Shannon News TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1929.

Shannon News, 26 March 1929, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1929.

The next issue of the Shannon News will be published on Thursday on account ’of the Easter holidays. Dr. Waddle, accompanied by Mrs Waddle, left Shannon on Saturday for Kawhia, where the former will enter into practice.

Householders are notified in this issue that the Borough water supply will be cut off at 10.30 a.m. to-mor-row (Wednesday) to enable repairs to be effected.

The annual meeting of the Shannon Golf Club will be held in the Council Chambers to-morrow evening at 7.30 o’clock. A full attendance is requested of members and intending members.

Through his motor cycle skidding When near the Otaura bridge on Sunday morning, Mr. P. Picard had a nasty fall, receiving severe abrasions" to his leg, which necessitated medical attention. Fortunately no bones were broken.

When playing at the local school on Friday morning, Master Harold Haley had the misfortune to fall and break a bone in his elbow. He is now an inmate of the Palmerston North Hospital. ,

Members of the Main Highways Board, who will commence a tour of the west coast district on April 12th, will meet representatives of the Council, when matters ip connection with the permanent surfacing of the borough main highways will be discussed.

The members of the Women’s Institute celebrated their birthday of the local branch with a party on Thursday evening in Carter’s Buildings, There was a large attendance of members and their friends when a happy time was spent by all in games, dancing and competitions, vocal and elocutionary items being rendered by Mrs Hume and Mr J 7 T. Bovis, During the' evening Mrs Osborne was presented with the prize for the highest number of points scored in competitions held throughout the past season. Mr C. Pritchard was also the recipient of a presentation from the members as a token of their appreciation of the services he has rendered the Institute since its inception. An excellent supper was provided when a large birthday cake was cut by the president, each person receiving a piece. At the conclusion of the gathering, one of Shannon’s oldest residents, in the person of Mr T. Hcnsman, in a happy speech, thanked the ladies for the pleasant evening, which was brought to a close by all joining hands and singing “Auld Lang ISyne.”

Ekctahuna now holds the Dixon Cup, having defeated the Woodville holders of the coveted bowling trophy.

Nelson growers received £IOO,OOO last year for their tobacco crop. One grower received £247 from two acres and another £6OO from four acres.

A proclamation in an Extraordin ary Gazette, issued this morning, an nounees the further proroguing of Par Lament till June 6th next.

The’ mysterious glare reported to have been seen on the sea in the vicinity of Kapiti Island last week, is now stated to have been caused by the burning of some rubbish on the Island, says a Press telegram from Wellington.

Mr P. E. Parker was elected chairman 6f the Levin Fire Board at the .annual meeting on Friday night, in succession to Mr F. G. Cray, of Wellington. Mr Parker is a foundation member of the Board, having served since its inception ten years ago. A full report of the proceedings will appear in to-morrow’s issue.

Two elephants which were being being conveyed on a large lorry proved too heavy for a temporary bridge at Otamarakau, about 14 miles from Ta Puke. The planking of the bridge gave way and the wheels of the lorry went through. It was a difficult task to extricate the lorry with the assistance of the elephants, which belong to a travelling circus.

A member at Thursday’s meeting of the Manawatu Babbit Board said that in Central Otago settlers regarded 'the hawthorn as a means of forecasting the seasons. When the hawthorn was heavily covered with berries it was regarded as- a sure sign* of a severe winter. The berries provided one of the chief means of sustenance for the birds during the winter. Similarly when there were very few berries on the trees it was a sign that the winter would be good and there would be plenty of food about for the birds. t ; ' 1 .ifiis.'

The General Manager of Railways (Mr H. 11. Sterling) is directing a vigorous campaign to ensure economy in the use of stores, tools and fittings District officers and stationmasters will have to take stock periodically and returns will be checked by responsible officers and auditors.

“Next to roast beef, the currant bun is the most popular food in England. Enough buiis are baked ana eaten every day to line the road from Manchester to London. ” —Mr J. H. Merritt, National Association of Master Bakers.

There are 627 houses in Taumarunui, and to-day there is not one “to let,’’ a sure evidence that there is an improvement in business' in t(he King 'Country (says the Press). Several recent arrivals in Taumarunui have been compelled to store their furniture till they can secure a suitable home.

The Wellington Woolbrokers’ Association advises that for the February sale the gross proceeds were £511,519. The bales offered totalled 27,042, of which 23,851 were sold and 3191 passed in. The net weight of wool was 8,622,761 lb., and the price averaged £2l 8s Hd per bale or 14-Jd per lb.

Reporting to the Levin Fire Board last evening’ on his visit to the U.F.B.A. demonstration at. Hokitika, where he was one of the judges, (Supt. Booth svtated that, from a fire-fighting point of view, there Vas a lot of good, clean and smart work, and it showed what could be Idone by practice cooperation in brigade work. 'ln life position as a judge he had been able to gather a good deal of information regarding the wjorlt|ing (of |the Fire Brigades in general, the result of which he trusted, would be of benefit botli to the Levin Fire Board and Fire Brigade. .

The annual report, for the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua Union gives the following summary of teams and players in the whole district! “During the season there were 95 teams comprising some 1425 players playing each Saturday in the various competitions held in the union’s area. •In addition to this there were 63 school teams engaging some 945 boys in their competitions. From this it will be observed that 2370 men and boys were playing every week in the area under the jurisdiction ot’ the union, thug giving ample evidence of the populuarity of the game in this part of the Dominion.”

The resolution of the Otago provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union not to oppose the re-introduction of half an hour’s daylight saving in the coming, 'summer, was brought to the notice of the Levin branch of the Union at its annual meeting on Saturday, by the President (Mr H. Denton). Mr G. Tully advocated that the branch support the half-hour, remarking that if this were not retained there would be a danger of the full 'hour being brought in again. “If there is any attempt to force the whole hour again,” said Mr A. J. Gimblett, “I am going to fight it tooth and nail; but I am prepared to support the halfhour. ” It was decided, on the motion of Mr Tully, seconded by Mr Gimblett, that the branch support the principle adopted by the Otago executive.

, The balance-sheet of the Manawatu Horowhenua Rugby. Union . has just been issued. It shows that the chief item of expenditure was £671 for travelling expenses of representative players, this including the southern tour to Invercargill, and visits to Wanganui, New Plymouth and Carterton by the senior team and to Wellington by the juniors. To meet this expenditure a sum of £6OO was transferred to the general account from the amount on deposit*, reducing the latter from £llOO to £SOO. Other expenses totalled £424, making the actual expenditure for the year £1095. Eeceipts totalled £1152, including the £6OO from the deposit account, and £451, gate rereceipts from rep. matches. The Union’s assets consist of £SOO cash on deposit, £SS cash on hand and in the bank, and jerseys £2O, making a total of £605.

A pleasant function took place in Levin on Saturday when the Horowhenua branch of the N.Z. Educational Institute, entertained Mr D. A. Strachan, Chief Inspector of the Wellington Education District, prior to his retirement. Mr’ Strachan retire on superannuation at the end of April.- He has been chief inspector in the district for some years and the teachers with whom he has come in contact felt that they would like to tender him their good wishes. The President of the Branch (Mr 11. G. McDonald) occupied the chair, and he with Messrs" R. J. Foss/ J. Marsh (Levin), and D. 11. Wilmot (Otaki) were the speakers, acknowledging Mr Straehan’s courtesy and helpfulness in his relations with the teachers and extending to him tlieri good wishes for the enjoyment of that leisure to which his long service entitled him. A presentation of an ever- . sharp pencil was made to Mr Strachan, while the lady members presented Mrs Strachan with a handsome bouquet. In replying Mr Strachan said he was sorry to sever his association with the teachers, but after 41 years’ service, during which he had never been able to re-visit his native land, he felt that the time had come when he should do so. He cordially thanked tho Institute for the kindly sentiments expressed and assured the teachers of his and Mrs Strachan’s appreciation. The visitors were entertained at' morning tea. Later in the day Mr and Mrs Strachan accompanied by Mr and Mrs A. W. Hutchings, visited the health camp at the Central Development Farm, where they were farewelled by the teaching staff and entertained at afternoon tea. Mrs Strachan "was also the recipient of a tastefully designed bouquet from the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Convent School, which Mr Strachan has examined in the course of his duties.

While playing Petruchio in “The Taming of the Shrew” at His Majesty’s Theatre in Auckland, Mr Allan Wilkie was unfortunate enough to lose a .greenstone cameo ring, which was worn for many years on the finger of the late Sir Henry Irving, when enacting some of his most famous roles.

Charles Clifford Jenkins, described by Sergeant Doggett fis having once been New Zealand’s foremost jockey, appeared before Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., at the Hastings Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday to answer a charge of being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient lawful means of support. Constable Craigie gave evidence that Jenkins had for some time past 'been loitering about the streets and drinking. He was in a rather bad way. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called, upon within 12- months, Mr J. M. Cameron having undertaken to employ accused and look after him.

The brute creation, no less than mankind, is beginning to realise the value of concrete (says the Auckland Star). The seagulls along the Devonport waterfront, for instance,, make considerable use of the concrete promenade when opening their shellfish. When the tide goes down, the big black-headed gulls pick 1 up pipis and cockles on the mud flat, and, flying ashore, drop them from a height of 15ft or 20ft. So expert are they that they rarely have to drop a shell a second time to break it. Amongst the litter of splintered shell the little grey mackerel gulls look for scraps .that have been disregarded by their larger cousins. They are often “on the spot” when a shell-fish drops from above, in which case the original finder does not get a taste of it.

A humorous incident occurred at the Cambridge show recently. An energetic steward whose duty was to see that all the side-showmen paid their fees discovered a man at a table, and promptly demanded from him his fee for the* privilege of doing .business. The man indignantly denied that he •vas doing business, but the persistent steward, thinking lie had struck a “snag,” made all kinds of threats if the fee was not paid forthwith. Explanations followed, and it was found that the “showman” was no other than a prominent member of Parliament representing a South Auckland constituency, who was,simply resting At the table watching proceedings Independent. ‘ s A ' '

“It is earthquake weather; look out fpr trouble!” is au expression frequently heard when skies are grey and the air is close and windy. Is there any truth ir. it? Is there any relation between a heavy disturbance of the earth aud the state of the atmosphere surrounding it? Professor R. Speight, Professor of Geology at Can terbury College, thinks not. Earthquakes, he told a Sun reporter, do not always occur in the same-kind of weather. There have been ’quakes during storni3 and in the hot sunshine. “The only possible relation would be one of barometric pressure,” ! he said. “A slightly different pressure, even of only one inefy, might well be the determining factor in an earthquake if jt were spread over a wide area. ’.’ Such an additional pVessure might just be sufficient to precipitate the movement of rock formations that were just about to move.

Mutton-bird catching operations will soon 'be in full swing in the South. The regular season for faking the mut-ton-bird, or titi, to give it its Maori name, begins in April, but several days are usually required in which to -prepare for the hunt, and most of those taking part arrive on the scene bv about March 20. The haunt of, the mut-ton-bird is the archipelago of rocky islands off Stewart Island, from which every season several thousand pounds’ worth of birds are taken. Muttonbirds have a ready sale in the Dominion, chiefly to Maoris, the pakeha finding thc-m rather too rich for his palate. One white man once described the taste of the northern mutton bird as “some thing like the smell of a blown-out oillamp.” For all that, it is highly esteemed by the Maoris, and it is said that when the Maori Pioneer Battalion was in France during the ‘Great War, the most popular gifts received from friends in the Dominion were parcels of mutton-birds.