Shannon News TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1924.

Shannon News, 15 January 1924, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1924.

At a meeting of 'the School Committee on Thursday evening several minor repair* were ordered to be carried out. It was also decided to . have the grass in the school ground* cut.

A general meeting of members of the shannon Boxing Association will be held in the 'Council Chambers this averting <£o mals arrangements lor th,e forthcoming tourney; on. .Saturday, February ‘ ‘ ’

Mng E. Spencer is arranging a meeting of ladies at an early date with a view to getting thie Croquet Club going.

The benefit dance for Mr J. Tuiroa held in the Druids’ Hall on Friday evening was most successful and although .the night was very warm for dancing there was a good atendance. Miessrs Quarrie and Hienry officiated as M.’sC., (lidl Mr Jack Olsen supplied the music j while Mesdames Wilkinson and Hyde provided the, refreshment®. Those who were present spent a most enjoyable time and as a result of the dance, the promoters were able to hand Mr Turoa quite a tidy little «u!m.

At the police court, yesterday morning before Messrs Gunning and Spencer, J.’siP., a man named Henry Beaumont Ricardo was (convicted on a charge of drunkenness and fined 10s in default 24 hours imprisonment, while on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person in that he had no visible means of support he was convicted pfid ordered to corrfe up for sentience if called upon within six months.

A painful accident occurred to Mr Alex. .Gregory at Moutoa, on Friday: last. Mr Gregory with. others was engaged in putting Way into a shed, he at the time being in. ,the shed rethe hay from the dray when j the j point j.<rf o the fork on which it Avas being,' conveyed to him, went into his,. aide, i, Or. fMaodonald wias sent for .and we l'eam that, although the point of thp ; fork had'.penetrated into " the side for some depth; it Wad narrowly missed the lungs. The unfortunate sufferer who .will be confined to his bedi for some;. days, was slightly better yesterday.

Owing to. the next Borough council Meeting falling on toe night Qf Anniversary Oay it has Been decided, to hold; it on Thursday evening. In connection with the spending* of

toe money recently raised by the carnival, the School Committee at its meeting on Thursday night appointed a sub-committee to hiing down a plan of wiork to he carried out, which is ' icp he submitted to toe committee lor its approval at their next meet'ing.. Business matters call Sir . Thomas Mackenzie to England, and he will leave New Zealand with Lady Mac-

- KeilZlo JL)y Lilts AiUiintiiiO utuvu expecting to return about August. ■ The masses of the Japanese believe that the earth rests on the back of some unknown monster and that an earthquake is caused by the animal stretching himself. An agitation is about to start _i n favour of a more, universal growing, of lucerne. This is not to be wondeied at as the Only dairyman in the Wairarapa just now Who is not agitated over the drought is the <toe with a patch of lucerne.

A novel arrangement for the operation of taps at wash-hand basing has been installed at the new Hokowhitu school. To operate the supply the loot is placed on a knob projecting from the floor, and on the child leaving the wash basins the water is automatically cut off, thus eliminating the possibility of waste. Old pakeha settlers in the north have apparently some of the superstitions of the Maoris, among whom they live. Twice during the tour of the Hon. J. G. Coates in the north, deputations have spoken of a - “makutu” being 'Over a place. MaIrn+.n .mean a a. RTlflll. Or blicht. Cast

over a thing by a witch. In one case it was stated that there wa, a makutu over a farm. No one had prospered on it. In the other case, it was a road, the improvement of which was always expected but never materialised. Monday’s Greymouth Star says.— There’s not by any means general resumption of work at the State mines i O-day, many preferring* to commence work later in the week. In the word; ol one miner, those who commenced work to-day wou\d have as companions large numbers of rats, and even wild cats, which infest the mines af ter they are idle for any length o time

“You would say that nothing could compete with the railway in (the carriage of live stock,” said the Hon. J. G. Coates, in replying to a Nortih Auckland deputation, “but this year in the Wairarapa, 20 motor-lorries have been kept constantly engaged picking lip fat stock at the saleyards, and taking them straight to the freezing works. That is the competition we are facing, and that is why I do 'not want to build a yard of railway where road transport can do the job, or where it will not be justified by the traffic.” Within the last 1 twelve months about £25,Q00 has been spent by tim Public Works Department on the Paekakariki hill, and a wonderful improvement has been effected. The majority of this has been spent in the Horokiwi Valley, where nearly £22,000 ha, s been expended. A number of the most) dangerous have removed, deviations made, arid a good surface provided. This road, formerly one of the most dangerous in the Dominion, will, by the time the present programme i® finished, compare favourably with any hill road in the country.—N.Z. Times.

A little son of Mr Roy Cullen, of Waihi; aged 4£- years, was savagely attached by a chestnut horse Jat Waihi beach. The animal inflicted serious lacerations on the boy’s face, seizing him with his teeth, also kicking his face and leg. The horse was eventually driven off by an eye-wit-ness. A medical man from Waihi attended to the boy’s injuries. The horse was subsequently identified as an ex-hurdler, well-known as Golden Glow.

Matters in connection with the putting into operation of the Main Highways Act are at present at a standstill pending, the receipt of highways recommendations from the various districts throughout the Dominion. The counties all over New Zealand have been grouped into highways districts, each with its own local council, and these councils are now engaged upon deciding what roads they wish to have declared main highways. Up to date only one map embodying one particular district’s recommendations has been received by a Central Board, and until all, or a considerable proportion, of these maps come to hand, there will he no occasion to call a further meeting of the board. As the board is supposed to begin functioning in April, - there is not a great deal of time in which to get the preliminary arrangements completed.—N.Z. Times.

Crs. Cockrell, Kilsiby and Kilmister have resigned from the Otaki Borough Council as the result of a difference over the expenditure of the recent Mardi Gras Funds. They favoured the purchase of additional sections to .enlarge the recreation ground and were supported by a majority of the Council. The minority, led by the Mayor, contended that the money should be spent on improving the present grounds and they were backed up by the opinion of the Municipal Association’s legal adviser, Mr Martin, that it would be ilegal to spend the money in purchasing more sections as it was raised for the specific purpose of improving the grounds. The abovementioned councillors thereupon resigned their positions.

Readers who contemplate" purchasing a piano are directed to an advertisement appearing from Mr L. Martin, Shannon, stating that he has been appointed district agent for Messrs Hamilton Nimmio and Sons. If anyone interested* will kindly communicate with iMr Martin he will be pleased to call on them and explain the easy payment system adopted toy this firm.

The number of .milking plants in u&6 in Ngw Z6<il&nd Inst y£*tr was, 13,553 as against 12,468 in the previous year. Cream separators numbered 40,916 being an increase of 2055 over the n umbei' shown in-1922. “Lord this is terrible. We borrow £20,000 with less discussion than we are taking to sell a Ford motor car, exoianneu a member of the lai'arua power- Board at last meeting: The average price per bale realised at me recent wool* sale by one or uie Wanganui linns of brokers works out at £z3 2s. 3d, which is equal to 14.62 d ' per lb. : ior.3«the whole .of their cata-

logue. One Ql the clips, a large one, tnat was submittedubsSothe same firm, realised an average of £25 17s 6d pel' bale, or equivalent to 17.34 d per io. it is said that the operations of the Rataita movement have been extended in another phase by the creation oi a form ol hanking institution. The funds are believed to already amount to a considerable sum. of money, contributed by the natives holding allegiance to the movement. Owing to deciniing business the number oi taxi owners in the city of

Wellington is decreasing. In 1921 there were 180 of them, hut, according to the Post, some 20 or 30 oi them have since given up the attempt to make a living by the occupation. The Te Kuiti correspondent oi the New Zealand Herald, writing oi me nnense popularity of the Te KuitiNew Plymouth motor-route, states tliat no less than 95 caTs were ferried across the Mokau River in one day. This may be taken as an earnest of wbat will follow When, the road ail the way from Auckland to New Plymouth is in really good condition for motoring.

The perennial question of when electricity would be available . lrom Maiigahao, was put at the last meeting of the Taranza, Power Board. The chairman said that on the occasion of the recent visit of a deputation id Wellington, Mr Birks had shown them a schedule covering all branches oi the work, which indicated that the power .would be at Mangamaire on 26th August next; hut there were of course . contingencies to be taken into account.

An Auckland telegram says Mr Theodore, Premier pi Queensland, was a through passenger by the Niagara to-day proceeding to London to arrange for the conversion of .loans of twenty-five millions maturing witfiin tfie next 14 months.

The Wanganui Herald says: “It is predicted by those in the know that oy the end of the month good store siieep, and particularly weuners, will be commanding first class prices. Just before Christmas several deals were niapie in the .district for ewes lor forward delivery early in the. year at satisfactory prices. The Ohakune Times says: H. E. Banks, Postmaster at Ohakune junction, was arrested and charged with embezzling funds from tne New Zealand Government. Accused. was charged that Qn October 26, 1923, he did embezzle the sum of £lO. A. remand 'Was asked for to Wanganui on the 18th of this month, and was granted on bail.

The fishing launches operating in the strait close to Wanganui ha<ve been getting good hauls of fish lately, principally schnapper, groper anu young sharks,, the latter 'being very plentiful at this time of the year. It is not generally known that a young shark has a good commercial value, and a fillet in egg and bread crumbs proves an appetising dish, although possibly camouflaged under some other 'name. —Wanganui Chronicle. The planting- of timber trees was advocated by the Hon. J. G. Coates in his recent vis.it to the north .(says the Auckland Star). He advised settlers to put out at least 500 or 600 trees a year, from which, he said, their children would reap a handsome income in the future, if the planters did not. Whilst the north is one of the best timbered provinces of New Zealand, it might become one of the worst, if settlers were not very careful, added the Minister, who pointed to the lead being given the Dominion by Hawkes Bay, which is. planting out millions of trees annually. A count of vehicles, etc,, which passed over certain Taranaki thoroughfares in one day was made last week. At Kaupokonui, Main South Road, the returns show 111 motordriven vehicles, 83 milk conveyances, 38 push bikes, 54 other vehicles, 37 horsemen, and 3 bullock team. At 1 Riverdale, Main South Road, 120 motor-driven .vehicles, 58 milk and others, 4 push bikes, and 17 horsemen. Mariaia Road shows 56 motordriven, 59 milk and others, and 13 push bikes. Skeet road, Kapuni. shows 57 motor-driven, 49 milk and others, 7 horsemen,, and 6 push hikes. A Wanganui farmer states that some dairymen in the district are already beginning to talk sheep as a result of the two excellent wool sales, and it would not at tall surprise him, now that wool prices are so good, to see the tide turn in that direction. - When wool was low in price, many sheep-farmers bought m dairying cows and commenced milking on account of the ready cash, and no doubt before-long if suitable sheep J can be purchased at a reasonable figure, the dairy cows will he placed on the maTket.

At a recent wedding a variant was made on the custom of tying an'eld shoe to the carriage, conveying the happy pair to their honeymoon destination As the motor car drew up /the best man affixed behind it a. long “streamer,” with the words, “Under New Management’’ on it. Thus the amused passers-by learned of the marriage, while the husband and wife were blissfully unconscious of what caused so much amusement.

We wish to draw readers’ attention to the fact that Martin’s sale commences on Saturday next, January 19th, Bargain seekers will be well advised to reserve this date and shop early.

Some of the dealers in opossum skins this year on sending the elans Horne 'to market, lost considerable sums of money, junless the trade revives before next trapping season, it will not be profitable for trappers To go. out; after rskins. Some of the losses' made ofi skins 4s. *ln addition to the totalisator and. other taxation, the Taranaki Jockey Club has paid a further £146 4s .for amusement tax, making £4380 0s llu in all paid on account of the Christmas meeting. a

Some of the farmers in the Wanganui district dhowed their appreciation ol the wool classers’ efforts m grading by giving the' men a substantial bonus.

As a result of a large amount of building work in progress in Wellington there is a marked scarcity of bricklayers. It is stated that skilled men in this avenue of industry are so fully employed that it is impossible to obtain one for several weeks to come.

Tbe uses to which wireless are being put in these days is exemplified by the fact that a motor cycle and side-car passing through Cambridge on Thursday, carried a complete wireless set. including metal pole, in sections. Thus, at any stage of the journey, in a few minutes the wireless set could be erected, and messages could he sent to or received from any station' in New Zealand, independent.

Since it was introduced in 1917 the amusement tax in New Zealand had yielded £445,284 up to the end of the .ast financial year.

The Wairarapa Power Board expects to be able to develop power from its own schemes at half the cost of that the Government require for the current from its schemes.

Last year 12,816 motor vehicles were imported to New Zealand, against 3585 ,a l;:22. 3677 in 1921, and 10,356 in 1920. It is confidently predicted that Importation of motor vehicles this year will be larger than ever.

A few days ago a fire destroyed all that beautiful native bush at the Aratiatia rapids, on the Wairakei side. This bush was one of the favourite haunts, of picnic parties from T.aimo and Wairakei, and was also one of the sights of that district. Australian and New Zealand people are the most picnic-loving people in the world. It is little to _be wondered ait when cerulean skies, warm sun, golden beaches, and frothing surf combine and issue urgent invitations to come out of doors. It would be a churlish people who could resist such an alluring quartette. Al fresco meals, are so ordinary an occurrence’ 1 here that picnics are almost an impromptu arrangement. In the old countries, where climatic conditions are rather adverse than conducive to outdoor feasting, preparations for out-door . meals are more ceremonious. Taking eatables out <of doors was more or less of an important adventure to our forbears. When an outing was being arranged a list of the eatables required was ceremoniously compiled. Each hostessyof the party was presented with a list, and she picked out the article of food she found it most convenient to contribute to the feast. A nick was put beside the dish, she picked upon. So the list was picked and nicked as it went the round of the ringleted and crinolined ladies. From this custom of picking and nicking the first two syllables coined a word which is most frequently on the tongues of New Zealand’s youth three-quarters or more of the year.

For the Feilding Show which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, sth and 6th February, a most comprehensive schedule has been compiled, comprising jumping and ring events, shep dog trial, two motor races, and the usual attractive classes for ponies and horses. All cattle and sheep classes have been carefully selected, and several classes to be exhibited at show and sold at the Association’s Ram Fair, which is to be held on the two days following the show, have been added. Ten guineas in prize money is offered in each class. A new and up-to-date sheep pavilion has been erected for the accommodation of stud sheep, and should appeal to the breeder who desires his sheep well looked after. The ladies, should find keen interest in the cookery and needlework section in which good prize money and several trophies are offered. Special Manchester Block Jubilee trophies, to be won outright, are allotted to each horse and competition, cattle, sheep, cookery and needlework sections, in addition to liberal prize money and numerous trophies and cups. Entries for both the show and ram fair close on Friday, 18th instant. Intending exhibitors should make a note of this and send for schedule for Show and conditions of Ram Fair to the Secretary, Box 98, Feilding.

Another well-known link with early Manawatu was severed last night (says the Palmerston Times) by the death of Mr Silas Locke, of Ruahine street, at the age of 68 years. The late >lr Locke was born in Devon, and came to New Zealand many years ago, settling for over 20 years at T'aiKore, and eventually on his retirement three years ago, coming to Palmerston North. He is survived by his widow and a family of five boys and five girls: Messrs Richard (Thames Valley), Robert (Levin), Henry, Walter and Frederick Locke, of Palmerston North, and Mesdames Hurley (Marton), Hopping (Te; Kuiti), Hill (Rongotea), and Miss Lucy and Francis Locke, of Palmerston North. The late gentleman was connected with the farming industry throughout the whole of his active life, but for the last twelve months had been in indifferent health. His demise will be regretted by a very wide circle of friends.

Probably the largest cheque to be received by any farmer in the Wanganui district for his wool clip will he one of £IO,OOO for realisations at the recent sale. At a rise of twopence per lb. it represents an. in-* crease of £ISOO over and above what he anticipated.