Shannon News TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1929.

Shannon News, 4 June 1929, Page 2

Shannon News TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1929.

The many friends of Mr T. Hensman will be sorry to learn that he is not at all Avell, having been confined to his bed for the past week.

Mr F. Haley, who has been an inmate of the Palmerston North Hospital for some weeks, is now improving, but it will be a Aveek or so before he will be able to return to his home.

’The Girl Guide Committee decided on Thursday night to hold a children’s plain '.and fancy [dresis party at an early date, Avith a vieAv to raising funds to help the' movement.

Mrs Waring Taylor has kindly donated a flag to the Girl Guide movement in Shannon, Mrs C. M. Cronquest giving the pole and fillings. Both these ladies Avere accorded a hearty vote of thanks by the Committe. /

.Miss Nance Ewan-Balfour, Avho re-sided-in- Shannon for some years, and is now a resident of Christchurch, Avas successful in gaining first award for ’cello solo at the recent Christchurch musical eomoetitions.

The grant to Shannon from the Poppy fund, viz., £5, Avhich is being subsidised by £1 for £1 by the Council, is being utilised by the employment of a returned soldied to tidy up the cemetery.

The many friends of Mrs A. E. Hyde will regret to hear that she is suffering’from rheumatic fever and has been compelled to enter Dr. Thompson’s .private hospital in Levin. All Ayill join Avith us in Avishing her a speedy recovery.

A dance and social evening Avill be held in the Parish Hall on Friclay evening. These functions, which are being held fortnightly, are very popular and those in search of a good evening’s enjoyment should not fail to attend.

Mrs Christie, of Vogel Street, is an inmate of the Palmerston North Hospital, Avliere she is under obseryation, it being 'thought that an operation may be necessary. Her infant son is also in the same institution for a slight operation. All Avill join in Avishing them a quick recovery.

On Friday Shannon 'was favoured with a visit from' two aeroplanes. They made their landing on Mr G. G. Mit chell’s property and during the day the planes made several flights over the township, conveying local residents. Late in the afternoon they returned to Feilding, Mr Mitchell being a passenger in one: of the machines.

iAn inspection has been made of the Bryant estate by a Government official with a view to the Government purchasing it for subdivision purposes. In the meantime surveyors are at work on Mr Bryant’s behalf, as the latter intends to cut it up, if the Government decides not to take it over. We understand that already six sections have been disposed of by Mr Bryant subject to the Government not taking the property.

A pearl wedding was celebrated at Clive last week, in which both of the parties were 'born in New Zealand. •The celebrants were Mr and Mrs G. 11. Cross, who were both born in Welling ton, were married in 1864, and had resided in Hawke’s Bay for 70 years.

There has been an alarming death rate among dogs in parts of Wanganui district of late, clue mainly to distemper (states Hie Chronicle). The other day a farmer said that as many as 14 animals had died at Kakatahi and in Mangamahu there had been serious trouble.

Mr Walter Reid, who has been elected chairman of the Whakatane County Council Jfor the nineteenth year in succession, has been a member of the council for 26 years continuously. During that time he has missed only one meeting, which was occasioned by a visit to Wellington on Council business. When Mr Reid joined the Council its annual revenue was £535. This has gradually increased, and last year the council’s turnover exceeded £45,000.

The Acclimatisation Society reports: “As the season draws on, fishing is generally reported as good, and on many principal waters —Otaki, Rangitikei, Manawatu (this river has provided great sport), Ohau, Ruamahanga, Mangatainoka, Makuri—the limit has been taken for keeps. The Hutt River, Pukuratahi, Mangaroa, Wainui, Waikanae, and other waters were heavily fished —flogged is the correct word. The Mangaroa put up a really fine finish, some great baskets coming in, whilst the Akatarawa and Waipoua (Wairarapa) both were in good fettle. A feature of the season has been the great numbers of small fish to be found everywhere except in the Waiotahu and some heavily fished waters. This would appear on the face of it to be encouraging, but again, is it? Another feature has been the good condition and bright, healthy appearance of the fish taken.”

A butcher’s assistant was fined £5 at Patea a,.few days ago for shooting a pukeko.

A road .in the Manukau County is named “Twilight,” because Mr Day lives at one end of it, and Mr Knight at the other.

'lt cost the Auckland Hospital Board over £SOO last year to send indigent 'immigrants back to England and Australia.

Cockroaches became such a nuisance in the Wellington hospital that it was found necessary to employ an expert to exterminate them.

The Maori, Ikora, Haroa, who was recently arrested in Auckland for masquerading as a female and taking a position as a housemaid, is singing as a female impersonator at one of the picture theatres in Auckland.

Seven and a-half sheep per acre are being wintered by Mr P. J. Farrell, of liamiltop., on an area of 150 acres at Horotlu, as the result of rotational grazing and heavy top-dressing, which although expensive, has yielded a handsome return to the owner’s outlay.

An income tax clerk recently received from a “client” a form which was incomplete. Thereupon he sent it back with large crosses in red ink where it was necessary to be filled in, with the word: “Pleased complete where marked in red ink. ’ ’ Some few days later the following reply was received: “Dear Sir, —I have no red ink. Yours faithfully, .”

“Will somebody please see who at the door?” said the President, at the meeting of the Patriotic Society in Levin yesterday afternoon. It was rather a hefty knock, and a returned soldier, after going out to investigate, came back and said, “If must havebeen a whizz-bang.” In the meantime, however, the meeting had come to the correct conclusion —namely, that it was an earthquake.

On the 18th of this mouth a. guard on the Frankton-Waihi train picked up a woman’s purse containing £l2l 9s 10 in cash, and a bank book showing a credit balance of between three and four hundred pounds. . The bank book disclosed the fact that the owner was a resident of W-aihi, and the finder lost no time in having the purse and contents sent on to "VVaihi. He received a reply stating that the owner had no idea where she had lost her purse, and as a reward for his honesty she enclosed the sum of two shillings!

For many years Southern Maoris have been endeavouring to obtain from the Government compensation for the Ngaitahu claim to a. large portion of the South Island,, and a Commission has recommended the granting of £35*1,000, states the Christchurch Press. A great number of meetings have ben held with the object of coming to some arrangement for the disbursement of the compensation, but finality has not yet been reached. The matter will be advanced a further stage with the sitting of the Native Land Court, and a big meeting of Maoris will be held shortly at Tuahiwi pa. It is probable that Sir Api:rana Ngata, Native Minister, will be present at this conference.

. The figurehead which graced the stem of the Melanesian Mission yacht Southern -Cross has been discarded, and replaced by a plain fiddlehead. ;Since her launching, the vessel has carried an almost life-size male figure clothed in flowing robes and clasping a book to its bosom. It was supposed to represent St. Barnabas, the first missionary. Although many layers of grey paint had somewhat obscured the carven lines, the figurehead was still a good example of its kind, and an interesting example of a veryq ancient custom now practically abandoned. Unfortunately the figure was damaged on the vessel’s recent voyage to Norfolk Island, and to replace it would be'very costly, the carving of figureheads being now practically a lost art.

Mr T. D. Pearce lias tendered his resignation as rector of the Southland Boys’ High School, a position he has held for the last 25 years. ■ For some time it has been known that Mr Pearce intended to retire shortly and it is understood that it' is his intention to devote his time to the compilation of a school register. The board has accepted his resignation with regret, to take effect, immediately and leave has been granted*on full pay. Mr T. 11. Cresswell, formerly Principal of Wellington College, has arrived in Invercargill to take up the position of acting rector of the school, which re-open 3 to-day after term holidays.