Shannon News TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1923.

Shannon News, 6 November 1923, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1923.

The; monthly meeting of the Druids Lodge wiil be held on Thursday evening. The Chamber ol' Commerce meets thi s evening ati the Council Chambers. •

It was announced at the meeting of the Flaxworkers’ Union on Saturday that-Mr P. Fraser, Mt.P., will make a tpur of the district delivering lectures; leaving Wellington on November 12th.

At a meeting ol members of £he Flaxworkers’ Union held at Shannon on Saturday it was.decided to make Shannon the headquarters for tne Union. A ballot lor officers resulted as follows:—Mr S. Briggs, president; Mr W. Donovan, vice-president; Mr T.. Logan, treasurer, and Mr P. G. Robinson,, secretary.. j The pantomime “gick vWhittingf ton” staged at the Maoriland Theatre on Friday evening, proved one of the best shows that has. visited Shannon and' it is a pity .the. company were not rewarded WTEfr a good house,, as they pu.t on a clean, bright and breezy performance, well acted and magnificently staged,: • A few days ago a lad named Jude living at Newtown, was attacked by a cow, which was supposed to. be very quiet, being used as a house cow. While driving it along . the cow suddenly turned on him knocking hint down and getting him on the ground knelti on him, .breaking his arm.

Two men occupying -a double bed at a Takaka hotel recently had a narrow escape. One of them had carelessly dropped a lighted! cigarette on a mattress, which was soon in flames. Smoke issuing from the room prompted investigations,, and when the room was entered both men were fast asleep, and the burning mattress had to be dragged from under them. The mattress and some blankets were partly destroyed, and one; of the men had his clothes burned.

An unusual case wasf heard at the Te Awamutu S.M. Court when Percy B. Holmes claimed £lO exemplary damages from W- J- and H. H. Ranson, for alleged damage to a lawn. It was stated the defendant* were explicitly instructed not to pass over the lawn when delivering coal. The defendants proceeded against plaintiff for the value of the coal, and this was paid into Court, and! the action for £lO was a counter-claim. The Magistrate adjourned fjhe case while he inspected the lawn. On resuming he said the carter had! acted in defiance of the householder’s instructions. The actual damage was; not very great, but there was a blemish on the lawn. He awarded £2 10s and costs, totalling £3 Is.

Howard Andrew, Ltd., -have a replace advt. on page 2 in reference to a gigantic boot sale commencing in ft few days. -■-P/V. ■ aj

( The Governor-General has signed a . proclamation declaring the Dairy Export Control. Act to be In force as from, ! to-day, November 3. ! One of the first lines of fat lambs drafted in the Waverley district was 1 sent to a Wellington freezing works last week, and! averaged 33Jlbs. This must he considered a phenomenal weight for lambs killed so early in the season. The owner is said to have received a very satisfactory price. 2 St. Helen’s Hospital, Wellington, reported its first birth of triplets last week. The new arrivals are all girls and are the first babies in the family. The mother and babies are doing well. The birth of triplets is. quite an unusual event in New Zealand. The chairman of the Mauriceville County Council, during the course of Saturday’s meetings said: “Never stop a mam from planting a tree. If it gets in the way it can bei cut down, and if it does not it may become a valuable asset.”

“Three years in Dartmoor,” said Mr Justice Salmond during an Appeal .Court case in Wellington, “is a very different thing indeed , from three years of agricultural occupation and garden cultivation in many of the so-called prisons in New Zealand.”

Cross seas, which disturbed the Niagara’s passengers on her recent .voyage to Auckland wore responsible, said Mr W. B. Ley land at Saturday’s re-i union of naval veterans, for his being asked by an American: “Does hot Bri-; tannia rule the waves?” “Yes.” “Well, I wish to goodness she’d rule them straight.” /' On Monday, a Bristol Road (Inglewood) farmer named Benge, while in an open paddock, was attacked by a boar, which succeeded in inflicting very serious injuries before being driven off, states an Inglewood correspondent. Dr. M'Alluiri, Inglewood, was summoned, and found that Mr Benge had been ripped a good deal about the legs and back.

Councillor E. J. Howard, M.P., suggested to the Christchurch City Council that a line of whi£e tiles be laid down the. centre, of one of the city footpaths, as in Auckland, in order to see .whether the device would teach people to “keep to the left. ; ’- Concillor Howard, who has lately visited Auckland, said that the tiles had been laid along a section of footpath as an experiment and had controlled traffic quite well. An Akaroa fisherman,, Mr Arthur •Westlake, while a, few miles off the Heads early in June last, scribbled a 'message, with the usual request to a ■possible finder, corker it tightly in a bottle and then threw it into the water. The matter had passed from his memory when, toward the end of September, the unexpected answer to ihe request came from Taranaki. Two hoys had found the bottle on the beach there between Manaia and Opunake. A case' of enthusiasm in the game of howls, which is probably without parallel in the Dominion, • was mentioned at the Picton Hospital Board’s meeting last week. It was stated that a local gentleman, who was handicapped by ;a contracted finger, recently went to his medical adviser, arid asked that the offending finger be, amputated, as. it interfered with his game of bowls. The operation was accordingly successfully performed and the patient is now progressing favourably.

The Farmers’ Union Gazette was briefly discussed at a meeting of the Wanganui Farmers’ Union. One member said that the matter in it was, too high class for the average Toni, Dick and Harry to read. He said that what was wanted was plenty of racing news and a few tips. That seemed to be what most, farmers wanted to read about.

In the course of a discussion at the Anglican Synod, Auckland, several speakers referred to the need of Bible reading in the State schools. _ At length a layman said that, while he agreed with the speakers, he must say that two of his children who attended diocesan schools seemed to know much more about the Prayer Book than the Bible.

At the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch Charles Meledries and Thomas Turnbull were sentenced to two months on charges “that without colour of right, but not. so as to. be guilty of theft they took a motor car valued at £250.” The evidence showed that the men took possession of the motor car and went for a “joy-ride.” They drove it through a fence in another part of the city and were arrested. They pleaded that they had been invited to go for. a ride by another man who eventually left them in charge, but the magistrate said he disbelieved them.

We have been requested to publish as a; warning to bee-keepers the report of a, case hard in the Magistrate’s Court ait Napier on Monday last. The defendant in this case pleaded guilty tto a breach of fhe Apiaries Act by not complying with an order from the inspector to rid his apiary of foul-brood. The inspector, who prosecuted, said thait as far back as. 1921 defendant’s apiary was in bad’order, and his attempt to clean it up then was a healf-hearted attempt. Defendant pleaded that owing to sickness in. Iris family and himself’ he had been unable to attend to the matter. “It is a very serious matter,” said Mr Dyer. “He might infect the whole neighbourhood’s apiaries. He will be fined £5 and costs.”

A cheery note was struck by a commercial man in Dunedin. “Right , through,” he said, “the business in I this city has been sound, exceptionallp | sound, whether the volume was heavy or light, and there are many others as well as myself who are recognising more and more that fluctuations may do good in. teaching us that business nowadays calls with increasing insistence for thought, and greater thought. The time is past when ai man can safely idle away the morning in a perfunctory call at the office and go away to golf or bowls in the afternoon. He m'ust work and he must organise for work, to get on. The way is a bit hard,, ’but the man who takes it is surer .now, of success than at any preyiouatiia&.

UTe work of providing a continuous telephone service between. Napier and Wellington is now under way. The , service will probably be available for use early in January next, j Mr A. F. Roberts, of Wellington, has been offered and lias accepted the appointment of New. Zealand Commissioner to the British Empire Exhibition, at a salary of £ISOO per annum and travelling allowances. The art of “keeping to the left”, is gradually being learned by the Wanganui public, and it is noticeable that the larger the crowd the better they seem to- regulate themselves, says a local paper. Preparations are- in train for holding the first meeting of the War Pensions Appeal Board, which is beings constituted under the War Pensions Amend-

ment, Act. It is. likely that a meeting will be held at an early date. At least two. highly respected residents of Timaru have recently received anonymous letters making grossly untruthful charges against them as well as veiled! threats. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police. ' The bluegum blight? seems to have swept badly over of the Feilding district. Plantations of fine trees planted toy the early .settlers have been almost destroyed. Oh some of the trees there is: still a vesige of green foliage, and with thg introduction of the ladybird, it is. stated, the trees may survive.

The statement that a rifle-shooting score of 119 out of a possible 120, made at Helensville recently, was a record for New* Zealand on the 25 yds. range, is not borne out by facts. Last year in Auckland, six boys scored the possible 12Q. Although the present season, is only half over, four boys have already gained the possible score of 120. AH these boys have done very well at the various rifle meetings held at Auckland and Trentham.

An interesting collection of German mark notes was brought back from Germany by Mr L. Alfred Eadyi, who returned by the Niagara on Friday. The notes range from the one-mark issue to one of 5,000,000 marks. Tihe latter note, was the. highest denomination in circulation when Mr Eady was in .Germany.

There .was a fairly heavy fall of snow at Lake Monowai (Southland) during the past week, while it was reported that the Waiaui River at the site of the powerhouse for the Power Board’® scheme, rose to a height of 3ft 7in. about normal. The highest rise recorded up to the present time in the ‘river is 4ft sin, above the normal •level.

One of the 'rules of the Hamilton 'Land. Agent®’ Association is that, before a member resorts to litigation to claim commission, he shall place the •circumstances before the executive of the association and obtain its ruling on the matter. A special meeting of the executive was held to consider the circumstances of a recent transaction, and to give its opinion, on the merits of a land agents’ claim for commission. A parallel case has not been adjudicated ©n in a,court of law. and it is. stated that interesting developments are likely to ensue as -the result of the executive’s deliberations.

A mob of sheep were travelling along a road on St. John’s Hill, Wanganui, when one of the flock made a oreak through the/ wire fence of a private house and sat on the verandah. one of the Clogs in charge went In pursuit and eviuently took a nip out of the wether, for it took to its heels, and, travelling around to the back of the house, went inside arid! up the passable until it came to the drawing room door. It then marched sedately in, and,; to the amazement of the household, 1 calmly jumped on to a chesterfield ■and'-sat down with all the preciseness of ai well-bred sheep. The dogj took up a stand outside the back door, and, until the sheep was trundled out the same way it went in, kept up a seemingly continuous bark of protestation at this strange and sudden disappearance.

Some suspicious., circumstances are believed to surround the destruction by fire of the residence of Mr F. Anderson, Napier road, near Palmerston. It is stated that- a tramp called at the house in the morning, as the. inmates were about to leave for the show, and asked for food. He was given some milk and bread and butter, Mrs Anderson apologising for the absence of any more elaborate meal, as the family were about to go to town. The tramp, it- is alleged, then used abusive language and mentioned something about destroying the building. Some time later;, after the occupants had proceeded to Palmerston North, a neighbour noticed that the house was on fire, and summoned volunteers to attempt to subdue -the blaze. The flames, however, then had too strong a hold, and the building and contents were destroyed. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police.

At Auckland Robert Chilvers and his wife were charged with abusing teachers at the Newton East School. The evidence showed that Mrs Chilvers objected to her son, who was not amenable to discipline being chastised, .'and entering the school assaulted a "teacher, Miss. Phillips, and the assistant master, Mr ,J. F. Wells. She also used abusive language. Chilvers was present and was apparently a consenting party to the assault, and called the assistant master an idiot and a coward. Mr Hunt, S.M., intimated--that if Mrs Chilvers was brought before him again on a similar charge gaol would; be the penalty, and he, strongly advised her if she could not | control her language and conduct, to stay at home. Mrs Chilvers was couvicted and fined 40s for abusing the mistress, and was ordered to pay costs £1 Is. For assaulting the master she was fined 40s, without costs. Chilvers was convicted and ordered to pay , costs £1 Is for abusing the master. Defendants, who havp_ five children, four beinig twins, were allowed 14 days, in which to Buy. tjfrs.fipen.

3 Foxtop sportsmen are reported to • have had a good win over the vic- ; tory of the locally-trained ~Houen m ’ the N.Z. Cup on Saturday. | Remarking that revolvers were daiil gerous things, the Magistrate at Auck--5 land lined a night watchman £2O for being iii possession of an unregistered firearm. Mr Edwin Horrobin, of Wanganui, has been appointed manager of the -Bank of Australasia at Otaki in place of Mr Stable, who goes to the head ' office at Wellington. Mr Horrobin ' commences his duties to-day. l Mr W. R. Oates, of Wanganui, has practically recovered from his injuries, . and’ was able ton Friday to leave the ! District Hospital. He is staying with ' friends in Wanganui East. Owing to the stoppage of the coal-

miners at the West Coast, the Government is reported to be building up its coal supplies at Otira-with Newcastle coal. Offers made for beef on c.i.f. quotations would indicate that the price of beef for export will open better than was expected. By the end of this month it i§, anticipated that all New Zealand works will be clear of beef/ . The two -victims of the Ongjarue railway disaster on July 6th, Mr W. Campbell, firemen of the train, and Mr C. McFarlane, a passenger, who are in the Auckland hospital, are reported to be progressing satisfactorily. They were removed from Tauinarunui to. Auckland on September Bth..

Despite the. tide of prosperity which 'is sweeping the North American Continent, Mr L. Macintosh Ellis, Director of Forestry, who Returned by the ‘Niagara on Friday is convinced that New Zealand was “the besit of all.” The Dominion, he said, leads in agricultural production, social and economic conditions, and forestry methods.

Fleas on the Main Trunk express are one of the latest causes of complaint against the Railway Department. A passenger by that train stated in Palmerston North that she had not had a wink of sleep in her expensive “sleeper” on ’the down trip because of these .vermin. She found an ordinary sec-ond-class carriage far more, comfortable.

A letter from a lady in Berlin was received by the Mayor of Christchurch making enquiries concerning one James William Betmead, who was said to have emigrated to Chrstchurch in the year 1918. Nothing has’ been heard concerning him lately, and his last known address was “7 Paxk Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand, Australia.” The lady enclosed, a sjfcamp dor return postage, but explained that it .would be of no. use for the purpose, but could be added to a collection.

A unique building of thirteen floors, “The Astor,” in Macquarie, street, Sydney, was opened recently by the State Premier,. Sir George Fuller. The central idea of the building scheme i;st that each occupier purchases his home. Already 36 homes out of the total of 52 have been, purchased. The building, which is immediately opposite the Botanical Gar- / dens, comprises 13 floors and basement, four homes being on each floor. A unique feature is the construction o/f bridges oh each floor communicating «with the different homes, and tastefully decorated with flowers on each side. “The Astor” is said to be the largest reinforced concrete builing in. Australia.

The Waihoanga suspension bridge in the Otaki Gorge, which collapsed a week ago, has now, through the parting of the second set of cables on one side, dropped into the. gorge, a distance of over 100 feet, being prevented from being swept away by one cable only. The timber of the bridge has been considrably shattered .by the fall 'but it is hoped to salvage most of it and work to this end is proceeding. The engineer of the Horowhenua County Council (Mr W- N. Anderson) has the work in hand and during the 'coming week will make an exhaustive 'investigation into the cause of the collapse. So far it has been as’cer tained that the cables had practically rusted through and a full report of the ‘contributing factors will ibe submitted to the County Council at its next meeting. In the meantime, a cable lias been fixed across the river and a cage which is being constructed will be slung /to enable pedestrians to cross.

Thus the Auckland Sitar’s ’Frisco correspondent : Mr Massey excited undisguised surprise when he related how New -Zealand had lowered its taxation in a degree undreamed of in other countries which had felt the war strain. “No coilhtry can be prosperous,” said Mr Massey, if the country has taxation which is too heavy for the people. We commenced, to reduce taxation, and in the 'Current financial year we reduced the in-come-tax 20 per cent., and knocked out half the Land tax, eliminated half the amusement tax, and abolished all tea tax. I staked my political career on that reduction of taxation, as, 1 know it will lead to prosperity better than any other agency. New Zealand has the highest per capita for production in the world. This sort of thing cannot, be done without .hard work. Our dairy farmers work at least to hours a day and seven days a week. The result is that with such national energy New Zealand is getting back to prosperity quicker than if 'all the politicians of the world got together and tried to solve the problem of postwar rehabilitation and reconstruction.”—(Applause). ‘