Shannon News TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1928.

Shannon News, 6 March 1928, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1928.

A visitor to Shanno.n is Mrs W. Foster, of Lyttelton, who is the guest of Mr and Mrs E. Butt.

Mr Jones, postmaster, is on his annual leave, which he is spending at Russell.

The annual picnic and prizegiving of Ven Bede’s Sunday School will be held in the Vicarage grounds on Saturday next, commencing at, 10.30 a.in.

_ The Women’s Christian Temperance Union will hold a meeting in the Methodist Church on Thursday at 2.30 p.m. when Mrs Peryman will give an address. All ladies are cordially invitted to attend.

We regret to have to announce that the condition of Mr. Tohi Kohika, Avho is an inmate of the Palmerston North Hospital, is far from satisfactory and is causing his relations anxiety. All will join in wishing him a speedy recovery.

At the saleyards yesterday, the committee of the Women’s Institute conducted a tea-stall, the proceeds being in aid of a local family in poor circumstances. Good business was reported. It is the-intention of the committee to have 1 stall at the yards for the next few sales, to assist them in their endeavour to provide help for local families who are in need of assistance.

As a well-known local business man, accompanied by a friend, was proceeding home last evening, shortly after dark, he noticed a man carrying a swag coming towards him. He remarked to his friend that a man who had to carry his swag always had his sympathy and that he was going to give him a shilling or two to help him on his way. Approaching the swagger he asked, “Well, mate, w/ncre are you making for?” The reply came in broken English: “To the Chinese garden down the road,’’ much to the surprise of the questioner, “made’’ being an Asiatic who had just arrived by train.

Not an air raid, but a frock raid was made on Howard Andrew’s Drapery Store on Saturday and it was no wonder when lovely voile dresses were sold at 9s lid, whilst model hats were sold at 4s lid. These values will continue for this week to make room for Autumn goods.*

At the Greymouth Police Court a few days ago a man named Walter Glenn was fined 10s and costs £2 10s) for carving his name on a nikau palm.

In congratulating the Peilding Amateur Swimming Club at last night’s carnival for the promotion of so many successful carnivals,' Mr Campbell, president of the Manawatu Swimming Centre, explained that the club gave free tuition to the pupils of 12 schools.

During a discussion on farm matters at the High Schools Board meeting at New Plymouth, Mr S. G. Smith told how he had asked two country children how they enjoyed their school picnic at New Plymouth. “We did not go,” they' answered, “we stayed home and pulled ragwort.”

The tuatara lizard despatched from Auckland for the Seattle University at the beginning, of the year has reached its destination. The reptile is the first of its species to survive the trip across the Pacific. It was sent by Dr. J. W. Maskell, of Auckland, in charge of the surgeon of the Niagara, who sustained it with snails.

“To-day New Zealand has the lorvest infantile mortality rate in the world,” stated Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, in officially opening the liotarv Conference at Palmerston. In the past, he said, 88 of every thousand children born died in the first year, but now, as the result of the work of the Plunket Society, the number was less than 40.

Two large neighbouring boardinghouses in Wanganui occasionally confuse boarders by their similarity—more particularly at night. The other day a strange diner was noticed in one establishment. “Hullo, you’re new here?” queried another amiable diner. “Why, yes,” replied the newcomer ab stractedly. Then, noticing for the first time his new surroundings he exclaimed: “But, by jove, I’m in the wrong place.”

The fascination of the gamo of bowls was exemplified at the week-end when a Palmerston bowler had his car put out of commission through running off the road. He came into town and arranged for the car to be salvaged then passed the remark: “Thank goodness I can now go and have my game of bowls,” which he proceeded to do, apparently in no way perturbed by the mishap.

I Tobacconists from all over the Dominion will meet#-in Wellington on March 6th to discuss methods of combatting “decoy’’ trading in cigarettes ! by fancy goods shops.

A Dargaville resident who telephoned a relative in South Canterbury over the week-end, was surprised at the splendid service given. Conversation was as easy as if speaking to someone on the Dargaville exchange.

Many people have wondered why after the very hot season there should be more snow on Mt. Egmont than is usual at this time of year. The reason probably is that there has been so little rain. At 7000 to 8000 feet the ground is not often warm enough to melt snow, but rain at a higher temperature is more effective, and the long drought has meant the absence of rain.

“Everyone laughs when I tell them, but it is a fact that nearly every fowlhouse in England has electric light installed,” said Mr J. R. Templin at Ashburton the other morning (says _ the Guardian). “These lights are switched on by a time switch, and the fowls think the day has come so they get up earlier, and the majority of the eggs are laid by 6 o’clock. There was no reason why this system should not be applied in New Zealand.

Mr John Horne has made a very acceptable donation towards the furnishing of the Mt. Waiopehu hut by supplying a teapot and a number of cups, saucers, mugs, teaspoons, plates, etc. Mr Horne says this will be a start and he will probably add a little more to the list at a later date. The Committee of the club is grateful to Mr Horne for his generosity and trusts that these goods will be treated with care and prove useful to Hampers for many years.

“From what I can see in Gisborne, as soon as a man puts in machinery the people think he is doing a man out of employment and they will not patronise him,’’ was the remark of a bankrupt bootmaker, John Patrick Maloney, at his meeting of creditors. He mentioned that he had installed special plant, but after that, trade dwindled away. He also eitpd a well-known local firm which had installed elaborate machinery, which had later to be almost given away on account of there being no use for it.

Representatives from the Hutt Valley, Tararua and Masterton Tramping Clubs have signified their intention of being present at the ofiicial opening of the Mt. Waiopehu hut on Sunday morning. Several visitors from Otaki will also make the trip. His Worship the Mayor will take part, in the function and quite a number of ladies have also expressed their intention of being present. Lowe’s bus will leave the post office at 6 a.m. sharp for the pipe bridge, the fare being Is each way. It is anticipated that this outing will constitute the biggest party that has ever visited Waiopehu.

A suggestion that flower seeds shoald be sown broadcast along the roadsides of the country so as to make them scenes of beauty when the flowers bloom was referred to at the last meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. Mr J. Fairclougli stated that he did not know who had the matter in hand, but thousands of packets of flower seeds could be picked up in Napier each year, instead of the' packets being sent to the destructor. It was not generally known that each packet of seed was only on the market for one season, and if not sold it was destroyed. Only the other day his 'firm had 250 packets destroyed. Some of those seeds, he felt sure, would germinate, and would prove quite suitable for the purpose proposed.

An amusing instance of how a certain thoroughfare received the name of Twilight Road, was revealed at a recent meeting of the Manukau CountyCouncil. The question of the derivation of the name was raised by one of rhe councillors, who affirmed that he anew no other road of that name in New Zealand. The word, he said, was essentially English, indicating the three odd hours or so between sunset and nightfall, according to the season of the year. In explaining, another councillor said Mr Day and Mr Knight, two of the earliest settlers in the district, each lived on opposite sides of the same road which, of course, being called Day and Knight was happily called Twilight.

The ability of a man to earn ovei £4O per week seems in strange contrast to the position of many men at the present time who have not the opportunity of earning anything. It is understood, from what is believed to be reliable information, that pig slaughtermen are at present receiving wages approximating that figure or something a little higher. It is fair to say that this happy position for the pig slaughtermen is not likely to continue. NerV machinery is being brought into use for doing much of the work which is now done by the men, and for which they receive such high wages. The agreement, however, under which they are at present working has some time to run, and until its expiry they cannot be deposed by the new machinery.

“There Hs no need for too many home lessons in this school,” replied Mr Newton to a question asked at a meeting of the Wilngamii Technical College Board concerning the amount of home work that was required of the pupils. Mr Newton explained that a firm check was kept upon the night work that was expected of the pupils. A matriculation candidate for the first year was expected to' do one hour, a second year pupil two hours, and a third pear pupil about two hours and a-half. “In matriculation,” remarked another member “you can’t do without home work and in most cases the keen pupil does not mind it. M >

Probate of tlie will of the late Charles Cookman. McMillan, of Kemuera, Auckland, who died on February 10, has been granted. The estate is sworn at approximately £200,000. With the exception of an annuity to an employee, the whole of the estate goes to the widow and children.

Speaking at a farmers’ rally in Whangarei this week, Mr D. C. Snclling, referring to the present state of the farming industry said: “There is something radically wrong when we cannot allow our children to go on the farm because it is not a sound enough business proposition.”

A Gisborne message says that the skeleton washed up on Waikanae beach has not been identified as that of the seaman Koff off the Elsie Mary, drowned two months ago. A doctor was of the opinion that the skeleton had been in the water over six months and was of a man considerably' taller than Boff.

The record eel caught by members of the Eltham Tuna Club, which has now a membership of over 160, was landed from a creek on Saturday (says the Argus). It measured 4ft 6-|ins in length and 14J ins in girth, and weighed 2libs. The eel was used as bait by a party who went to the sea on Sunday', when they fished off the rocks.

“I suppose he - thanked God anc, thought his debts were paid,” said the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court, at New Plymouth, when he was informed that a man on whom a bankruptcy' notice had been served, thought lie was thereby made bankrupt, and promptly left the district to attend a wedding, and thought he had nothing more to do in the matter.

At a conference of inspectors of schools from all the education -districts, in Wellington, this morning, a resolution was passed, which was endorsed by the Education Department, expressing deep regret at the death of the Hon. Mark Cohen, M.L.C., and sympathy with his relative?; also expressing appreciation of his services in the cause of education.

Mr T. M. Hickson, who conducted a healing mission in New Zealand and Australia a few years ago, is at present a visitor to Christchurch. He is spending six months’ holiday' in New Zealand, having just completed a world tour, holding missions in every' town of size in England, America and the Continent. Mr Hickson states that will not conduct any more mass meetings, but at the end of his holiday' he will hold private missions.

The superstition in connection with the number 13 was strongly in evidence at a euchre tournament in Levin last evening, when a Maori player resolutely refused to start at tabic 13. There were also others who avoided it at the opening and for a while it was difficult to get four players willing to start from “the devil’s table.” However, when the prize winners were announced it was found that both the first prize winners were play'ers wiio had started at No. 13.

According to an admission made at the dinner given to the delegates to the New Zealand Builders’ Federation Conference, the achievements of Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., apparently, have not been gained in the political arena. He lias reached the topmost rung of the ladder in another field! (remarks the Christchurch Sun). “Years ago,” he said, ‘‘when I was an honest working man, I was intimately connected with the building trade, and I can say, without any egotism, that’l reached the highest position that; can be reached in the trade —I carried bricks to the top of the highest building in Christchurch!”

When the notorious Maori chief Te Kooti was acquitted on a charge of treason laid against him, he presented his counsel, the late'Mr W. J. Napier, with his own greenstone mere. Eecently Mrs Napier gave the mere to the Auckland Museum. When it was presented to Mr Napier thousands of Natives gathered, and a great feast was held in his honour. Fifteen inches long and about an inch through at its thickest part, the mere is beautifully' coloured, and is regarded as one of the most valuable in the museum. Like so many other Maori relics, it was bid for by' Americans, who wanted it for the Smithsonian Institute.

What will be the longest tow on record in the world is necessitated by the decision of the Wellington Harbour Board to have a new floating dock for Wellington harbour built in England. At present the longest tow recorded was made with the floating dock which was despatched from Britain to iSngapore harbour many years ago. The feat of bringing the new dock to the’ Dominion will be much greater, however, for when proceeding to -Singapore it is possible to hug the coast practically all the way, while en route to New Zealand ocean crossings must be made. The task is fraught with difficulty and not a little danger, and it is stated that the mere bringing of the dock to Wellington will provide an adventure.

“Has the secretary any' information regarding the loss likely to be sustained by the board as the result o" the curtailment of the use of the current consequent upon the Mangaliao shortage?” asked Mr J. Elder at Tuesday’s meeting of the Dannevirke Power Board. The secretary' replied that it was hardly vet possible' to give the desired information and more difficult still to give any' estimate. The position, however, is not so pronounced as we thought it would be, said,the chairman, who added that the executive of the Power Boards’ Association had taken the matter up of the loss to Power Boards with the Public Works Department. It appeared that before anything, could be done in the direction of affording relief to power boards for any loss as the outcome of the present position legislation would be necessary.

Figures compiled by the New South Wales Government Statistician show that the number of sheep and lamos declined in the last six monins.of 1927 by seven millions, says a wireless message from Sydney, received in Gisborne.

A wireless message from Melbourne received at Gisborne to-day states that an examination of the White Star liner Ceramic, which broke from her moorings during the fierce storm in Melbourne on Friday irght, revealed no damage, and the vessel proceeded on her voyage to Sydney'.

The excursion train which left Wellington for Auckland on Friday evening andr returned this morning, was well patronised, the Government’s policy' of popularising the tour st resorts by means of cheap travel facilities receiving recognition in many quarters. Two passengers joined the excursion at Levin.

A visitor to Matamata the other day —incidentally lie included the race meeting in his itinerary—had an experience which might be termed fortunate. On the day after the races he * joined a shooting party' to an out-lying scrub infested district. He took his wad of £110" with him. On arrival back in Matamata he found he had lost the roll. It was too late to search that night, but his luck was in, for on Monday' lie searched near where he had fired his last shot,,and there was his roll intact.

There arrived in New Zealand by the Mataroa on Friday the 6th member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band to return to this country on the expiry' of Army' service. The latest arrival is Mi- Bert Kayment, who reached Dunedin from the north on Tuesday evening. He is under engagement to Messrs Charles Begg and Co. , Four of the bandsmen now reside in Dunedin, and one has gone to Invercargill. A seventh ex-member of this band, Mr A. Dicker, of Wellington, has been in Now Zealand since 1910.

By a judgment -of the Superior Court at Los Angelos (U.S.A.), Mr Fred Cyriacks, a wealthy Hollywood landowner, will pay a total sum of £25,000 for having shot and instantly killed a kinerna “star” as he sat in a motor car in front of Mr Cyriack’s house one day last year, the dead actor being the dog known as “Peter the Great.” The action was brought by' the dog’s owners, who were awarded £20,000 as the value of the dog and £SOOO for damages caused by his death. Mr Cyriacks attempts to prove that the owners drove up to his house in a drunken state and that, fearing violence, he had aimed warning shots at the pavement.

As illustrating the engineering difficulties in connection with our railways, Mr C. J. McKenzie (Assistant Engin-cer-in-Ohief of the Public Works Department) stated tfhat New Zealand possesses the longest railway tunnel in the British Empire, that is, the Arthur’s Pass tunnel on the Midland railway, which is 5 miles 25 chains in length.' Many' large bridges have been built; but still bigger bridges are to come', he added. On the Napier-Gis-borne railway', for instance, two very' large viaducts with a central span of 250 -feet in each are under construction, and one proposed over the Moiiaka river will exceed in magnitude anything • yet constructed in this country. It. is 913 feet in length, and will be about 315 feet above the water level of the river.

“’The majority' of farmers who oppose the daylight saving measure do so merely because they imagine it to be detrimental to their interests,” stated a Wanganui farmer on Monday' to a Chronicle reporter. “As a matter of fact,” he added, “it has made little or no difference to the farmers. They’ve hardly' known it was in force, but some were determined from the start to give it a bad run and they' have done so with a vengeance. For my part I hope if"'becomes a permanent measure.” Another farmer also stated that he was certain that, had the measure not been in force this summer, greater opposition would have come from the farmers towards the electric light restrictions enforced as the result of the prolonged dry' weather.

“When in Java I learnt that the people there were prepared to bu.v New Zealand hams, bacon, meats, butter, dried milk, Cheese and apples,” stated Mr J. Eentoul, of Auckland, chairman of the Honey' Control Board, to a Mnna : wain Daily' Times reporter. He explained, however, that the produce must .he packed to suit the country, but no difficulties were presented in that direction. Mr Eentoul stated that he was prepared to supply' fuller information to anyone who might desire it. New Zealand has agencies for its honey' in the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Burma, Colombo, Calcutta, Strait Settlements, Malay', Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila. An endeavour was made to open a market in the Argentine, but without success. Argentine is a honeyexporting country'.

Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, is the home of- the cocksfoot seed industry' in New Zealand, and has been so for the past forty'years or more. During the past, few years the amount of cocksfoot seed harvested on the Peninsula has decreased very considerably', for various reasons, and is Jess than one-third what it used to be in the eighties. The present season’s cocksfoot crop is considered the heaviest for the past ten years or so. The greater part of the seed is now harvested. For the greater -part it is clean and of good quality', the yield being above the average. Although, of course, the cutting of the seed is still done by' hand, with reap-hook, machines are now being used veiy extensively' for threshing, the old flail being gradually' discarded. Statistics as to the season’s crop are not available, but in all probability the 1928 season’s crop of cocksfoot will amount to between twenty and thirty thousand sacks of cleaned seed.