Shannon News FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1929.

Shannon News, 18 January 1929, Page 2

Shannon News FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1929.

Owing to Tuesday next being Anniversary Day, the News will be pub listed on Monday.

The Foxton races were well patronised both days by local residents, who met with varying success.

Mr Dunlop, of Waiuku, Auckland, was a visitor to Shannon yesterday, when he was the guest of the ?>layoi’ and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs E. Butt).

Mr C. .Skitrop, C.E., representing the Union Asphalt Co., will be visiting Shannon at the week-end, when- he will meet the Mayor and Councillors and discuss with them the matter of gluing an estimate of the cost of bitu-

mcnising the main highway through out the borough.

At a meeting of members of the Shannon Amateur Athletic Club held last evening it was decided that those present meet at the Domain during the week-end,-to make an inspection ofthe cycle track with a view to laying down a permanent surface, also to discuss the advisability of holding a sports meeting.

Described by the police as a disgrace lo Christchurch, Mary and Isabella McKegnoy, Avho have 307 convictions between them, mostly for drunkenness, were yesterday sentenced to three months' imprisonment on charges of drunkenness and obscene language. Mary has 202 convictions dating from 1900 and Isabella has 105, her record starting in 1895. -

The Public Works Department are availing themselves of every opportunity to get on with the work on the Rimutaka Hill Road. - A new steam road-roller and a new tar-heater arrived .per rail a few days ago, and it is intended to obtain two Deisel rollers. This new gear, with what is already on hand, should materially assist in putting the work of tar-sealing through expeditiously.

Mr. William Griffiths, who .passed away at the Pahiatua Hospital after a long illness, was born in Shropshire, England, and came to. New Zealand 27 years ago, landing at Wellington. He had been farming at Makairo for the past 11 years. The deceased, who was 57 years of age, is survived by a widow and a young family of four. The late Mr. Griffiths was chairman of the Makairo School Committee, a member of the Pahiatua A. and P. Association, and a member of the local branch of the Farmers ’ Union.

Appointments to the honorary staff of the Palmerston North Hospital for the ensuing year were made by the Board at its last meeting, all those at present occupying the positions continuing. in office. The appointments made were Drs. Putnam, Wyllie, Millar and Forrest as hon. surgeons, Dr. Bett as hon surgeon physician to the children’s ward, Dr. Salmon as hon. assist-ant-surgeon, Drs. Bransgrove and Munro as hon. . ear, nose and eye specialists, and Mr J. S. Ilornblow as hon. dentist.

A very interesting club has been established in Australia, called the “Legacy Club.” This is composed altogether of returned soldiers, mostly those who are fairly well off, and they regard the children of deceased dr permanently incapacitated soldiers as their “legacies.” This year the cliff) c-ntertained all the childien of the kind whom they could collect at a Christ, mas party, and they will continue to take an interest in their welfare, on the educational .side, in ordinary and physical training, and will do their best to lit them for the battle of life. It is a very line work, and will com-

“Peritus” writes in the Auckland “Star”: “Reference to the incident at Blind Channel, when a holidaymaker was bitten by a Katipo spider, reminds that this poisonous insect is as dangerous as some of Australia’s venomous snakes. It is usually found on rotting logs on beaches near high water mark, but any sun-dried bush rubbish may shelter it. The action of the poison of the spider’s bite is almost immediate. The part bitten, and later the whole body, of the victim swells. There is great pain, restless-, ness and exhaustion, and before recovery (which may taka from 12 to 24 hours) there is profuse sweating. A doctor who has treated a case successfully says that he gave doses of ammonia and strychnine, followed by an aperient. This treatment was aimed at the alarming exhaustion, and not at the poison itself, and no direct 'antidote to thi3 was .known. The spider has a small, bright, red mark upon his back, and can by this be identified.”

Nineteen mothers were admitted to the Palmerston North Maternity Home during December, while 20 attended at the ante-natal clinic.

The Department of Agriculture has declined to agree to the Manawa't-u County Council’s request, to have hares removed from the list of protected animals in the County.

The Wairarapa Racing Club paid £3370 16s 3d totalisator tax, and £l5O in amusement tax for its recent summer meeting at Tauherenikau. Otaki paid nearly £3OOO for its last meeting.

A New York wireless broadcast states that Tom Heeney has heard the call again and will start training at once for future bouts. He eliminated Rivko, Sharkey, Maloney and Delaney last year and'declares he can do i: again- this year. —’Gisborne Press Association message.

The first parachute to be released from a New Zealand Air Force macli ine was drooped from a DHSO machine at a height'of 200 ft. above Wigram aerodrome, Christchurch, on Tuesday afternoon. The parachute carried lead weights equivalent to the weight of a man.

The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, will visit the Otaki hospital on Monday, arriving at about 10 a.m. Ho will" be accompanied by Mr. Field, M.P., and the visit will last for about an hour and a half, after which the Minister will journey to Palmerston North.

Aii Qamaru -telegram says the Gov-ernor-General and Lady Alice Fergiisson visited the Teachers' Summer School to-flay. They spent over an hour visiting the various parts of the school, heard lectures and were great ly interested in the activities. The Viee-Eegal party leave for Dunedin this afternoon. >

The colour scheme of a young Maori man’s nether garments attracted the attention of observers in Main Street yesterday. The original “seat” of his blue serge trousers had either worn out or was purposely made the centre for the attractive display which consisted of a large yellow patch edged with bright red stitches.—Foxton Herald:

•The following message from the

Queen has been cabled from Ihe headquarters of the British Empire Service League: ‘‘l know that the King, in the first year that lie is Patron-in-Chief of the League, will wish Godspeed to its work and hope that 102') will bring all happiness and piospority to its members and supporters. ’ ’ The message is in reply to wishes for the King's speedy and complete recovery which had been sent to the Empire headquarters from all quarters, including New Zealand.

A lady motorist travelling between Palmerston North and Dannevirkc rercntly, accompanied by another lady and six or seven children, had the misfortune to puncture a tyr* at the Ashhurst end of the gorge. None of the party could give much help, and while the lady was struggling to change the wheels no less than 16 ears passed and not one driver offered assistance. Finally, an elderly. drov*r rode along and offered to lend a hand. “I don't know much about cars lady,” he said, “but I'm willing to give it ,a go.” This man had a ride of 11 miles ahead of him but stayed to (lo what he could. —Dannevirke News.'

A very "mean trick was perpetrated by some unknown person- at Castlepoint. recently. The safety wire running round the ledge of rock just past the cave under the lighthouse and used by fishermen was apparently filed through to almost breaking point. One well known fisherman, Mr Leslie Brown, was the unfortunate victim of the foolish prank when the wire gave way and precipitated him into 20 feet of water. Fortunately Mr Brown escaped with nothing worse than a wetting but something- more serious might just as easily have occurred. The wire was in good ordbr mid practically new and the marks of a file was plainly visible.

The need for thoroughly exploring the Urewera country to ascertain whether a large portion of the land is suitable for settlement, has been stressed by Mr A. Peebles, of Taneat.ua, who has maintained for years that a good deal of the high land could be profitably occupied, and the breaking in of the' country a safe distance back from the rivers would not be detrimental to the interests of any oher part of the district. Mr Peebles submitted a letter to tlie newly foimed Taneatua Progressive League (reports the Whakatane Press'), and that body has endorsed the opinions expressed an 1 passed on the representations to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

Preparations are already in train for Ratana’s 'birthday celebrations, which will be on a grand scale. It is ex-/ peeted that the gathering will be nearly as large as last January 25th. when Ratana temple was dedicated. There will no such ce’remony on this occasion, hut the festivities will include sports, with plenty of birthday cake and soft drinks. “There will be no hard stuff,” remarked a Maori to a newspaper man. “Any Maori want te hard stuff, he have to buy it outside and take it into te pa in him inside.” The rule is strictly enforced that no liquor is to be brought into the pa except inside the person, and if a man happens to have an overload aboard, , fines are inflicted. Consequently very few Maoris go there intoxicated. As a matter of fact, the followers of Ratana are a sober people.