchase bulls. The intending purchaser is to pay a deposit of 10 per cent, and the balance in 16 monthly payments; interest on unpaid purchase money being 7 per cent. Pedigrees and records of animals must be approved by the Company, which will not consider animals with less than 50011). hutter-fat record on both sire and dam’s side.

According to local orchardists, the prospects lor the coming fruit season in this distiict appear to be very satisfactory. Apple trees have blossomed exceptionally well, and cherry plums were a mass of blossom in the early part of the season. Japanese plums in some cases are not making the show they did last year, which was, however, an exceptionally good season, but in most cases are up to the average. .

In pursuance of the request of the Fijian Government that the New Zealand Department of Agriculture should select a dozen high-clas s pedigree Jersey cattle for transportation to Fiji, an officer of the Department has purchased three yearling heifers from Mr F. J. B. Ryburn, of Te Awamutu. The selected three are from cows that have been under semi-offic-iaPtest, and are regarded &s splendid specimens of the breed

“The top of Mount Egmont is the only part of Taranaki i would guarantee free from Californian thistle,’ said a cynic tat an impromptu meetr ing of farmers. “Wherever land is ploughed,” he adde.d, “the thistle comes, and land free from it will soon show it when ploughed. It comes in mainly on the wind.” Most people will agree .with this. Another said he had some seeds which he : cleaned under the microscope dnd took from it, as he considered, all foreign matter. Yet still he got the weed.—-Hawera

One of the latest devices. of the Posit and Telegraph Department to secure additional revenue is to make i a levy on those telephone subscribers whose phones are fitted with two receivers. The rent charged for the extra receiver is Is 3d per half-year, and the accounts to be sent out at the end of September will bear this extra charge (says the Christchurch ' “Press”). Subscribers have been notified that they may avoid this charge 1 by unscrewing and retumingi the receiver. To the layman the amount of extra income derived, compared with the trouble to officials and irritation to subscribers, seems* hardly worth while.

“I understand that over £IOOO was lei't in New Plymouth as a result of betting on the Moascar Cup match between the local high school and the Palmerston school,” said Mr L. A. Nolan (chairman), when condemning the wholesale gambling on school Rugby fixtures, at the meeting of the Board of Governors (says the “Taranaki Herald”). The boys played the game lor the game’s sake, he. continued, but the fault lay with the adults. One member agreed with the suggestion that it would be a good thing if all football trophies were burnt. The opinion was general that the New Zealand Rugby, Union’s policy had been most unfortunate, and several speakers, favoured home-and-home matches. Some time in. July “a 'famous corner should have made its appearance in the night sky, and every clear night astronomers set their comet “trap”—a combination' of the telescope and the photographic camera—in the. hope of trapping it (says the “Melbourne Agp”). This member of our solar system .was 'first seen by Professor d’Arrest, after whom it is named, in 1851, and the determination of its or. bit showed it to be what.is known as , a sborttperiod comet, paying us a visit every seven years. But it has not been seen since 1910, and it is feared that a few years ago it came under the influence of the planet Jup-, iter, and got so severely mauled by , that planetary giant that it was either broken into fragments or switched into a different orbit. As nothing has beten reported we may assume that it must be included in the list, of lost comets.

Dame Nellie Melba recently received a gift of -a grey parrot, which, when a “Daily Mail” representative called at the diva’s residence in London, was sitting in its cage by her piano listening attentively to the diva as she sang, “I have had her only a fenr w r eeks, ” said Dame Nellie, “but already she has ceased to whistle, and has devoted herself to song. She seems to have been born with a natural trill. Her favourite song is 'Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes.’ which I am singing at my farewell concert on Sunday at the Albert Hall. A bar or two of this song is always on her lips—or, rather, in her beak — and she possesses an enviable talent for singing it upside down. As soon as I begin to practise, Grcybird re mains absolutely silent; but when I pauses she bursts into song.”

Sixty large bags of cones were taken from a single pinus insignis tree felled by Mr A. Morgan, of Gordonton, Waikato. This was in addition to the timber, represented by the trunk, and firewood from the brandies. An idea of the prevalence-of rabbits in Australia is afforded by the fact that- at the. weekly sales of fur skin's in Sydney, so far this, year, the skins of upwards of 35,000,000. rabbits have been sold.

. Mr J. M. Hickson, the faith-healer, is at present in Rotorua, where .he is staying with his sister, Mrs 'I. St. Clair, whom he has not seen for many years. Another sister, Mrs Minnie Wilson, qf Auckland, is also in the party. ‘ ’

In connection with the forthcoming local A. and P. Show, a handsome piece of plate valued at £4 4s has been presented to. the Association by the wfell-known firm of Messrs 4 Walker and Hall. It will be given for competition in the best lady rider class.

A man named Richard Benjamin Knight, working on a farm at Gordonton, was arrested by Detective Culloty, of Hamilton, on on a charge of stealing 345. ewes, valued at £440, from Joseph Bennett, of Feilding. Accused was remanded to appear at Palmerston North. A novel competition has been instituted by the official tester ,of the Carterton herd testing scheme in order to ascertain what knowledge dairymen have of a cow’s quality without applying a test. He is offering a prize to the dairyman who can guess nearest to the three best and three worst cows in his herd.

The method of marking dairy cows for identification purposes adopted by a Te Awamutu farmer in connection with the herd testing operations proved a failure. He had no names for the Individual cows in his herd, and as the testing officer was due next day the farmer marked the cows with a linseed oil preparation. When the cattle were; turned out to graze, they licked the marks from each others rumps. A tar brand will be used in future.

Mention of a particularly silly practical joke was made at last night’s meeting of the Levin Fire Board. On a recent occasion on which a euchre party was held in the, fire station, some person with -a perverted sense of humour took the opportunity of xunning the whole of the benzine out of., the tank of the motor-engine. Fortunately the fact was discovered before, the necessity of rising the engine for Are fighting purposes arQse, or what was •presumably meant for a joke might have become cause for criminal procedure.

The Cambridge Power Board Is still makipg steady progress. The engineer’s report on the month'from August 13 ' gives the following figures Connections to date:' Borough iid, increase of 3; Leamington 8.4, no increase; rural lighting, 233, increase of 4; milking motors 136, increase of 23. Total consumers number 664, a net increase pf 17 new consumers. The majority of new connections are really extensions of existing consumers, which explains why the large increase in -motors, etci, has not added a proportional number of new (cummers.

An Ashburton lady made a remarkable discovery the other day. For some time she was troubled to know why the fireplace in the guest’s room was always dirty no matter bow often j was cleaned. One morning she .was cleaning it when a starling flew into the room from the chimney and escaped through, the window. On investigating, the perplexed lady found that the bird had been building in the chimney just above the fireplace, and on dragging out the nest she was surprised to. find a £1 bank note, much discoloured among the bird’s building material.

At the opening of the new hospitalat WhakatanV last week Sir Maui Pomaire related mn anecdote of a Maori who had a sick w r ife. Every time he made inquiries at the hospital he wms told that she was Improving. One day he was told that she was dead. “What did she die from,?” °* agked a sympathetic friend. “Improvements,” answered- the sorrowful husband. Dr. Pomare referred to the great improvements taking place in Whakatane, and said: “I hope you will not die i financial, death.”

The associated banks have agreed -for the further protection of drawers as follow: “If it is desireu that a cheque drawn to .‘order’ be altered to ‘bearer,’ the drawer must insert the word ‘nearer’ and sign such alteration: Where there is more than one signatory, the alteration must be signed by all of phem. In cases where a. limited company or other corporate body desires to give a standing authority to one or more persons to altei their cheques from ‘order’ to ‘bearer/ such authority may be acted upon, provided it is under seal and quotes the text ot the resolution authorising the alteration. As it has been the practice of some banks to accept initials to sudi alterations'as the above, ip has been agreed that after October 1 such alterations will be accepted only if signed.”

I “New Zealanders are boasting of their new tunnel 5J miles long which is said to be the longest in the Empire,” says the Northern Daily Telegraph, Blackburn, England. “It is a subject for legitimate pride, but s ome tunnels are not. One of the South American ' Rj/puMics insisted on a quite unnecessary tunnel on the route of .a new' raihvay solely that they could enjoy the novelty, and over the entrance they placed the legend, “This is the only tunnel in this country.” The same thing happened in England in the early days of raihvay enterprise. In the twenties of last century a; line was projected from Canterbury to- Whitstable, and the engineer who drew up the plans reported to the' directors that {fortunately no tunnel will be necessary.’ The direct route, he added, passed well to the w'est- of Tyler Hill, which lies about tw'o miles north, of Canterbury. ‘We must have a tunnel/ was the reply,- and the line was" deliberately diverted, so as to run over half a mile through Tyler Hill. That was the first, tunnel constructed for a -railway, and was opened in May, 1889.”-