LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 August 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Speaking at the Riverdale Dairy Company’s meeting- of the assistance given by the newspapers of the district, Mr E. A. Washer said he did not know any paper which took such a keen interest as the Hawera Star in farming work and the farmers’ interests generally. “I have no sympathy with a judgment summons being held over a man’s head as it is apt to be used as a, means of extortion,” stated Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, at Invercargill, when dealing with an application for adjournment. ‘‘When the riro riro begins to sing, then summer is nigh”—so runs the old Maori proverb. The riro riro is the tiny grey warbler and its protracted thrilling whistle has been heard frequently in gardens in Wellington. Another theory is that when the riro riro’s song is heard rain is only a few' hours away.

Jersey breeders will be interested to hear that the t\yo heifers exported to South Africa by Mr. D. O’Sullivan, of Tariki, won first prizes at one of the greatest shows held at Durban, winning against stock imported direct from the Island of Jersey. The two-year-old won the championship. The people of Waipawa are in trouble over the inscriptions on their war memorial. ' There are objections to the wording on sectarian grounds, and several of the churches are protesting through their representatives. Others are rightly objecting that the memorial is being used to glorify those who took part in the unveiling and dedicatory ceremonies to the disparagement of the soldiers who gave their lives, and for whom alone the memorial was erected. The Borough Council has been asked to deal with the objections. Something in the nature of a mystery man was described at the Pa tea Hospital Board at a meeting last week. He had done about £l2 worth of work at the hospital, and, according to all accounts, had performed it satisfactorily. When the account came before the board no trace of the person who authorised the work could be found. After some discussion the board came to the conclusion that the workman would not go there on his own account, so they decided to pay the sum claimed. The public should £>e on their guard against counterfeit money, as there are evidences that some spurious coin is being circulated in Christchurch (says the Press). Two tram conductors, one on an Addington car and the other ou a Riccarton car, found on going over their cash at the end of their duty period that each had received a counterfeit half-crown. The coins were similar in appearance to legitimate half-crowns, but were lighter in weight. One was made of sofe, lead alloy, and was dated 1913; it was light in weight, and the metal was so soft that pieces could he cut with a knift. The other was dated 1921, and was heavier and not so dull in appearance.

The Hawera Hospital Board was advised yesterday by their architect that the plans for the new hospital would be completed by the middle of next month. Tt would then only be a question of obtaining the approval of the Department before the tenders could be called. .The chairman (Mr .F. Gillanders) said that when the Minister -was in Hawera that, gentleman had told him that as soon as the plans were finished he would cause the Board no delay. Oranges ripening in Christchurch in August! That seems about as likely as pomegranate trees in the Square, but, nevertheless, one’ can vouch for the truth of the statement (says the Press). Four or five tempting yellow oranges have been picked within tfie last few days from a. tree 1 that grows in the open at “Roycroft Inn,” Cashmere Hills. The fruit is edible and sweet, and it says much for the mildness of the winter. The tree is in a sunny position, being sheltered from all the cold easterlies and southerlies. It did not bear last year. A coal merchant named Francis Freeman appeared at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court on Monday to answer three charges in respect to delivering coal, the weight of which was less than that shown on the tickets relating thereto. Inspector Gohns explained that the defendant had coal for four customers. One order of l_l2th of a ton for a customer in Ingestre Street on being weighed was found ot be 211 b short. Orders for people in St. Hill Street were 141 b and 131 b short. The coal for another customer, on the other hand, was discovered to be three pounds in excess of the weight asked for. The total shortage was 421 b, hut this was the first offence by the defendant. The inspector pointed out that the regulations were framed in order to protect the public and ensure that they received value for their money. ' The Magistrate said that the object of the Act was obviously to protect the buyer, and to compel merchants to deliver the correct weight of coal or coke. He thought it was necessary for him to impose in this case something more than a nominal penalty. For the offence so far as the Ingestre Street order was concerned, the defendant would be con. victed and fined £2 and costs 7s, while on the other two counts he would he fined £1 10s and costs 7s.