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Shannon News, 11 December 1928, Page 2

Paris has now 20,000 taxi-cabs, and the official fare tariff starts off with the equivalent of twopenee-halfpennv a mile.

Mr. W. Stagg, secretary of Returned Soldiers’ League of New South Wales, estimated that over 60,000 Australian soldiers have died since their discharge from the force, which is actually more than were killed in battle';

A “Gazette” announces that nominations for representatives of the employers and employees on the Arbitration Court close on January 31st. Nominations for acting members close on the same day. The present members arc Messrs -Booth (employers) and Montcith (employees).

A novel claim was made to the Auckland City Council the other evening in a letter from a man, who asserted that, with the council’s assistance, he could eradicate all noxious weeds within a radius of 12 miles of the city within three years. He offered to appear in person to explain his plan further. The man will be invited to attond the next meeting of the Parks Committee.

“The Government is now beginning to realise that New Zealand-made goods are as good as the imported,” stated the organiser of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, Mr. E. H. Mariner, in his annual report. He added: “It is gratifying to know that a number of our members have been successful in securing a large number of Government contracts during the past year. ’ ’

The Manawatu executive of the Farmers’ Union expressed indignation at its meeting on Saturday, when the Dominion executive suggested that seven area-officers should be appointed at a salary of, £4OO or £450 each with travelling expenses paid for the purpose of working up the Union’s membership. It was thought that the salary was too big by half and that with a salary of £450, an organiser ought to be able to pay his own travelling expenses. The suggestion was thrown out without reservation.

Members of the committee of the recently formed Manawatu Aero Club have been busy inspecting possible sites for a landing ground/ The borough engineer was approached in connection with an area of land adjoining the Manawatu Biver behind the Botanical Gardens, but after examination this area was found to be unsuitable, owing to its narrow width and the direction of the prevailing wind. The landing ground offered by Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., has also been inspected, and, the committee, which includes several men with flying experience, has expressed the opinion that it is admirable for the club’s immediate purposes. However, action concerning the asquisition of a suitable area for a permanent airport is at present indefinite.

Can the blind “s3C?” The question was raised at . a concert given by the Blind Boys’ Band in Christchurch on Saturday night. Speaking at the concert, Mr H. Holland, M.P., said that at the Jubilee Institution in Auckland he was astonished at the way in Avhieh the blind developed some of their senses. 'Walking with Mr Clutlia Mackenzie, he warned him that he was approaching a Avail Mr Mackenzie replied that it Avas all right; he knew it was there. This gaA r e M Mackenzie an opportunity to explain that blind people have A very distinct sense of the presence of obstacles (states the “Lyttelton Times’’). “It is a tremendous help to us,’’ he said. “We doa’t go barging into walls and posts. Usually Ave knoA\ r that Ave are coming to a Avail when Ave are quite a distance away, perhaps twenty feet. We feel some obstacles when Ave are Avithin six of eight feet of them. A lamp post or telegraph post we sense within one or tavo feet. The more elderly blind people, and those AA rbosohearing is not very good do not acquire that sense, but the young, active people do, and that is Avhy Ave don’t crash into everything. The same sense tells us Avlien there is an open door; avc hear the sound of an open space. Sometimes avc only feel the presence of an obstacle; Ave may. give it a dig Avith a stick, which may be' folloAved by a protest from some stout gentleman. We have this sort of adventure, and, occasionally, it is given a humorous turn by people misinterpreting oar actions.’’ “The Pilgrim’s Progress’’ is one of' the books many people think the blind like to have. A lady presented Mr Mackenzie svith a pair of Pomeranian dogs.

It is noAv forty years since the Union Steamship Company’s vessel “Tararua’’ was Avrecked off Waipapa Point, and many lives Avcre lost. Very little of the wreckage Avas cast up on to the shores, so it is not surprising that persons holding evidence of ‘ the catastrophe treasure it closely. Mrs. Joseph Bell, of 4 Grey Street, Palmerston North (mother of Mrs. A. E. Twist, of Otaki), sliOAved a “Times’’ representative recently a substantial little box Avhieh, Avhcn opened, acted as a uniting desk. This was made by the late Mr. Hector Boss, a sailor, from a cabin door of the “Tararua.” The door, Avhieh Avas of English cedar, Avas discovered buried in the sand. Mrs. Bell has other articles in her possession of great antiquity. These include tAVO unique pieces of Indian ware said to be over 300 years old, and a copy of “The Gloucester Journal,” a neAvspaper printed in old English, dated Monday, November 3rd, 1783. The journal consists of four pages and in its columns are particularly featured articles on foreign affairs. Mrs. Bell has, too, several pieces of ware which were made in the glass-blowing days in New Zealand. '