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LOCAL AND GENERAL

The retail price of eggs in Wanganui is 3s per dozen.

At yesterday’s meeting of the recently elected provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, the retiring president, Mr. A. E. Parsons, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his Past services. Regret was expressed that he could not find his way clear to carry on for a further period.

An aged couple somewhat moderately attired entered the Oamaru Savings Bank to open an account: The clerk put the question, “What is your occupation — labourer or what?” “Labourer?” queried the woman, as her husband threw on to the counter about £300. “We do nothing. We are retired.” The clerk collapsed.

The cup presented by the Farmers’ Union for competition among the shooting teams from the various branches was won outright by the Brunswick representatives, but it was stated at yesterday’s meeting of the Union that they had decided to give the trophy back for competition, and in future it will be known as the Brunswick Challenge Cup. It was decided to thank the Brunswick team for their generous action, and to present each member of the successful team with a medal.

At last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Technical College Board the director, (Mr. Newton), reported that some of the classes were far too large, and at present it was impracticable for him to reduce them. The Department had under consideration the question of two additional class rooms, and the plans of them were now in Wellington. It was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the principal to urge the Department to expedite matters in connection with the two rooms.

It was reported at last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Technical College Board that an examination for plumbers would be conducted in Wanganui, commencing at the end of this month, and it would draw students from Palmerston North, New Plymouth and other places. It was pointed out that owing to the increased interest being taken in the class they would require better and larger facilities. When the examinations were being held they certainly would require more accommodation. It was resolved that the matter of having renovations effected to the plumbing room be left in the hands of the building committee and the instructor with power to act.

Owing to the danger to an adjacent residence, toward which it had a decided lean, a resident of New Plymouth has just felled on his property a pinus insignus tree. Planted 39 years ago, the tree had grown to an height of 90ft., and at the base the diameter is a little over 2ft 6in. It tapered very little over the first 40ft., which has been cut into three logs, one of which is 10ft. long and squares 21in. by 21in.; aonther is 14ft. long, and squares 19in. by 18in.; and the third log is 16ft. long and squares 15in. by 15in. The tree will cut approximately 1100 superficial feet of timber and in addition, the upper portion of the tree and the limbs have provided about two and a-half cords of firewood.

We have often read in the newspapers of the Lord’s Prayer being written twice on the size of a threepenny coin, but we have never read that it has been written twice on the same space. We have to-day (says Saturday’s North Auckland Times) seen a piece of paper with the prayer written twice on the same space. It was written thirty years ago by Captain D. Savident, harbourmaster of the Kaipara Harbour, with a common lead pencil on the table of the schooner Aratapu. It was done with the naked eye and can easily be read now with the naked eye by young people. Although the paper had faded to a yellowish colour the writing is well preserved. There is no mistake as to who the writer is, as his name is also visible at the bottom and within the space.

At a meeting of the committee of the Wanganui Agricultural Society yesterday, 36 new members were elected. The month of June is usually regarded as typical of winter, with everything on the quiet side. A Maori yesterday described June as marama hia kai, which means “the hungry month.” That the Wanganui Public Library is appreciated is shown by the fact that during May 6766 books were issued compared with 6250 for the previous May. The total subscribers number 1023 compared with 961 for the previous year. When referring, at the Farmers’ Union yesterday, to the matter of noxious weeds, Mr. Fletcher said he knew a man who discovered something that would kill weeds. The mixture certainly killed the tops of the blackberry to which it was applied, but when it was set fire to it nearly burnt a school down. “And the weeds are still there,” he concluded. For some considerable time the price of tea has been fairly stable, and at the present time the best and most popular brands are selling at 3s 2d in Wanganui. A local retailer stated yesterday that it had been announced by wholesalers that tea had advanced in price by 2d, but so far the increase had not been handed on. If it was handed on, the retail price of this household commodity would no doubt be increased accordingly. “It will kill anything it touches,” remarked the secretary of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, when referring to the liquid discovered by a Patea resident for destroying noxious weeds, “and it will be sold at 4s 6d a bottle” “It is dearer than beer,” exclaimed a member, while another farmer chimed in: “It might kill the Farmers’ Union.” It was eventually decided to ask the discoverer of the specific to give a demonstration with the fluid at an early date. “Potatoes are retailing at 11s per hundredweight in Wanganui, but it is difficult to get a good potato this year,” remarked the manager of a grocery establishment yesterday. He pointed out that for some unaccountable reason local grown tubers would not keep, and he would not be surprised if there was a shortage of potatoes in the near future. The best class of potato came from the South Island, but even there the crops this season were not as good, and prolific, as previous years. Probably the exceptionally dry season experienced in New Zealand had some effect in deteriorating the value and quality of the crops.

Our correspondent writes: The peace and harmony of the Magistrate’s Court at Ohakune was disturbed suddenly on Tuesday by violent knocking at the door of the witnesses’ room. The magistrate ordered that the person responsible for the noise should be brought before him immediately. The clerk of the court at once proceeded to carry out instructions, and in a few moments brought into the Courtroom a tall, excited woman. She said that she was the mother of the plaintiff in an affiliation case that had just been decided by His Worship, and that other witnesses in the witnesses’ room had informed her that her daughter had lost the case. This was not so, judgment having gone in the girl’s favour. The woman was ordered out of Court and told not to repeat the offence. Further argument was continued outside, but the solicitor came on the scene and the excited woman was pacified and wended her way home.

Despite the inevitably short notice of his flying visit and the fact that the meeting was of necessity called for the inconvenient hour of 10 a.m., there was a really splendid rally of friends and supporters of the Reform Party to meet the Prime Minister at Harman’s Hall yesterday morning. The capacity of the hall was taxed to overflowing. Mr Massey, who was motoring through to Hawera, arrived sharp on time, and was met by the president and executive of the local branch of the Reform League. On entering the crowded hall he was accorded an enthusiastic ovation, which concluded with three hearty cheers of welcome. Mr Massey, after expressing his appreciation of the cordial welcome that had been extended to him, went on to make informal reference to matters of political moment. In concluding, he intimated that it was his intention to take the earliest opportunity of speaking to the people of Wanganui. Mr W. Glenn, M.P., who represents a considerable portion of the local electorate, expressed his gratification at what, in the circumstances, was a remarkable and inspiring attendance. On rising to leave, Mr Massey was again enthusiastically cheered.

“Many men and women are bored at the thought of home” said The Rev. T. A. Brady on Sunday evening in the course of a very instructive and exhaustive address on the principles of civilisation delivered to a large and appreciative congregation at Dublin Street Methodist Church “The typical spirit of the age is ‘out for pleasure.’ And home life lacks something deeper and better. How many great and noble books are found in the homes of to-day? To me a substitute for the elevating power of good literature is unthinkable. I cannot understand how one can be content with a ceaseless round of pleasure.” The speaker stressed the incomparable worth of good homes to the national and social life of to-day, and their power to check or advance the perilous tendencies abroad. “Every home,” said Mr. Brady, “possesses the power to neutralise all the educational influences. A vast amount of money and energy is spent annually on the young men and women and on the boys and girls, but the results are far from what they should be because the teaching of the home is antagonistic. The religious life, too, has caught the spirit of the age, and the church is so busy that she has no time to breath. She could only do a great deal more if she did a great deal less. Her programme is a big one, but she lacks the compelling urge of the Power of the Spirit, which alone can lift life out of its sordid atmosphere, and build a Christdom of brotherhood, joy and peace, rather than a Babeldom of confusion and disorder founded on pride and ambition.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19240612.2.18

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19035, 12 June 1924, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,694

LOCAL AND GENERAL Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19035, 12 June 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19035, 12 June 1924, Page 4

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