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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1955-04-13, Page 4The Whigham Advance-Times, Wednesday, April 13, 19SS WiiU -,.ij i.iI. ...i,..—n,' ,—...... EDITORIALS A FINE PROJECT The decision of the Wingham firemen to purchase an inhalator is a public-spirited gesture which should meet with the support of all the citizens of town and district. A great deal of credit is due the firemen for engaging* in Such a worthwhile project. There are many uses for an inhalator, and many ways in, which it can save life. In cases of drowning or asphyxi­ ation from smoke or electric shock it could mean the dif­ ference between life and death. Inhalators are considered necessary equipment in many fire departments and are used to good effect in most of the larger centres. The cost of the machine is in the neighborhood of $500, and it will probably keep the firemen busy raising such a large amount, Whatever means they take to. raise the money should be well supported by everyone in the district, for the life it saves might well be your own.* BETTER THAN SIGNS One of the poorest advertisements for many a town, we’ve always thought, is the condition of the roads lead­ ing into it/ Wingham suffers in this respect, along with many other towns. So often it seems that you drive along a smooth, un­ blemished highway, and then all of a sudden—boom I You’re being tossed around between the bumps and pot­ holes that seem to grace the approaches of ,almost every town. “Welcome to Jonesville” the sign says, but the road says anything but welcome. We’ve never been able to figure why it should be like that. The highways are reasonably smooth, tjie streets of town are reasonably smooth. But right at the entrance to town—where for public, relations’ sake you’d think the road should be the best—there’s usually a stretch that will make your eye teeth rattle. There is one blessing, however, about such an arrange­ ment. Poor as it is for public relations, that stretch of road probably does more to slow down incoming traffic than all the traffic signs in the world. ❖ * * SOMETIMES IT’S TOO FAST The Ontario Government has decreed that the speed limit within towns shall be 30 miles an hour, and any motorist is within his rights in travelling at that speed. There are times, however, when even 30 miles an hour is too fast for road conditions and safety. On Josephine Street, for instance, with cars parked on both sides of the street and children liable to run out from between them, 30 miles an hour is definitely too fast. It’s unsafe to drive a car at that speed on streets which pass parks or playgrounds, or any place 'where children congregate—-which might include almost every street in town. There is no way, apparently, of reducing the speed limit without the express consent of the department of highways, and that is given only in particular cases. It is up to motorists themselves, therefore, to govern their speed according to the conditions under which they are driving. Because the speed limit is 30 miles an hour you don’t necessarily have to go that fast. DON’T LIGHT THEM ,FOR FUN From the looks of things spring has definitely arrived. And with it will probably come the annual rash of spring grass fires. Some grass fires, of course, are accidental. Others are set deliberately and seem to provide fun and games for the entire family, until the wind changes or things get out of control, and then the fire department has to be called to put them out. Either kind can be dangerous, directly through the damage they may cause, and indirectly by the fact that while the fire department is fighting a grass fire,, a house may burn down in some other part of the district. Even without considering the danger involved or the damage done, grass fires cost the taxpayers money. The simplest way to avoid trouble with grass fires is to resist the impulse in the first place. Failing this a squad of neighbors with rakes and brooms and a bucket brigade standing by may be sufficient to get the fire out before the fire reels arrive. MIGHT COST TOO MUCH The recent controversy regarding parking meters in Wingham has brought out several points, both pro and con, in a question which was bound to stir up an argu­ ment. And there is no doubt that both sides of the argu­ ment can be supported with good and sufficient reasons. Parking meters would unquestionably alleviate some of the parking problems on Josephine Street. On the other hand it might be quite possible to do this without resorting to a method which appears to be very unpopular with many people. One important aspect of the idea appears to have been overlooked so far. Judging from the amount of show ,that AVingham has had this past winter, the cost of removing the drifts from the main street, so that the meters might be visible to possible customers, might in the long run amount to more than the revenue from the meters. CW (times Published at Wingham, Ontario Wenger Brothers, Publishers, W, Barry Wenger, Editor Member Audit Bureau of Circulation Authorized as Second Class Mail Post Office Dept. Subscription Rate One Year $3.00, Six Months $1.50 in advance a B. A. $4.00 per year Foreign Rate $4.00 per year Advertising Rates oii application > Reminiscing SIXTY YEARS AGO Mr. John Hanna had three young men of the town before the Mayor on Saturday charged with furious riding or driving on the public streets. After the evidence had been heard the Mayor reserved judgment until Mon­ day. We understand he fined the young men $1 and costs each. A plasterer who had been living in town for some months, was charged before Mayor Brockenshire, on Friday last, with using abusive language and threatening Mr. George Russell. He was found guilty and the Mayor in­ flicted a penalty of $10 and costs or twenty days in Goderich jail. He was taken to Goderich on Saturday by Mr. John Groves, not having the wherewithal to pay the fine. The rain on Sunday and the warm spring day on Monday ‘ caused the snow to melt very fast and the result was one of the greatest freshets ever seen in Wingham. The ice broke up in the north branch of the Maitland, and all Monday and Tuesday the- CPR bridge and Messrs. Carr’s dam were in considerable damage. The Gorrie dam broke away about five o’clock on Monday afternoon, and the body of water thus let free reached here about 2 o’clock on Tuesday morning and had the effect of raising the water here a foot or more. This result was expected and preparations had been made as far as possible to avoid any danger from it. The south branch of the Maitland was also greatly swollen, and the prairie was covered with sev­ eral feet of water. The new race track was completely submerged, but it is not thought that it sustained very much damage. Of course Lower Wing- ham was flooded and some of the sidewalk was taken away, but we have not heard of any great damage being done. 0-0-0 FORTY YEARS AGO Mr. W. H. Yuill, a former member of the Times staff and son of the late Sam’l Yuill, a former well-known Winghamite, is serving with the First Canadian Contingent in France. Mr. Alfred Galbraith; a member of the Times staff in 1886-87. and a brother of the late S. W. Galbraith, a former editor of the Times, died last week at his home in Flint, Mich. Mr. Galbraith has been engaged in the newspaper business in Flint for a number of years. C. Templeman, John St., is open to take in ladies and gents suits to clean and press at reasonable prices. All orders can be called for and promptly attended. The members of "B‘” Co. 33rd Regi­ ment held a very successful assembly in the armouries on Thursday even­ ing last. There was a large number present, including a number of people from outside points. The interior of the building had been nicely decorat­ ed for the occasion by Mr. Harding. All present report a very pleasant evening. 0-0-0 TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Crawford and son, Kenneth, who have spent the winter months at their home in St. Petersburg, Florida, left this week to return to their home here.. Mr. Jimmie Deacon, of East Wa- wanosh, while getting over a fence discharged a gun he was carrying. He was taken to Wingham General Hos­ pital, where he had the toe removed in an effort to prevent blood poison­ ing. As Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Edgar were driving in Howick Township on Thursday, a runaway team, owned by Richard Griffith, crashed into their cutter, upsetting it. Mrs. Edgar is suffering from injuries to her back, while Mr. Edgar escaped unhurt. Mr. Clayton Fryogle carried off the first prize for the best gentleman’s outfit at Clinton Spring Fair last Thursday, and also took second prize for roadster in harness. 0-0-0 FIFTEEN YEARS AGO Due to the condition of the roads, some of the weekly budgets of news were not received this week. We re­ gret that these were not received but under the circumstances it was im­ possible for these letters to reach our office. Muskrslt hunters had a field day on’ Monday afternoon and evening when the water became so high that it drove the animals out of their holes into the open. The men. Went after the rats with clubs and it is reported that some very fine catches were made. The Maitland River here was as high or higher than it has been for some years. Betweeh the first two bridges south of town on Highway No, 4, the water was flowing over the road 2% to 3 feet deep on Tuesday. The flats, of course, were completely inundated, Scott Street at the junction of Josephine, was covered with water, During Monday the fiver rose very quickly and by 5 o’clock about four inches of water covered the road and it Was only a short time after that that* motorists had to be drawn through. Rev. W. A, Beecroft, B.A., B.D., of Haileybury conducted the services Irt the United Church oh Sunday, Rev. J. F. Anderson, the pastor, Was in Sutton West, a former charge, for the week-end, officiating at a wedding oil Saturday and preaching on Sunday, THE MAN ON IKE STREET I Worked With a Fenian Star Gazers How many printers in Ontario today can say that they at one time worked with one of those fellows who came over to Canada in 1866, known as Fenians, and whose object was to capture Canada? Along in the 1850 decade a young* man came to Canada from Ireland and located in Toronto. He was highly educated and a printer by trade. He started a weekly newspaper, one of the earliest in Toronto, which he call­ ed “The Mirror’*, and published it in the interests of the Roman Catholic Church. It was a failure from the start and it lasted only a few months. He removed the printing plant to Windsor, where the'presence of many French-Canadian Catholics appealed to him, as a more lucrative field for his paper, still known as The Mirror. The fates, however, were against him and he had to discontinue its publica­ tion. Hating with an intense hatred everything that was Canadian or Brit­ ish, he went over to the United States and sought a new home in Detroit. His name was the same as that of the man who was in command of that expeditionary, force that invaded Can­ ada, familiarly known as Fenians, Andrew O’Niel. In the year 1884, at 19 years of age, I was .an employee in one of Detroit’s largest and best equipped printing and job printing plants in Detroit. During that year the office had two story books in hand, the one in par­ ticular on which I was engaged would be known by the title of “Irish Celts,” it’s author being a lawyer by the name of James Flynn. One morning-1 found a new man on the staff, a compositor, who was started to work on this book mention­ ed. Naturally we were bound to come together at intervals and we became on friendly terms, days before I had any knowledge of whom my work­ mate was. My ^fjoreman, Thomas O’Keefe, a lanky subject, with a keen knowledge .of printing in all its diver­ sities, quietly informed me of some of the early history of . this employee’ .One day he disclosed to me that he was frequently termed Genetai O’Niel, on the supposition that he was the famous' Fenian leader. “I am not General O’Niel,” but with something of an air of pride, he continued, “but I was there with him.” Mr. Flynn, the publisher, approach­ ed this literary O’Niel and requested him to write a sketch of a well-known Canadian character, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, member of the .Dominion House of Parliament and one of the Fathers of Confederation. He acquis- ed, and it fell to my lot to set the type for this piece of history. O’Niel wrote “D’Arcy McGee was the cleverest Irishman who ever crossed the At­ lantic”. Those familiar with Canadian history will recall that this .famous Canadian by adoption was shot to death on the doorstep of his place of abode. Then one morning when the shop opened for business O’Niel failed to show up. It had been a long Stretch of steady work for him, I never saw nor heard of him again. It was a matter of amusement that a sign on the front of this place of business read “Job Printing—Books and Stationary.” Notice the spelling of that last word, WWell, the amateur star gazers soc* iety is at work again, and already the first reports pf flying Saucers have been heard. Two members of the Provincial Police, in the Huron Coun­ ty Town of Goderich report having seen a strange type of aircraft fly­ ing over* their town, at an early morning hour on Good Friday, and we have to recognize the fact that these men are not the type of go off half-cocked on a story such as this. They are reliable men, who have good vision, and they only report what they see. This story should certainly result in a storm of reports from others who will tell us of wierd and ghostly apparitions that have either passed over, or landed in their back yard. Humans are subject to epidemics of mass hysteria, and I would guess off­ hand, that the first report of strange aircraft will be followed by similiar stories, as well as countless cases pf sunburned tonsils, stiff necks, and greatly increased- business for the chiropractors and osteopaths. How­ ever, we must accept the fact that all these reports are not entirely without foundation. Reliable people have re­ ported them many times, some Gov­ ernment officials have acknowledged the existence of unidentified missiles, there are those who even report hav­ ing seen or talked to strange little men and women who have landed. I leave the whole thing to your own imagination, but I would suggest that local star gazers consider the fact that anything circling this town in the near future, could very well be our own Don Hildebrand, who has a pilot’s licence, and is quite busy put­ ting in hours and getting experience. So much for the star gazers and the flying saucers. With spring 'upon us, in varying degrees, it would be wise for us to keep our eyes upon the ground a little more these days, and watch the wonderful things that nat­ ure can do. The grass is starting to turn green, and so are some of the home owners, when they think of the mowing contract this summer. The beautiful spring flowers are makirig their debut. The snow buds and the daffodils, the crocus and the wild flowers, the tulips that are starting on the way toward their early sum­ mer development. Spring is a time of beauty, when God and man work hand in hand in developing a new, bright and green world. If you go around with your head in the sky looking for strange apparitions, you’-ll miss the beauty that is to be had right at your feet. As a matter of fact, you could very well trample some of the beauty that others would enjoy. Beauty is where you find it, and you will find it right in your own garden, your own flower bed, these spring days. The song of the birds, the green of the grass, the colours of the flowers and the perfume of the flow­ ers, the'buzzing of the first bees. Just as a plowman looks ahead when he sets up that first furrow, so must we all look ahead. But let us look around, and‘also ■ look back and appreciate everything that we have. There are things in the garden more beautiful and more strange than fly­ ing saucers. CHANGE URGED The annual meeting of the South Bruce Game and Fish Club was held in their clubhouse at Walkerton, A resolution asked the Department of Lands and Forests be petitioned to take racoons off the restricted list as they are a menace to farmers who wish to raise com. A second resolution to the depart­ ment asked that laws relating to after-season mink trapping be chang­ ed, Trappers who catch mink in musk­ rat traps are unable to market the furs properly under the present set­ up. A Government-sponsored market­ ing board would be favored. Parents were urged to caution children about catching rainbow trout which go up the small streams to spawn at this time of year. LOSS HEAVY IN SHED FIRE NEAR SEAFORTH Firp destroyed a 30 by 40-foot mach­ ine shed and considerable equipment on the farm of Mervln Deitz, McKil- lop Township. Some 8,600 chickens in a large three-storey bam less than 50 feet away were saved by the Beaforth fire brigade. The fact that the barn's siding was of asbestos assisted firemen in their fight. Lost in the machine shed were a forage harvester, manure spreader, tiller, plows and other equipment. Fed by oil and rubber in the equip­ ment, the blaze is believed to have started from sparks from a bonfire. BRAND Crop Report Land dried off so rapidly during the week of March 28th-April 2nd., that seeding started in the south end of the county on Tuesday, April 5th. However rain and light snowfalls later in the week, delayed this pro­ gram somewhat. Many farmers have been caught unprepared and have as yet to secure their seed and fertilizei’ equipments, reports G. W. Mont- i gomery, To date approximately four hundred 4-H Club members have signed up in thirty 4-H Agricultural Clubs in the County. New clubs this year in­ clude three 4-H Poultry Clubs, a 4-H White Bean Club and two 4-H Grain Clubs. Interest in this program is above average for this time of year. (CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN CANADA) -------= Wingfjain * First Sunday after Easter - ° 8.30 a.m/—Holy Communion 11.00 a.m.—Morning Prayer 2.30 p.m’.—Church School 7.00 p.m.—Evening Prayer x * ♦ ♦ Wed., April 13th—3.00-5.00 p.m.—-Junior Auxiliary Easter Tea at the Rectory Tues., April 19th—8.00 p.m.—3 Sale. Guild Auction A. 7 VITAMINS 7 MINERALS $4.50 Per 1OT Wampoles Ext. Idaphos ............ Idafer Capsules $1.50 $1.25 I $1.25 J $4.50 Neo-Chemical Food $1.55, $3.35, $5.90 B. Complex Liq. $2.95 Energets..........$5.95 Halibut Capsules 100’s $1.29 500’s Syntona............ Burdock Blood Bitters ..... Pierces G.M.D. $4179 $1.25 $1.59 $1.59 Hyett Remedies We carry a complete line of HYETT Remedies at all times. Owing to the passing of Mr. K. G. Kerr, we have engaged Mr. C. L. Guest, Phm.B., of Toronto, to take charge of our store. Your continued patron­ age will be sincerely appreciated. KERR’S DRUG STORE1 THE HOME OF FINE MEDICINE ........................................ niiiiiiin........Kiiiiiiitmiiiiitiiimimttiiiiiiu............... ■ I FARMERS! NOW IS THE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR Farm Machinery Needs WE HAVE IN STOCK MASSEY-HARRIS Disc Harrows, Hydraulic Lift Cultivators, Spring Tooth Cultivator?, Drag Harrows, Ezeo Flow Fertilizer Spreaders TRACTORS"ALL SIZES DROP IN - LOOR THEM OVER See what kind of a deal you can make! USED MACHINERY 1—Used IHO Tractor Spreader, one year old Used 'Cultivators t) Used Spring Tooth Harrows 1—-IHO One-Way Disc, 6 ft. Horn Front'End Loader to fit Osse bd or DO-4 tractor - complete with hydraulic system. 8 a H 1 B i g 8a ag ■ i w l Your Massey^Harris Dealer i i Wingham < Phone 378