Shannon News TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1925.

Shannon News, 7 April 1925, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1925.

On Friday, April 24Ui the Druids will lioid a dance m the Druids Dan.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Counoil will he held in the Connoil Chambers this evening.

On account of the Easter holidays the “Shannon News” will be published on Thursday and Wednesday next.

The Mayor (Mr Murdoch) invites any aspirant for municipal honours at forthcoming election to address the electors at 'his meeting in tin; Maoriland Theatre on Thursday evening. ,

Speaking to Mr Howard Andrew after the concert on Sunday evening, in.', informed our representative that he' has never sung before such an appreciative audience as that which attended the concert, ■

At midnight on Saturday a fire destroyed tne bakehouse attached to W. 11. Gunning and Co.'s store at Tokomaru. The building, which was let by 'Mir Gunning to Mr Smiutherwa.ite, wag totally destroyed and the latter is a heavy loser,' haying only recently purchased the bakery business from Mr Manley.

At the Supreme Court at Wellington on Friday before Sir Robert Stout, George Henry Davis came up for sentence on a charge of carnal knowledge of a Maori girl at Mangahao 1 , where he was 4 arrested by Constable Blaikie. lie was sentenced to 3 months’ probation conditionally that he married the girl before the end of the month.

Mr Win. Saunders, who was found dead at Blenheim under circumstances indicating heart failure, was the father of Mrs Cairns, of Vogel street, to whom her many friends will extend their deepest sympathy. Mr Saunders, who came from Reefton, where his wife and family stUl reside, was recently appointed manager and engineer of the Makakipawa Goldfields, Ltd., at Blenheim.

A friendly game of bowls was played. on the local green on Saturday between i'ouir- J rinks from Palmerston North and Shannon. The green was in-first class order and a sumptuous afternoon tea, provided 'by the ladies of tlie Croquet Club, was the means of an enjoyable afternoon, Shannon was successful in the aggregate by 81 points to 72, The visitors before returning home returned thanks for the hospitality, extended, to them.

Last week a magnificent red deer head, a 16-pointer, was reported to have been secured on the bhau river by an Ehglish sportsman, a remarkable feature of the trophy being the thickness of the antlers, the circumference at the coronet being no less nine inches. This has been beaten by a 14-pointer secured by Mr J. A. ■ Reid last week on the hill at the top of Kingston Road. It had a beautifully shaped head, tJxe measurements over all being as follow:—Spread 36 inches, length of antlers 35 inches, measurement around coronet 9£ inches, spread from two top points 20£ niches, circumference above tray points 7. 1 , inches, lengiJh of brow tines 11-* inches, bay tines 9J inches, tray Lues IUJ inches.

What is said to he the largest conUact for a commercial building constructed hi New Zealand to date lias been let for tlie ne.w A.M.P. offices in Wellington at £206,000.

Interesting developments are expected shortly in connection with the Wafpatiki oil fields, 22 miles from Dannevirke (states an exchange). It is rumoured that an American syndicate rs in negotiation respecting operating rights.

Sister Momitelle (Miss Mary M. Hickey, M.A.), of the Mission Convent, Christchurch, has had conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Literature (Litt.D.), the first woman in New Zealand tq attain that honour. Miss Hickey was a student of Canterbury College. She will leave for London and the Continent in May to pursue her studies.

A, ne\y move by the municipal authorities of Palmerston North is tbe painting white of telephone poles on the corners of different streets in the Borough, for the purpose of indicating those roads. This is miueh appreciated by motorists at night time (says the Times), iwhen the intersections can easily he located by the spotlights, while to pedestrians in the day time it, is also welcome.

Tlie retirement on superannuation of Mr C. Zaciiariah, District Public irustee at Wellington, alter completion of 38 years in tne Public service, lias been announced.

As a consequence of the cross-word puzzle craze in England, the Dulwicn iiOiury authorities reaurted to blacking out the puzzles to prevent a newspaper being appropriated by any jjarucular person more man a reasonanie length of time..

Acvv Zeaianu has always been noted iur ivs iow aeauwuie, and enjoys me rupuiuw.oll oi Doing mie ox me ueaiuiieai countries m tme worm.. cas.t year, a cuusuiernpie fall m me death-rate was reegrueu tne figures reading at ».zy per IOUU of population, cumpareu with x 0.15 m 1920.

Tlie birthrate for New Zealand sUU continues io fall.. Tlie rate for last year was me second lowest ever recorded, being 21.57 per thousand of me population. The decline m inluiixiie mortality, temporarily arresteu in 1923 when it was 43.80 per 1000 mruis, is sustained, for the year 1924, tne ngures being 40.10. In 1920 the rate was 50.57 per 1000 births.

Mr W. T. Strand (Mayor of Lower Hutt), one of the spokesmen of the riutt Valley deputation mat waited upon the Minister lor Education, cited amid laughter, the fact that there had been no fewer than five eases oi twin births in Waterloo road. In view of such facts, he stated, he did not think that the Minister need have any fear Qf the new. high school not getting plenty of students!

It was 2 o’cock in the morning. Dr. Blank nad just returned from a case which he has been working on s'hce 7 o’clock. He awoke with a start, rubbed his eyes, and mechanically, leaned over and took the phone. “Is that Dr. Blank?” “Yes.” “Doctor, could you tell me a wprd of eight letters me third letter Of which is L and’ the fifth D, the Avord meaning a disease prevalent among the mice of Zanzibar?”

A. thorough appreciation ql' the fitness of things was in evidence at the last meeting of the Raglan County Council, when the clerk intimated that a cheque of £5 had been received from a gentleman who although not a ratepayer of the county, stated that he was a frequent user of the roads to Raglan Beach, and recognised that he should contribute something towards its upkeep. It was remarked that if other numerous car-users ot the road to the seaside resort displayed the same practical interest, the maintenance burden on the county would be materially alleviated.

The Horowheiiua Power Board’s meter reader (Mr Simester) had a narrow escape from serious injury on Wednesday, when proceeding irom Levan to Foxton to read local meters. The steering gear of the car he was driving was faulty, and as he was passing a Power Board lorry, opposite Mr J. Speirs’ property, the car made a dive off the .road, and landed in the drain. Fortunately, it did not overturn, and Mr Simester managed to extricate himself from the badly smashed vehicle. He received slight injuries to his knee and ankle, but was able to proceed to Foxton and carry out his duties.

The date for the opening of the special session of the -Christchurch Diocesan Synod lor the election of a successor t-o Archbishop Julius as Bishop of Christchurch has not yet been definitely, fixed by the Dean, but it is anticipated the matter will be settled after a meeting of the Standing Committee of Lie Diocese to be held on Easter Tuesday. Archbishop Julius’s retirement as Primate'of New Zealand and Bishop of Christchurch will take effect on April 20, and be will, leave on a visit to the Old Country early in May. x

“1 have got five children and they will finish up by driving me mad or runnihg wild,” remarked a. Hut-t resident to the Minister of Education yesterday, when he inquired, of the Minister whether there was any chance ol parents being told when thq schools would re-open. Sir James Pari; said it would be a terrible responsibility for the Education Department to say it knew better than the doctors, and open the schools. He hoped to be able to open the secondary schools on April i 5 or 16, and primary schools a week later if there was no change for the worse in the health conditions. The final decision depended on the doctors and Cabinet as the responsibility was big to be undertaken by one man.

A man named Albert Edward Bentley wag arraigned before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday on various charges involving the theft of money from Miranui. The dates mentioned were: March 14, £2 the property of R. P. Le Quesne; March 28, £l, the property of the same; February 18, £1 10s, the property of John Burton; and February 1, £9, the property of Francis Hemmingson. Tlie accus-, ed pleaded guilty to all charges, and on the first and third, he was sentenced to 7 days’ imprisonment with hard labour. On the second charge a similar sentence was imposed, the money to be returned, and on the 4tli charge Bentley was given lliree months. Ail sentences' are to be concurrent.

The Parkvale Dairy Company, Of which Mr Ben Roberts is •chairman, is convening a meeting, on April 16 or ail co-operative dairy companies in the NVairarapa to consider the ques- . tion of federation. It is felt that there is a great need for such an organisation. A great many questions relative to the industry require a wider discussion than local companies can give, and now that the Dairy Control Board is about to function, such a federation would be a valuable link between the central authority and the local companies. The companies on this side of the range already have such an organisation in I lie west. Coast Dairy Companies’ Association, of which Mr S. A. LRhndbelt is chairman.