Shannon News TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1927.

Shannon News, 20 September 1927, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1927.

Miss A. Gagliardi will leave this week to join the Wellington Hospital nursing staff as a probationer.

On Tuesday evening last at Mnngaore, the Eev. E. Williamson, of Shannon, conducted his third church service.

The many friends of Mrs Kersey will be pleased to hear she is now making steady progress towards recovery from her illness.

A local resident who erected two glass houses recently, is about; to make a start on a third house. This ong will be heated by' electricity and great results are expected from it.

The poultry industry is making rapid strides in Shannon, with the result that an egg circle has been formed and arrangements have been made to com mence immediately.* Mr. R. Hook has been elected president.

Enough good metal is being obtained from Stansell’s drain for-; the new Cemetery road, and is costing if anything, less than the usual price. This creek is a great asset' to the Council in that it is handy to procure metal from. It is only recently that metal in any quantity has been foiind in it.

A conference is being held : at Levin to-day between representatives of the local bodies interested and the Highways Board to discuss the question of the roads to the new .bridge; over the Manawatu river. The Borough* Council will be represented by the Mayor (Mr. E. Butt) on Crs GuUning and J. Curran sen. ■

The dance held by the Tennis Club on Friday evening was most successful, there being a good attendance, visitors being present from the neighbouring towns. Mr. J. T. |3ovis officiated as M.C. and Messrs Lf. George and Graham (Foxton) supplied the music, an enjoyable evening being spent by all.

Mr E. Bishop returned front Welling, ton on Saturday morning after a most successful three Weeks at the Wellington Musical Competition. Mr Bishop won Mr Brabin’s gold medal awarded for the highest aggregate marks gained in the championship classes for gentlemen, his total being 700.' Out of 10 entries, Mr Bishop secured nine awards and one “highly commended.”

At the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston Nolth yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Thomas Eopania, charged with using an unlicensed motor lorry at Shannon, was found guilty and fined £1 with 10s costs. John Bresnahan, the owner of the lorry, was charged firstly with permitting an unlicensed lorry to be used and secondly with employing a driver who was unlicensed. —Fined £1 with 10s costs on each charge.

Under the auspices of the Mangaore Social Club, the annual “Hard Up” Social was held on Wednesday evening last. Amongst those present were visitors from Shannon and Wellington, and an enjoyable evening was spent by all. Prizes for most “hard up” costumes were awarded to Miss Joyce Blackwood (girls), John Burgis (boys), Mrs W. R. King (ladies) and Mr. J. S. Burgis (gents). The Cinderalla waltz competition was won by Mrs El vines partnered by Mr. Hugh Symons. Music was supplied by Mr, Hori George, Miss M. Butler (extra), M.C. duties were in the hands of Mr. K, S. Henry.

Howard Andrew, Ltd., are now showing a very fine selection of spring coats in repp, black, satin, tweed etc. Ladies would do well to call and inspect,*

A unique event in the annals of South African sport took place at Johannesburg when Miss Bennett, the champion woman sprinter, took part in a race with a whippet over a 100yds course. On the assumption that Miss Bennett would cover the distance in 12 sec., and the dog in 6| sec., the woman was given a handicap of 49£ yards. Miss Bennett won by three yards in the time of 6§sce.

It is said that an answer has now been found to the ancient query, “What kind of noise annoys an oyster?” It appears that Atlantic oysters resent the under-water radio acoustic work of the United States coast and geodetic survey more than do bi-valves on the Pacific. Commander W. E. Parker, chief of the division of hydrography and topography, reports that the interference of mysterious "noises of the sea, supposed to be the clicks of oysters, is a greater nuisance in the one ocean than the other.

During the month of August 163 estates -of deceased persons wpre placed under the charge of the Public Trustee for a'dministration.

Owing to the legal proceedings in regard to the Dempsey-Tunney heavyweight match, the contest was postponed till Wednesday next. A description of the match will be broadcasted from the ringside and should be" “on the air” about 2 p.m. on Thursday (N.Z. time).

Of the sum of £I9BO 11s 6d taken at the gates in the three recent Ranfurly Shield games in Palmerston North, £l9B Is 2d goes to the Manawatu A. and P. Association for rent of the grounds. £lls 10s to the Government as amusement tax, and the balance to the Manawhenua Union.

Some few years back a young Rongokoltako settler took over a farm that ■was at the time becoming rapidly infested with blackberry. The worst of this was cut and basic slag as top-dress-ing caused a profuse growth of grass and the young blackberry shoots were eaten off with it. as they came up.— Express.*

Lady Nancy Astor, M.P., made some entertaining comments on women, speaking recently at Belfast, and remarked that Eastern women had not only to obey their husbands, but had to worship them. A lot of husbands wished that there were more women like that about. “I would like to show,” she went, on, “that women have been great protesters in their time. Eve was the first protester, but I am not now going to say too much about Eve, because men came out rather badly in that story. Eve might have been bad, but she was an angel compared to that weakling, Adam.” (Loud laughter).

“I am not a prohibitionist, but I consider prohibition is doing the greatest good to the United States,” said Mr Murdoch Eraser, chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board, who returned from a visit to the United States and Canada by the Niagara (says the New Zealand Herald). The working people were at present receiving- very high wages and they were saving more than they did before, while the conditions of their home life in the large cities was very comfortable, due to their prosperous state. “A fine, prosperous and healthy race is growing up in America, and I saw no evidence that spirits could be obtained in spite, of the strictions, ” added Mr Eraser.

An incident unusual in a place of worship occurred at the conclusion of the rerviee at the Baring Square Methodise Church, Ashburton, on Sunday evening. The Rev. R. B. Tinsley took as his subject, “The Desecration of the Sabbath,” and in the course of his remarks regretted that the Government of New Zealand should conduct a Sunday excursion for profit. He referred to "the fact that another-body-,-in-an-other hall, would make reference that, evening to the recent Sunday fpotball match on the West Coast, but he would say nothing about it. When Mr Tinsley sat down a gentleman at the rear of the church stood up and asked per mission to make a statement. His request, which caused a mild sensation, was, naturally, not granted.

Strong comment on the despoliation of the scenic reserves and the roadsides in the Pohangina County through the removal of native ferns and trees was made at the monthlyl meeting of the County Council, the upshot being that it was decided to prosecute anyone found interfering with ferns and trees. “I want to say a few words,” said the chairman, introducing the matter, “in reference to the barefaced manner in which people come into the county and strip the roads and reserves of ferns, etc. It has goj; to such a pitch that I sec tree ferns advertised for sale at so much per load in Palmerston North. As far as I know, there is no other place anywhere near Palmerston North where ferns can be obtained in any quantity. 1 think we should endeavour to put a stop to this soil of thing.”

The Timaru Presbytery received the following letter from Mr C. W. Isitt, of Fairlie, at its meeting on Tuesday: “Some time ago I received a request from a Presbyterian lady in the local hospital to christen her apparently dying baby. Our minister was away on the Mackenzie Country round. The Presbyterian Prayer Book I use says; ‘Christening shall not be performed by a common person. ’ Is an ordained ruling elder a common person? To get over the difficulty I got an Anglican clergyman to perform the sacrament of baptism. The child lived, and I presume, now is an Anglican.” Members present expressed the opiniou that had they been in the position of Mr Isitt they would, have performed the ceremony. The Rev. A. Begg: “All the same, I do not agree that the child is an Anglican.” (Laughter). ’ It. was decided to reply to Mr Isitt to the effect that the Presbytery had no power to answer the question.

In the course of the excavation work for a carrying company’s new building at Wellington workmen last week unearthed a boat, about 35 feet long and 15 feet beam. It is built of heart kauri, and although it has been built for about 70 years, it is little the worse for wear. Right alongside the boat is the wooden retaining wall which was used for the first reclamation of land in Wellington carried out in 1852 by the New Munster Government. This is of heart totara, and is as good as the day it was put in. It is the intention of the contractors to send a piece of this Avail to the Museum as an illustration of the fact that New Zealand timber can be buried for seventy years and yet remain intact. A little to one side of the Avooden Avail is a brick retaining Avail Avhich Avas used at a later date to reclaim further land. The original Wellington Avaterfront Avas along Lambton Quay, Willis Street, and Customhouse Quay. The area of land reclaimed in that vicinity is about 250 acres.

The Tararua Co-operative Dairy Co. has made an excellent sale of more than half its output of cheese. The price is not divulged but it is believed to be quite as good if not better than that, of any other company (says the Pallia tun Herald).

It is reported that the Rexdale Cooperative Dairy Co. has sold 215 tons of cheese at SUb per lb f-oib. in compliance with tile expressed wish of the suppliers at the annual meeting.

The directors of the Pahiatua Dairy C,0., at their annual meeting resolved that progress payments in the cheese .department be made at the rate of Is ijd per lb. butter-fat. and in the butter department payment, for August will be made at the rate of Is old for finest.

The directors of the Midhurst Dairy Co. have completed the sale of 8000 boxes of butter (the estimated output till the end of October) at Is 6d per lb. This price will justify a pay-out of Is 7d, to which must be added a further 2d for casein, making a total payout of Is 9d.—Stratford Post.

Teachers in the back-,blocks districts of Now Zealand are often subject to hardships, but the trials undergone by one lady teacher iu the Auckland district are exceptionally severe. To reach her district the 'teacher leaves Auckland by coastal steamer during the afternoon. Generally a safe landing is made by dusk, but sometimes darkness necessitates a. particularly precarious landing. From the beach four miles have to he traversed over roads at present impassable even for horse traffic. The nearest friends being 22 miles away, a distance of 44 miles has to be traversed during the weekend if the teacher wishes to visit thTTm.

The facts that the opossums caught are fewer in number, and those which have been secured are younger animals will no doulbt support the claim of ithe Forest Service that its unheeded plea for a close season wa,s more than justified (says the Wanganui Chronicle), The chief supporters of an open season were traders and royalty-receiving acclimatisation societies-, supported by those who . hoped that the opossum would not survive and that the sooner it was extinct the better for the birds, the bush, and the fruit. The magnitude of-the opossum trapping industry in New Zealand is indicated by the fact that last year a total of 150,000 skins was secured.

The opinion that the honorarium of £IOO a year to presidents of private savings banks, which is proposed in the Savings Bank Amendment Bill, was ridiculously inadequate was expressed by Mr. Edward Anderson, president of tiie Auckland Savings Bank. He said that presidents of the bank had discharged their duties without any thought of, or desire, for, remuneration for their work,, and they looked on their work, as he did, as a service to the community. The work entailed, however, was by no means covered by the proposed £IOO remuneration. Mr. Anderson thought the Minister of Fin ance probably did not base the sum on the responsibilities and work attached to the position, but recommended it merely as some remuneration for services rendered.

Conjurers claim that it's the quickness of the hand that deceives the eye, but it was the quickness of the .hand ( that deceived itihe conjuror at an Auckland theatre recently. A lad had been called on the stage to assist in one of the magician’s illusions, and was handed a glass of water.' When the water was no longer required, it become a question of what was to be done with it. The conjuror, who had previously scored heavily at the youngster’s expense, suggested that he should throw the contents of the glass over the orchestra. It was evident that the suggestion was made in the way of a joke, but in a twinkling it had been carried into effect. The lad’s aim was good, and the orchestra received enough water for half a dozen christenings. The incident delighted .the “house,” and was the hit of the evening.

Attracted to Kalgoorlie after an absence of over 20 years by the Back to the Goldfields carnival, which opened on August 24, an old Kalgoorlie digger, Jim Rowan, aged 81, picked up 270 z of pure gold .on an old alluvial patch known as the Six Mile Ridge, near Ivamballie. Rowan had been away in Victoria for over a score of years, and when the carnival was arranged he decided to revisit old scenes and old mates. “I have always said that there is plenty of gold to be found around Kalgoorlie. There, is more there, and I’m going to get it.” The nugget is almost of the purest gold, with only a little dirt- attached to it. It is expected to clean up at 260 z., and is valued at £llO. - The discovery lias given rise to much speculation amongst the old diggers, and caused a mild sensation.

Far from the madding crowd, the members of a church sewing guild assembled in the parish room one day recently to sew and exchange items of local news (says the “'Christchurch Press”). One woman complained that the room was cold, and invited the members to go to her home, where they could be more comfortable. The invitation was accepted, and on arrival at her home the hostess tuned in the wireless set, and the members of the guild found themselves listening to a description of the Grand National Steeplechase. Stitches were dropped at every fence, and finally all pretencq* at sewing was abandoned, and the ladies spent the rest of the afternoon at the races. Certain, carping husbands profess to consider the ladies’ action in abandoning their usual .meeting .place on this particular afternoon as suspici-

That he understood an aTea carrying approximately fifty cows in the Moutoa district had returned butter-fat- to the extent of 2401 b per acre was a statement addressed to the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. 8. Williams) and the members of Parliament for Otaki and Manawatu (Messrs Field and Linklater) by Mr. H. Barber during a tour in connection with the Mana'watuOroua River Board’s flood-prevention scheme. '

Of 10,299 children maintained by the State, $25(5 come under the child welfare branch of the Education . Department. Aucklanders interested in the scheme met on Tuesday night and passed the following resolution' to be forwarded to Mr. Coates and members of Cabinet: —“That it would be in the best interests of child welfare in New Zealand that the branch be separated from the Education Department and become a distinct department directly responsible to a Minister in charge.”

The erection of the new High School at Foxton is to be put in hand almost at once and while in Fpxton on Wednesday, Hon. K. .S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, was shown the site and plans of the building, which is to •bo a handsome brick structure in keeping with the present up-to-date State schools. It was explained that the girls and boys h!ad had to travel to Palmerston North'for their secondary education. The Minister commented favourably on the plans and expressed his pleasure that the work was being commenced. The institution will be a distinct high school attached to the primary school.