LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10771, 18 January 1932, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Two old-time acquaintances met in Tauranga on Friday last. Mr Taite te Tomo, M.P. for the Western Maori district, is visiting Tauranga. On Friday he was introduced to Constable A. Skinner, who politely remarked that he had not previously met the member, but was pleased to do so. The member, however, had the better memory. He had met Mr Skinner before, he said, and to mark Die time and circumstances made a few gyrations round his head with his arms. Then the Constable remembered that many years ago. when stationed in Auckland, and Jiis reputation as an athlete—weight-putting, throwing the hammer, wrestling, etc. —was known throughout New Zealand, he was told that a young Maori who frequently visited the city, wished to meet him. The two were introduced, the Maori delighted to know and shake hands with his idol, the redoubtable Skinner. They had not met one another since until Friday.

There will be four eclipses during 1032. two of the sun and two of the moon. One of these, an annular eclipse of the suu on March 7. will be partially visible in Die extreme north of Now Zealand,

A Hawke’s Bay sheepfarmer, finding it impossible to sell his heavy English car, says the Tribune, has converted the back into a. lorry and he now comes to Hastings in comfort with four bales of wool behind and returns with a load of posts. He arrives home, having done his business, feeling that the trip has paid for itself.

When a resident of Warwick, in Queensland, turned the timing-in dial of his five-valve wireless set one night recently he was puzzled at being unable to pick up any of Dio broadcasting stations. He became more mystified when a strand of hair began to work through from the rear of the set. An examination revealed an opossum sitting amid the wireless gear, futilely endeavouring to release its tail. The enthusiast helped the oppossum out of its predicament, and the animal spent Die evening as a listener-in. He showed marked partiality for syncopated melody and a distinct aversion to static. The opossum belonged to a resident of the street and had crawled into the set when the cabinet was open, ,

All Scottish folk interested in reviving the Scottish Society are requested to meet in the Foresters’ Hall at eight o’clock to-morrow even, ing.

It is estimated (hat (dose on a mil lion cases of apples will be shippefrom Nelson this season.

The almost complete absence in Sydney papers of genera] news about New Zealand was commented upon by Mr C. L. Hall, manager of the Palmerston North branch of the Bank of New South Wales, who returned to the Dominion recently from Australia. One could open the papers day after day and not see a. line of news from the Dominion. Now Zealand papers published no end of Australian intelligence, the result being that the average Now Zealander knew far more about the Commonwealth than the average Australian did of New Zealand,

Without doubt there is a slump in (lie matrimonial market in Christchurch, remarks Die Sun. Last year there were 77 marriages celebrated in Christchurch in Christmas week; this year the number dwindled to 50.

Retailers who have lately imported goods direct from England have been interested in' labels attached to the case bearing the slogans; “Made in Croat Britain for New Zealand. New Zeland sent us this order. Buy New Zealand produce.” The labels, which are attractively printed in colours, are of distinctive design. They are issued by the Empire Marketing Board, and bear the board’s badge, between a Union Jack and the New Zealand flag.

The local bodies in the Central Otago district have received a circular letter from the Railways Boar-? drawing attention to the annually increslng loss on the Central Otago line. The leter states that if the drift of tra.flic from rail to road continues. the future of Die service on the present basis must be seriously considered. Official records shojvs that the loss on the line, including interest, for the year 1929, was £74,5(52. and for the year 1931 the loss was £90,802.

Potatoes from Pnkekohe are being quoted still lower, the rate for today’s railage being fixed at £4 10s per ton on trucks., Onions are available at £G 5s per ton. and picklers at 11s Gd per cwt.

Asters are already blooming, earlier than usual, as they are seldom flowering in Tauranga before Anniversary Day.

It is announced from Napier that the rebuilding of the Masonic Hotel, facing the Marine Parade, Hastings Street, Tennyson Street, and Emerson Street, to cost £50,000, has been arranged for. This is the biggest single undertaking in Hawke’s Bay since the earthquake lust February.

The fact that legislation exists to enable Die Unemployment Board to colled a relief worker’s wages to pay the maintenance due to his wife and/or children was revealed by Mr Wyvorn Wilson. S.M.. in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court on Friday. A relief worker appeared charged with failing to maintain his wife and pleaded that he earned barely enough to support himself. The Magistrate declined to make an order, but advised Die maintenance officer to have Die money paid in under the legislation mentioned.

Tenders are invited by the Tauranga Agricultural and Pastoral Association tor the luncheon and morning and afternoon tea privileges at Die show on February 2-1. Particulars are obtainable from the Secretary, Mr A, 1.-herwood

Mr E. A. Perkins, for twenty-eight years missionary in India, will give addressee, illustrated by lantern views, in the Gospel Hall", Cameron Road, on Tuesday and Wednesday next, commencing on each occasion at 7.30 p.m.

The railway picnic, from Taneatua to Mount Maunganui. which was fixed for yesterday was cancelled, but will he held next Sunday. A special railway excursion arranged by the Te Aroha Pigeon Club will be run from Hamilton to the Mount the same day. “Advertising is not the Cinderella business department/’ said Lord Leverhulme at a meeting in London. “It is far nearer the truth to say that it is to the whole business what the power house is to the factory—the force that sets in motion and keeps in motion the wheels of distribution by creating demand."