LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 November 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Yesterday a whale proceeding north was. seen not far off the shore at the Waingongoro beach. A number of natives watched the monster’s progress, during which time it spouted four times. The Maoris say it is many years since a whale has been seen near this coast. “It does not matter to the world whether a man is a very excellent chief justice, or a very excellent bricklayer; and what is more, it does not affect the happiness of the individual. The main thing is that he he a bood citizen.’'— Mr E. C. Cutten, lecturing on the objects of the Young People’s League in Napier (reports the Telegraph).

There are several fowls in the possession of Mr. W. H. Pawson, of Hawera, that have distinguished themselves by laying eggs with three yolks. Minorcas on no fewer than five occasions recently have laid eggs each containing three yolks, while others have been as round as billiard balls. This is regarded as unique. Originally the penny was a silver coin 240 of which weighed a pound, in imitation of the Roman denarius. This is why the 240th part of a pound. Troy is called a penny-weight. The AijgloSaxon “scvlling” was of the value of fivepen.ce, but when in the sixteenth century shillings came to be coined they were reckoned as the twentieth part of a pound sterling, which was equal to twelve pence. A Dunedin man who has just returned from a. visit to the Old Country, told a Daily Times interviewer that the dole system under the Labour Government. was very bad in its effects, and was muoh abused. The trouble was that this money was given without any return being asked for it. In one instance that wais vouched for and his'family were drawing £2 19s a week from the dole. The man was offered a job at £3 a week, but, he said, “Why should I work for a shilling a week?” That man, however, it was fair to add, got a term of imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences. •

With the idea of showing that they have certain rights over the area,, the Maoris yesterday put a fence along the boundary and are providing for a gateway at the top of the track leading from the end of the road down to the Waingongoro beach. In conversation with a Star representative last evening a Maori stated that it would he remembered that about two years ago an Order-in-Couneil proclaimed the area a Native Reserve. They desire to improve the track and beautify the reserve for the benefit of both pakeha and Maori. The Maoris will not inter, fere with the existing custom of people using the beach and the bathing pool in the river, but they hold that as the area is a native reserve they should show an interest in it and help to improve and make it more attractive.

A special general meeting of the Hawera Egg Cirele will be held tonight at the Central Mart, to which anybody interested in the movement is invited. An executive meeting will be held' prior to the main meeting.

During the thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon a. flash of lightning struck an iron receptable on the roof of the dwelling of Mr. William Page, Taita. The chimney of the house was split from lop to bottom, and Mr. Page himself, who happened tq be in the vicinity, was thrown heavii/ly to the ground. He is still suffering from the effects of the fall. The Hawera Male Choir entertained the patients at the hospital last evening, when a number of concerted items were*rendered. Artists assisting were : Mrs. Strange (recitation), Miss Gray, Mr. Moss, and the Male Quartette. After the entertainment, which was greatly appreciated, the visitors were served with supper provided by the nurses. Within* wireless range:—Auckland: Ulimaroa, Eifhutaka, Kaituna, Tofua, Physa, Port Hunter. Kairanga, Alakura, Canadian Challeger, Koromiko, Arahura, Kumara. Chatham Islands: Artemisa, Karamea. Wellington: Maori, Mararoa, Ngaio, Aloeraki, Turai kina, Wanaka, Wingatui, Port Camp- • bell, Sir James Clark Ross, Remuera, Rakanba, Whangape, Waihemo, Kai--1 warra. At a special meeting of the Hospital 1 Board yesterday a sum of £5 10s was received, being proceeds of a plain and fancy dress ball held at the Foresters’ ; Hall last Thursday. The money is to • be spent upon Christmas comforts for r the inmates of the Old People’s Home. • The hoard passed a resolution thank- - ing Mrs. A. Vinten and her helpers, l who had organised the ball. The other . proceedings of the board were taken E in committee. > The half-yearly conference of the - Executive of the United Fire Brigade • Association of New Zealand 'is being 3 held in Hawera tomorrow, and the 1 five delegates who will arrive here to- - day are: Captain T. J. Watts, of Auckland, secretary of the Association; Captain Anderson, of Rotorua, junior vice-president; Osborne, of Onehunga, 3 secretary and treasurer .of the Association; Superintendent Warner, of Christchurch, senior vice-president; and Superintendent Barnard, of Palmerston - North, immediate pai#< president. I Superintendent A. Morrison of Ha--8 wera is president of the Associ,atom that business Anns are not always • anxious to take advantage of a competitor’s misfortunes is shown by the ex- ? perienoe of one of the firms , which were I burned out in a recent destructive fire in Albert Street (isays the Auckland e Herald). Immediately after the fire no ® less than four business men in the f same line of business intimated that the y sufferer from the fire could draw upon ? them for all the stock he required at cost price. Needless to say this gene erous assistance was much appreciated a and helped in a marked degree to reduce the inevitable inconvenience and 0 loss consequent upon the fire. 0 ■ A suggestion,, that money should be o permitted to be withdrawn from the e Post Office Savings Bank by cheque is , not favored by the Postmaster-General. II Mr Coates says that the primary obi* ject of the. Post Office Savings Bank e is the encouragement of thrift, and not 'the provision of facilities for the easy ’ withdrawal of moneys. To provide for 7 withdrawals by cheque would involve e the complete alteration of the present system, a fundamental condition of which is that the deposit book must be e presented for the necessary entry there- !- in of a withdrawal at the time of pav- „ ment. If any arrangement were made 3 bv which cheques could be drawn on 8 the Post Office Savings Bank it would y immediately change the character of the bank, and the expenses of management would be largely increased. A system of e withdrawal by cheque could not be-con-e fined to any one section of depositors. .. It is estimated that the expense.' of polving such a system generally vould e be so great that it could be met only cl by making an annual charge, as is done f in commercial banks, or by reducing the rate of interest to depositors.