Shannon New TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1926.

Shannon News, 2 March 1926, Page 2

Shannon New TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1926.

The animal St. Patrick's Ball will be held in the Druids' Hall on> March. 17th.

It is reported that up to £l2 per acre is being offered for the lease of land in Grcytwon for market gardening purposes.

"The worst season we have experienced for many y'ears," was the remark of a Hastings farmer to a Napier pressman. He added, . "I've never been so poor in all iny life, and most other farmers are in the same box. *'

"I say, old man, what's good for my complaint," ask'ed a ; sufferer from insomnia. "I haven't closed my eyes for five nights." "Go in for boxing," replied his friend. "The first time I tried it, my eyes were closed for a week."

"I know of a family in New Zealand in which three daughters earn over £IOOO a year betw'cen them and yet the father could support the lot of them if they liked," said Inspector McIlwraith at the meeting of the Hawke's Bay Education Board on Friday. .

A party of Wanganui motorists returning to Wanganui during the week had a narrow escape in the JSTgahauranga gorge, near Wellington, when the bank at the side of the road gave way. The wheels of the car .slipped over the side, and the vehicle was in a precarious 'position until a motor truck arrived to rescue it.

"I only took one oyster, sir," said a poacher of these shellfish at the Police Court at Auckland. . "jThat does not matter," replied Mr J. W. Poynton, who presided on the bench. "Don't you know that every oyster you kill would have laid five million eggs?" Defendant was fined £5 and costs. To-wight a dance will be held in the Parish Hall under the auspices of the committee of the local branch of the Pluri'ket Society for the, -purpose of raising funds" on behalf of the ■three candidates in the Biaby Garni-' va!. Nothing has been neglected to make the dance an enjoyable one and those who atttend >are assured a good time. Several lneanjbeiis have asked when the Shannon Choral Society is starting and the committee wiish it known thtiit the annual meeting (the first) will take place shortly and will be duly advertised. Already there is promise of new members, and members ami intending members may look forward to some very pleasant evenings this winter. Tim Wellington fruitbrokers report: —The market is being well supplied with all vegetables, choice samples of green peas and French beans being in good ..demand. The following prices are being realised: —Cauliflowers 7s to 8s; cabbage 4s to 6s; carrots 5s fid to 6s fid; parsnips 4s 6d to 5s fid; pumpkins (red squash) 8s to 10s per sack; green peas 15s to 17s part sack; cucumbers 6s (id to 7s 6d per banana case; marrows 3s' to 4s; beetroot 3s to 4s; white turnips 2s 6d to 3s fid per sack; spring onions fid to Is per bunch; sw'ccles 5s ewt; potatoes 7s fid to 8s fid per cwt; beans 9s 6d to lis per part sack; tomatoes 3s to 4s half case; celery 3s fid to 5s dozen heads; lettuce 3s fid to 4s fid per case. To mark the occasion of the opening of his new home, a gif't evening was tendered Dr. Mackereth on Friday evening ait the residence of Mr arid Mrs T. Watterston, Stout Street, by about thirty of his friends, and a most pleasant'time wias spent. During the evening novelty competitions, which aroused much amusement, were held, the winners being Miss Fraser, Dr. M>ackereth and Mr Percy (MangaorfO. Vocal items were rendered by Mrs Cronquest, Dr. M-acker-eth and Messrs Henry and Waittexston. Supper was handed around and dancing was indulged in until the earlv hours of the morning.

Messrs W. H. Gunning and E. A. H. George left Shannon hy motor yesterday morning en route to Dunedin. It is their intention to ship the cur at Wellington for PUoton and then to proceed on their journey via Nelson and the West Coast. They. expect to he away about a fortnight.

A start was made during the week end wilth the laying down of the cycle track at the Domain, llhe Borough Council have made airrajngements with Mr J. Bresnahaja to cart the spoil from the cutting in Margaret Street with a view to widening the latter. The cinders have been ordered and the enthusiasm shown by the members of the Athletic Club during the week end poinits to the track being completed long before the date" of the sports fixture on March 27th. ■ . '.. i

As the result of a report made by Messrs Atkins and Hiarkness in connection with the Shannon School, the Wellington Education Board have agreed to proceed With the wiork of tar-sealing a considerable iportion, of the playiiiig-.area. A section of the drill-groiuaid is also to be similarly treated, conditional upon the committee assisti n<g in the purchase of an additional area for the school playing ground.

The meeting on Friday evening convened by the Mayor to discuss the formation of a fire brigade for Shannon was poorly attended. After a short discuss&on by those .present it was decided to call another meeting at an ear]y date when representatives of business firms will be invited to attend. iM'r J. C. Milnes, of the Levin Fire Board, is to be asked to come to Shannon and address the meeting on the working and formation of a fire brigade. The date of the meeting will be advertised and it is hoped citizens will ajttend as it is. most essential we should have a fire brigade.

At the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North yesterday before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Smith Bindhcliffe, described as a flaxworker, of Shannon, who was £lB6 in arrears in connection with a mjainteniance order made in favour of his wife, whereof he had served three months' imprisonment for £l3l (paya'ble up to January 19, was sentenced to a further six months' for the non-payment of the balance. "This, man," said the Magistrate, "is evidently defying the order of the court and making no attempt to pay."

A local motorist suggests that as a means of rendering level crossings less dangerous, engine-drivers should he instructed to whistle continuously when approaching a crossing until they are over it. At present, he says, a motorist often has difficulty in hearing the warning when only one or two short blasts are given. As a temporary measure the suggestion is worth consideration, * hut the only permanent remedy is the reconstruction of level crossings so as to remove the present, menace.

The nominations received lor the Manawatu Licensing ©lection did not exceed tone nuinlber of vacancies and as a result the following have been declared re-elected:—Messrs R. Bryant, J. Curran, J. K. Hornblow, J. H. S. Perrett and 3. E. Walker.

A party who recently toured the Riotorua district found much to amuse them in a notice-board erected by a Maori land-owner, who has evidently been worried by passers-by invading his property and purloining his cherries. The board, which is characterised by inverted e's and s'es, reads: "Notiss. Now Then. If you want the cherry come to the house, one shilling. If you climb through the fence, fine £l. Yes."

One of the largest manufacturers of cars and trucks in America has issued a notice to his dealers suggesting that they accept orders on an understanding that price in effect at time of. dolivery is to apply. It is stated tint they' may be forced to increase their prices as in common with all other car manufacturers they are faced with a marked increase in material costs. An interesting list is given of the various 111aterials and the percentage of increase anticipated. It varies from 5 per cent, on cold rolled bar steel up to 40 per cent, increase on tyres and clutches. Batteries, babbit bearings and timber are other materials on which a very substantial increase are forecasted.