General News.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20566, 7 June 1932, Page 8

General News.

Heavy snow was falling over the whole of the Tongariro National Park yesterday.—Press Association, i "How many cows are you milking?" asked counsel of a Maori debtor in the Hawera Magistrate's Court. "Oh, the wi'fo milks the cows," replied the witness. The Dominion motor mechanics' dispute was heard before the Conciliation Council at Wellington last week. No conclusion was reached and the sitting was adjourned until June 23rd.—Press Association. A reduction of £550 in the rates was decided on at the annual meeting of the Banks Peninsula Electric Power Board yesterday. It was also agreed to make reductions in electric supply charges which would be equivalent to £450 in the electric cooking service. _la future all hotols in the Patea licensing district aro to be equipped with an electrical fire alarm system in the interests of public safety. An order to that effect was made by the Patea Licensing Committee at its annual mooting. A Crown tenant was defined by 4 member of the Wairarapa delegation to the combined Farmers' Union Conference at Feilding as "A man who walks in, stops a while, rolls up his blankets, stamps on the fire, and walks out." According to a statement made by Mr HI. G. Ell to tjhe Christchurch Unemployment Committee j-esterday, the biggest number of people' who had walked on the Cashmere Hills were thero on Friday last when about 500 people tramped to Kennedy's Bush. Much of this popularity of the hills, he said, was due to the work Uone in improving the tracks by the workers under the No. 5 Scheme The chairman (Mr E. H. Andrews) announced at yesterday's meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board that the report of the general manager (Mr Frank Thompson) recommending important changes in the Board's transport system was still in course of preparation. It was hoped, however, to have it ready for tho Board's next meeting, after which it could be released for publication. The discussion an & oonld, taka plaoa later*

The British workman is very well off in the matter of the cost of living, according to a Taranaki resident who has just returned from abroad. Working boots which would have cost 20s in New Zealand cost lis in England, and a hat which cost 30s in New Zealand could be bought for 10s. The price of slag was one-third of what it was in New Zealand.

"The day has come when the outlook on the dairy farm has put the farmer back to where he was twenty years ago," said a delegate from Wairarapa to the New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference at Feilding. "No farmer milking 40.cows can afford to take nis milk four miles to a factory by lorry and pay his way. What he wants is a horse track at the roadside."

A Hamilton carrier had a narrow escape from injury when a large, fullgrown blue-gum trte fell across the road just as he was passing in his lorry. He vas driving near Tamahere when the tree was uprooted just as he was about to pass it. He drove on, and the trunk of the tree just missed the back of the lorry, but the branches swept all the cream cans off the back and splintered the lorr}\ The tree broke the fences on both sides of the road. There weru sixteen ot infectious and other notifiable diseases reported in the Canterbury and West Coast health districts during the week ended noon yesterday—the same number that was reported the previous week. The details are Canterbury: Scarlet fever, o.; diphtheria, 2; tuberculosis, 2; [puerperal sepsis, 1; hydatids, ]. West Coast: Scarlet fever, 1; tuberculosis, 1;, erysipelas, 2 ; infantile paralysis, 1. Deaths in the Canterbury district were two from tuberculosis; and in the West Coast district "one from infantile paralysis.

"Wo have got a part of Manning's brewery ior a depot,' 1 said Cr. Annie 1. i'raer at yesterday's meeting of the Christchurch. Unemployment Committee, ■'anu it is very convenient," the adued amidst the laughter of the members. Cr. fraer hastened to explain that the part, devoted to the depot was absolutely separated from the brewery part. Mr George Harper, who described the new depot as an excellent place, said that it was close to tiie bottling store —lie did not think that they could get any draught ale there-

It is estimated that the Canterbury Aero Club's machines have travelled over a quarter oi a million miles since the inception of the dub lour years ago. Uunng the last year the club's aeroplanes hew 12&t hours, as compared witii 1310 hours the previous year, and !)G5 hours the first year, a total of ;i509 hours during the whole time that the club had been in existence, the fourth annual report states. Assuming the average speed to be 75 miles an hour, it is estimated that the dub's machines have travelled over a quarter of a million miles since the inception of the club.

A lady walking iu ikaluy avenue on Thursday evening had her bag snatched hom her band, and in addition to being robbed was* heavily thrown to the ground so that she suffered bruises and abrasions to the face. She was so badly ehaxen that she has since been confined to bed. Her first warning of anything untoward was a tng at her bag from behind. She tightened her grip on the bag, and all she can remember after that is that she was knocked or thrown down. The man was evidently wearing soft shoes, for he approached noiselessly from behind The bag contained only a few shillings and nothing elso of value.

All veil, it is anticipated that the /hushing touches to the reconstruction of iho lower portion of Manchester street will he completed this week. As previously reported, the portion at the junction of High street with Manchester street will not be reconstructed in keeping with the porsouth of tho junction, owing to the Tramway Board not heing ready to lift the tramway rails at that point. U tho rails could have been removed tho levels of the reconstructed portion ot Manchester street would have been available for the portion at the junction. Cr. John W. Beanland, chairman of the City Council's Works Committee, told a reporter yesterday that it was prolwhle that the completion of the work at this point would be held up for some time.

Complaints have boen received by tho General Committee of the Dunedin City Council of the growing disregard by both motor-cyclists and push cyclists of the regulations relating to speed limits. Noisy starting and driving bv motor-cyclists are also the subject" of. complaints, as is also broadsiding round corners by cyclists, and the failure of many of tho latter to comply with the law in regard to the provision of red rear reflectors. Theso are matters covered by statute law and regulations, and representations have accordingly been made to tho police asking that steps be taken to enforce the law and deal with any offenders apprehended. It is intended to submit a by-law at an early dato providing for the white painting of rear mudguards of bicycles for a length of nine inches.

There is in the possession of MrS. Coad, of New Plymouth, an historic document giving the population and the census for the "province of New Plymouth" for the yeuT ending June 30th, 1856 (states the "Herald"). The district then had a total population of 2488, 1343 males and 1144 females. The census gives the nationality of the inhabitants, particulars of those who cannot' read or write, the occupation of the inhabitants, and the numbers of children attending day and Sunday schools. The amount of land held in the district is stated as 24,649$ acres, while the area fenced is acres. The area under cultivation was 10,223J acres, and the amount of each crop is set out in detail. The soldiers of tho New Plymouth garrison are given a table all to themselves. They numbered 20.

Savings that everybody will appreciate. Stewart Robinson is having a Stockstaking Sale of Boots and Shoes, which are being offered at monster reductions. These huge savings are made in women's, men's, youths', and children's footwear, and you have to pay a visit to this well-known shop to fully appreciate the wonderful values that are being offered. See big announcement on page 3 of this issue, which fully explains this great money saving sale. —1

Sanatorium visitors would be well advised to make up parties of five and make arrangements with the drivers of the Gold Band taxis as to time and place, as tho law debars us from charging separate fares, so be wise and save your money. Thank you.

Write ns regarding all types of Ploughs, from the largest Tractor type to tho smallest garden plough. Full stock of Tractor types ana horsedrawn models. Booth, Maodonajd Ploughs are always noted for their light draught and ease of handling. Booth Macdonald and Co., Ltd., Christchurch. —6

Have you anything to sell—-Do you wish to buv? If so a small advertisement in the classified section of Tnu Press will be all you need. 12 words Is, three insertions 3s 6cL, —l>