Shannon News TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1928.

Shannon News, 21 August 1928, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1928.

A card party in aid of Plunket Society funds will be held in the Plunket room on Thursday evening next. Good prizes will be offered and a pleasant evening is assured those who attend.

The Beautifying Committee have decided upon the afternoon of Wednesday, 29th August, for the planting, of the newly-formed garden plot in Plimmer Terrace. In the meantime citizens who wish to assist in the plant ing can secure the right to a peg fiom any member of the committee on payment of 2s 6d. ■.

Miss M. Williams, a very popular teacher, who is leaving to take up a position on the staff of the School, was farewelled on Friday afternoon by the teachers and scholars of the Shannon School. Mr White, on behalf of the teachers, asked Miss Williams to accept a camera as a memento of her stay in Shannon,- while Standards Y. and VI. presented her with an electric torch. Miss Williams was also the recipient of some beautiful bouquets.

At a meeting of the Mangahao Medical Association last week, Mr J. Gagliardi, who has been transferred to Palmerston North resigned from the secretaryship. Eulogistic remarks on the excellent, work done by Mr Gagliardi were made by Mr Coates (chairman) and Mr Blackwood. Mr L. White was appointed to fill the vacancy. On Wednesday evening Mr and Mrs Gagliardi were farewelled by the members of the Public Works Department staff at Mangaore. Musical items and dances were the order of the evening) and Mr Gagliardi was the recipient of a small presentation.

Mrs C. Cronquest, of Shannon, was highly commended in the contralto solo class (own selection) at the Wellington Competition on Saturday.

The Taihape district can boast of the biggest bullock in the North Island, or perhaps in New Zealand, at present. This beast is owned by Mr 11. Harris, of Mataroa, who is sending it for exhibition at the Wellington Show shortly. Weighed in March last, it turned the scales at 2700 lbs, and Mr Harris •says it will weigh over 3000 lbs by the "time it reaches Wellington, as it has put on considerable condition of late.

Much sympathy will be extended to Mr J. R. Whyte, a member of the Horowhenua County , Council, and a well-known and respected resident of Tokomaru,. in the death of his wife, which occurred yesterday at Tokomaru. The deceased, who was 57 years of age, passed away after a comparatively short but serious illness. The funeral will take place at Palmerston North to-morrow, ieaving All, Saints’ Church at 1.30 p.m. for the Kelvin Grove Cemetery.

Early in 1924 a'Wanganui- business firm sent a large sum of money to Germany as a deposit on.an order for the printing and engraving of a book (says the Chronicle). But the war broke out and the deal was considered closed. In 1919, however, the Wanganui liousewrote to Germany applying for the return of the money, and was told that the deposit had been given to a clerk. An application was made through the International Tribunal, and there the matter apparently ended. But the other day a cablegram was received in Wanganui informing the firm that its case had been considered at law, and it has been awarded the return of the deposit plus the accumulated interest over a period of 14 years.

The Tararuas were hidden from view early on Sunday afternoon by a huge purple storm-cloud, to which a peculiar effect-was given by the appearance of a rainbow-end at its southern extremity, Accompanied by the distant rumble of thunder, the storm passed away to the northward and burst over Palmerston in a hail-storm of exceptional severity about four o’clock. The crash of on the roofs of the houses. at times almost drowned speech, .while the rolling of thunder and the flashing of jagged streaks of lightning added further to the impressiveness of the storm. The stones were of exceptional size, the storm lasting fully half an hour. Wh ei * its fury slackened somewhat the hail lay six or eight inches deep on the ground and drifts up to two feet in depth accumulated in corners. After the storm had passed at the back of Shannon, it left •a trail of hail behind, which from the distance, gave the hills a snow clad appearance. The fall extended to the outskirts of the town.

The Bast Coast is not the only district where sheep stealing has been going on. Some months ago a Glen Oroua farmer had two hundred ewes stolen and the police were unable to track them.

It was Abraham Lincoln who said: “When you buy imported (or outside) goods, you have only the goods. When vou buy goods that are made in your own country you have both the money and the goods.”

In a letter to the Waikato Hospital

Board Bishop Cleary expresses appreciation of the treatment he received while he was an inmate of the Waikato Hospital recently _ after q, motor accident in which he was injured. > In addition to paying the hospital fees,, Bishop -Cleary made a donation of seventeen guineas -to the board.

Two 'prospectors from the North Island have recently spent five weeks in the’ Wakamarina, Valley. They found plenty of trapes of gold, but not in payable quantities (states the Marlborough Express). The country for the most part is very broken, and in the opinion of the prospectors, all the reefs disintegrated centuries ago, leaving only small veins and pockets of very little value.

Mr Jas. Iline, a member of the Hairy Control Board, said, when addressing shareholders at the annual meeting of the Tikorangi, Dairy Company a few days ago, that it was not good policy to think of appointing the-manager of the Meat Board in London as joint manager of the meat and dairy boaids. “We have an industry that produces 75,000 tons of cheese and .70,000 tons of butter, and if we cannot appoint a man to look after our own affairs entirely, ’their w£ had better go back to our farms, ’ ’ he said.

“I would like, to point out that if tjie Government would take up and pass the Gaming Bill to provide for the telegraphing of money to racecourses, the revenue thus provided would enable the Government to either reduce taxation or do away altogether with the heavy tax on owners. This would greatly assist in eliminating the bookmakers —at the present tinie there 'arc more bookmakers operating iii New Zealand than ever before—and thereby greatly increase the amount that would naturally go through the totalisator. ” —Paragraph from report made by Sir Edwin Mitchelson, president of the Auckland Racing Club, at .the annual meeting yesterday.

“I jthiink -that Sergeant. Lopdell should buy me a new pair of trousers, ” remarked a Wanganui resident. He then related that he was tempted the other evening to go on to licensed premises after hours. The magic word Avas whispered that the senior sergeant had paid a surprise visit, and in getting over a fence at the rear of the hotel he ripped the seat out of his trousers. The suit happened to be a ucav navy bluo ;nne. The resident added that he did not knoAv whether it A\ r ould have been cheaper to have remained and risked paying a fine in the e\ T ent of not haA ring an excuse acceptable to the sergeant. “At least,” he said, “it Avould have saved all the nasty the Avife said to me.”

Special attention ha's for some years past been devoted to orthopaedic cases by the medical and nursing staff of King George Y. Hospital in Rotorua. In this section in addition to infantile paralysis, mal-union of fractures and deformities due to other diseases are under treatment. Rather more than half of the orthopaedic cases are deformities the result of infantile paralysis,. “Contrary to current ideas,” reports the medical -superintendent, <• recovery of muscles has been noted for years subsequent to the onset of paralysis. The need for aftercare does not appear to have been. sufficiently roalised in some cases which have returned for further treatment.”

The übiquitous rabbit travels under many aliases, according to the general director of the National Association of the Fur Industry of America who, at the opening of the convention recently, urged that furs be known by their right names. The rabbit outnumbers all others in a-number of sobriquets with %vhich his skin has been camouflaged in fashionable furs. He is wanted all over the world as vi’sionette, squiddeline, Russian ilcopard, moline, nutriette, seal, musquash. French sable, ehinchillette, and buckskin. At _ the latest count, bunny had 75 such titles, and was “.not out,” as many other furriers, asked for a report on his aliases, had not yet been heard from. “Maybe erminette and leopardine and mar-koni, by another'name,'would not sound as fashionable,” said the direc-* tor, “but there is no question they would wear just as long under their rightful names.”

To be caught in a manure whirler and be spun round unmercifully for some seconds, and then to be alive, although beaten ■ into insensibility, was the experience of James Nicholas, an employee of the Imlay Freezing Works, Wanganui, on Tuesday afternoon. It appears that some of the machinery used for mixing and crushing the manure required cleaning, and with this end in view Nicholas climbed into the bucket-like Avhirler, the machinery being stopped for the purpose. While Nicholas was engaged in this operation it seems that the machinery was set in motion, the man responsible apparently thinking tha(t the mixer was clear. It is not very difficult to gauge the horror of the luckless workman, who, at the first rotation of the churn, called out to his mates below, but it was not until some time had elapsed that his agonising cries were heard, and the men realised what had happened. He was then removed to safety, and was in a state of collapse, the machine having pounded him badly. Nicholas was immediately conveyed to the hospital, where the latest reports indicate that he is progressing favourably.

The Wanganui Education Board has decided not to alloAv intoxicating liquor to be taken to school buildings Avhen used for entertainment purposes, and, further, that schools are not to be used except for school entertainments AAiiere halls are available.

The recent Avarm rains have had a beneficial effect upon pastures and gardens throughout this district (says the Eoxton Herald). Householders also appreciated the replenishing of house tanks, which they prefer to artesian for domestic purposes.

Mixed metaphors pass without no tice in most cases norvadays, but the effort of a' member of an Auckland authority, made at Gisborne last week in discussing an item of proposed expenditure, deserves ; to be placed on record. The speaker referred to’" the amount of the item, Avhich he declared “ was infinitesimal Avhen Aveighed against the tilin' ice on Avhich av« are skating. If anything happens, Ave Avill be in the soup!”

That the thrift shoAvn by . Flock House trainees has been most encour aging is indicated by figures supplied by Mr T. R. Lees, managing trustee, in regard to the boys *■ savings, Avhich are deposited Avitli the Public Trustee. Of 258 trainees, 48 have saved over £lO and under £2O each, 89 over £2O and under £SO, and 99 over £SO and under £IOO. Ten trainees have saved just over £IOO, while 10 have banked between £llO and £l5O each, and tAvo have banked over £l5O.

Thousands of sheep are stolen annually, particularly from, large flocks of the back country.stations, according to a sheepoAviier avlio Avas intervieAA'ed by a Star reporter# He declared that the practice Avas carried out in open daylight while big lines Avere being driven along the roads after sales. Motor-lor-ries were blamed for a proportion - of the thefts. It Avas stated that 20 or 30 sheep could be taken many mites in a night by means of these vehicles.

For sheer impudence,, or perhaps it Avas just crass foolishness, this could hardly be exceeded (states a Christchurch paper). Into'the line of blazing guns at the NeAV Zealand clay bird championships at Leeston a beautiful: ly-plumaged cock pheasant fluttered down from above ar.d surveyed the scene. Ignoring the sound of shots, it strutted into the netted pen round the automatic trap and spread its feathers. Under persuasion it moved off, and departed unhurt. But there were some very itchy trigger fingers among the shooters.

The coavs in the Ihakara district, in addition to their other virtues, are taking an interest in educational matters, One day last Aveek a little boy attending the school there laid his school bag doAvn Avhile engaged in play, but on returning could not find 1 it. * Close search A\ms made in all directions Avithout avail and the lad Avas suitably admonished for his carelessness in losing his books. Four or five days aftenvards a neighbouring farmer" found that one of his cows was Avearing the bag as a mark of distinction or scholarship, tho strap being securely entangled round the animal’s horns and the books intact. It is presumed it was carried away by a dog and left in the paddock for the cows to investigate.

It was decided, at Monday night’s meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, that the time was opportune for a reduction in the stamp duty* on cheques from twopence to a penny. Other Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand had been circularised to this effect with the result that 19 replies were received —all in favour ‘of the reduction. The suggestion will form the subject of a remit at the annual conference of the Chambers of Commerce, where it is almost assured that it will be passed, in which case the will be apjproached through the proper channels. One reply received the support of the body concerned, but the writer “guessed” that the Minister of Finance would “stick to the supercharge as tightly as ever a barnacle adhered to a boat.”

So satisfied was a manager of a well known mercantile firm in the south that ewes run with cows were a, payable proposition, that he told all his. clients who were milking to go and buy as many ewes as each of their properties could run, and that his firm would find the money to pay for them. In every case, even after allowing for the interest on the money advanced, losses, etc., the return of the ewes showed them a handsome profit. Many of the farmers stated that apart from the profit shown the sheep helped to keep their pastures cleaner and .were* well worth while for this alone. This wag in Southland, where the winter feed is a consideration. In the north, where the climate conditions allow a much longer growing period, and the question of winter-feed is not so acute, it should pay. the northern farmer as well, if not better, to graze a few ewes among his cows.

New Zealanders will be surprised to learn that there are countries in Europe whose people have never tasted mutton, yet it is a fact that mutton is an extremely rare dish in Sweden, according to Miss Karin Warnholtz, of the staff of the Swedish newspaper the Sydsvenska Dagbladet Snallposten, who has been on n- visit to Gisborne. Miss Warnholtz remarked that although there were a few wild sheep on some of the islands, sheep were seldom seen in Sweden, and she herself had never tasted mutton until she came to New Zealand. The people of her country existed chiefly on fish, beef, pork, and wild fowl. Fish, particularly herrings, of tho most delicious quality were there in abundance, and. the fishing industry provides a livelihood for a large proportion of the people. The fish are always purchased alive direct from the boats, and no one would ever think of buying a dead fish. .

A golf ball, which had been driven by a Avoman player from the tee at Scales’ Knoll hole on the/Avondale links, Christchurch, struck a thrush. The bird fell to the ground and died almost immediately.

Mr MacDonald, first officer of the Aquitania, has disclosed that as a result "bf experiments with an invisible rav it is possible to increase the distance of humar. sight' .twentyfold. The ray is equally efficient in day-time or night-time, or 'in a fog. It -works similarly Avith television,, recording images on a mirror.

“We have always set our faces against street haAvkers,” said the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr J. B. Fow, at a meeting of the Borough Council this week, in moving that the application of a firm of fruiterers for permission to sell fruit from , a barmv opposite the library in Victoria Street be declined. The; Council supported the Mayor’s view. 0’ *

‘ < Sleep shop ’ ’ is’Afiican-Dutoh for a familiar football artifice, the dropkick, which African footballers have so developed that, it is a popular means of attack. In Capetown club Rugby, a team sometimes devotes its energies for 10 minutes or more at a time to getting within potting range, sending kick after kick toward the props. This explains the proficiency of Osier, the South African drop-kick wizard, and of Rousseau, and suggests that the dropkick might be practised more assiduously in this country.

An old cannon ball AA r as dug out of a bank a short distance from the mouth of the Kapuni River, near Mantua, Taranaki, recently by Allah Young, son of Mr A. L. Young, of Manaia-. The shot is believed to have been fired from H.M-.S. Alligator in the eourse of the Maori troubles when the Natives held Mrs Garde a prisoner." Several cannon balls Avere discovered- at .his spot some years ago, and are now ornaments on a local resident’s gate-

posts

In returning thanks fov the eA*idence of continued confidence in his reelection to the directorate, Mr, Edward Allen stated at the annual meeting‘rif the Cambridge Dairy Company on Tuesday that during his tour of the United States he had" spoken to farmers arid had told them of tho eo-operative methods adopted in New Zealand. They were astonished when he told them of actual payments being made at the rate of Is 6d per lb butterfat, and replied they could only get up to Is 3d. The Americans could not • understand hdW it was possible when Neiv Zealand ha’d to ship produce thousands of miles. Mr Allen said he explained to the Americans that manufacturing eosts were provided for to a large extent out of over-run. The Americans had. asked, “What is over-run?” ilr Allen said apparently the butter companies . in America had kept farmers in ignorance of the profits from over-run.

“This coat is not to be bought, It is only lent! ” Such a notice on a large label is seAvn inside ihe back qf; an overcoat being Avorn in NeAV Zedland to-day. -Mr S. J. Harrison, Dominion secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, told the story at a gathering in NeAV Plymouth. Where through drink or other causes a mafc Avas incapable of spending his pension economically the authorities had asked the association secretaries to administer the money for them. Under thesq circumstances £6 10s was paid for a coat for a former soldier. Within an hour he had sold it for 30s, and became gloriously drunk on the proceeds. The secretary discovered the second-hand dealer and redeemed the eoat for the oAvner. But ho Avas an irrepressible salesman. In less than half an hour he had parted Avith it again for 15s. When once more it Avas retrieved a stencilled notice was sewn in it fof safety.

Writing from the historic city of Aberdeen on July Bth to the Mayor (Mr T. Hobson), Mr M. J. Suhan gives-an interesting account- of his travels with the N.Z. bowlers. He joeularlj remarks that, with his experience of Mayoral receptions, he will be able oh his "return to relieve his Worship should he want a holiday. “The whole trip,” says Mr Suhan, “has been one great round of pleasure and hospitality. Everyone we have cbme in contact, with has been so good to us. We have received -a civic reception in every city, town and borough we have play J ed in so ‘far. The Mayors have been • of great variety. At Weymouth we' . were welcomed by no less than sixMayors of Dorsetshire, who gave us a luncheon. Then at Salisbury we were welcomed by a titled Lady Mayoress. This was one of the outstanding receptions of our tour, and at the luncheon following, when this lady rose to propose the toast of the New Zea-' land bowlers, she spoke with sueh feeling towards the New Zealand boys who were in camp during the war at Salisbury Plain and Sling, and their wonderful good conduct, that she made a : great hit. We were feted also by the Lord Mayors of London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast, and Newcastle. ' While in Glasgow we met the Prince of Wales, quite unofficially. He had dinner at our hotel aud after dinner I gave'him one of our N.Z. bowlers, badges. In faet, bowling is only a side-line; I have known myself play a game and‘ not bother to look to see who won. We play our last official match at Bath-' gate on Saturday, July 21st, and sail for New York on August 11th by the Cedric from Liverpool. Our Canadian tour is to last till October, when we embark on the Aorangi, sailing from Vancouver on the 20th, and expect to arrive home about the middle of November.” Mr Suhan will visit; Los Angeles, Passadena and San Francisco before leaving America.