Shannon News TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1927.

Shannon News, 25 January 1927, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1927.

Mr McGuckin, of the Shannon Post Office staff, commenced his annual leave yesterday. Mr Satherley, exchange clerk, is relieving at the counter during Mr McGuckin's absence.

A special train passed through Shan non on Sunday afternoon conveying the members of J. C. Williamson's Katja Company from New Plymouth to Wellington.

At the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North yesterday, R. C. Downes, of Shannon, on a charge of cycling at night without a light, was fined 10s and 7s costs.

The death occurred at the Wellington Hospital on Sunday of Mrs E. F. Davis, of Petone. The deceased lady, who was a Bister of Mrs F. Jamieson and Messrs Jas. and Lionel Bichardson, of Shannon, spent her young days in Shannon, whore she was married, leaving shortly afterwards for Napier. During her residence here she followed the profession of maternity nurse, beiny well-known by old residents. She had been in delicate health for some year.; and her death was Jiot altogether unexpected. To the bereaved relatives will be extended the sincere sympathy of a wide circle of friends. The interment will take place on Wednesday, the funeral leaving Ven. Bede's Church at 2 p.m. for the Shannon Cemetery.

Milderson's Ginger Nuts are propared from such high quality ingredients and with such care in the sunlight bakery, that mothers give them with confidence to their children. 1/per lb. from Aitcheson & Son.*

The new temple at BatanlKis now a conspicuous feature of the landscape in the vicinity of Turakina. Standing, as it does, in an elevated position, it can be seen from long distances away, and catches the eye of travellers approaching from the direction of Bulls.. At night the lights of Batana are visible from a long way south, and to travellers in passing trains the village itself is always a source of interest.

The Commissioner of Taxes draws attention of taxpayers to the notification appearing in to-day issue that the due date of payment of the Incometax is on Tuesday ,the Bth day of February, 1927 Additional tax will accrue if the tax is not paid on or bfore Ist March, 1927. The demands will be posted from the office of the Commisuioner of Taxes on pr about 31st January, 1927. Demands must be presented with all payments, and if a demand has not been!, received the Commissioner should be communicated with.

The Palmerston Times says: To visit a racecourse nearly sixty years after it has been laid out is an incident that does not happen in the life of every man and when it happens that that man was responsible for obtaining the land from the Government for the newly formed Basing Club, the incident becomes more interesting and carries with it many scenes that, alas) are but memories. Such was the lot of Mr John Kebbell, of Levin, who visited the Foxton races on Saturday. In the days of the Provincial Governments he was sua cessful in getting the Wellington Government to set aside a piece or land for the Fpxton Bacing Club, and after go. jng through - many stages of improvements, the course is to-day recognised as one of th© finest and most popular jn the diatjrict.

A unique wedding 1 was celebrated in the Dannevirke Town Hall on Saturday night, says a press telegram, when Alex Francis Smith, advance agent of the Commonwealth Band, and son of Mr and Mrs F. W. Smith, of Brisbane, was married to Miss Marion Elizabeth Eice, second daughter of Mr and Mrs John Eice, of Dannevirke. The" ceremony was performed by the Rev. H. Daniel, assisted by Mr S. I. Bickerstaff, prior to the band concert. Mr H. Baile, the band conductor, acted as best man. The building was crowded and great interest was taken in the ceremony. Tho band played the Bridal March and "The Voice that Breathed o'er Eden," and. while the register was being signed, "Because."

They're telling a story down Giaborne way about the fitness of their Rugby players. In one match three men were carried off, and one, a big hefty Maori, was taken to the hospital. He was unconscious and was found to be suffering from concussion. After he had been attended to and put to bed he was left for an hour or so, and when the nurse happened along to look at him the bed was empty, and so was the locker in which Honi's clothes had been packed. A search party was organised hurriejdly and combed the town for him. At a restaurant it was found that he had had a big feed of "te hapuka," and eventually Honi was found tripping it enthusiastically at a dance!

The Ttoval engine for the Duke and Duchess of York's tour in the South Island, is to be "Passehendaele," the war memorial locomotive that was an attraction at the Dunedin Exhibition. " Passehendaele" was built in 1910 and was the first of the capable AB class that is doing a lot of heavy passenger and goods work in the Dominion at the present time. The engine now is in the shops undergoing a thorough overhaul. A new boiler is being fitted, andi though "Passehendaele" at the moment bears little resemblance to a railway engine, shorn of cab, wheels, and running gear, she will be out in time to take charge of the special train. It is fitting that this locomotive, known to New Zealand drivers as still the best of the class that she introduced, should work the train..

"More rain! Of course there's mon, rain, and there'll be a jolly sight more until our thick-headed Government stops these radio cranks upsetting the atmosphere." The peppery old gentleman volunteered no further information on the subject, and not a few of the faces of his fellow passengers J.i the crowded bus lit up with a smile. But, regarding his theory (says the Auckland Star), never before at tins time of the year has Auckland experienced the consistently inclement weather that has prevailed during the past five weeks. Can this unusual and decidedly unpleasant state of affairs be attributed to the abnormal increase in radio activity? If so, "something will have to be done." Listening to IYA on a crystal or picking up Australia on a powerful valve set may be all very well in its way, but if this means that the whole of the population is going to be under an incessant drizzle for the rest of their lives then, in the opinion of the weather-disgruntled, all radio sets should be confiscated to make a bonfire that will put Vesuvius] in the shadv.

Thirty billion toothpicks are produced annually in the United States. The modern American toothpick, made of white birch, flat, and bevel-pointed, and the world's standard, came into the market about thirty years ago. Prior to that time was the gold-plated everlasting toothpick of grandfather's day—as much a part of his personal equipment as the key of his watch; a little later we had the very insanitary quill pick, and after that the round, unsatisfactory slivers, made in Japan. The bulk of the world's supply of toothpicks is produced in six principal factories in the United States. The tooth pick takes the choicest part of a white birch log and what is left is converted into other things. The manufacturing process is carried on only in the cold months of the yean- The reason is that in cold weather the sap in the log remains frozen. As soon as warm weather sets in the sap begins to stir and stains the wood a tobacco brown. The whole process is automatic. The little pointed sticks are used in many ways and many places. Florists use millions of them in making wreathß and floral designs ; restaurants and home kitchens use them to hold together "veal birds" and "pigs in blankets"; men use them to clean their pipes. They have been used in some backwoods resorts as counters, in place of poker chips.