LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 January 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An electric linesman named Alex. Miller Duff, aged 17 years, was killed bv falling from an electric pole at Outram yesterday afternoon (says a Press Association message from Dunedin). He was conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital in an unconscious condition, and died at the institution about two hours after the accident.

An American coal magnate told Dr. Thacker that one of his friends had stated to him that when he would arrive in New Zealand the coal baron would only have to ascend to the top of a hill of 200 or 300 feet high, and with a pair of binoculars he would be able to see the whole of New Zealand in from 30 to 60 minutes! There were 4000 natives at Katana’s Christmas and: New Year celebrations at Wanganui. Easter will see another trek of natives to Katana’s settlement, when it is anticipated that their numbers will eclipse those at the recent gathering. Preparations are already in train for their reception.

The trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Auckland have received a generous gift of £IOOO from Mrs H. A. Massey and Miss M. J. Massey as a contribution towards the cost of new buildings urgently required by the institution. Mrs Massey, in a letter to tlie trustees, states that tlie gift is in memory of her late husband, Horatio A. Massey, who died at Invercargill in December, 1923. He had himself intended to make a gift to the institute.

During the year, from April 1, 1924, to. March 31, 1925, the sum of £3652 17s 1 d was received in donations by the Jubilee Institute for the Blind. Included in this amount were the following contributions:—£4s 11s 6d from Hawera, £23 6s 6d from Stratford, £ll 6s from E'tham, £9 6s from Mali ai a. £8 15s 6d from Opunake, and £7 15s from Patea.

The death occurred at Bangiotu the other clay of a very old settler of that district in the person of Mr. William Bryant Yater Pearce. The deceased had been farming around Kangiotu for over 30 years past. He leaves a widow, but no family. He is also survived by three brothers—Messrs G. Y. Pearce. ex-M.P. for Patea, Gilbert Pearce, of Wanganui, and Alfred Pearce, of Kakaramea. The funeral took place at Patea.

The manager of the Government Hostel at Waitomo Caves tells many’ interesting stories about American visitors to the caves. In one case a young lad.y who met a party' of Americans continually' twitted one of them with the way he lauded his home country. The American had very little to say for a long time. Finally she told him that there were no glow-worm eaves in America like there were in New Zealand. The American musingly replied, “No, Tmt I guess if we had, our glow-worms would be twice the size of yours.” A Maori was fined: £lO and costs at the Kaetihi Court for cruelty to a horse and a pig. It was alleged that he had: ridden the horse to Kaetihi, and through the absence of stuffing in tlie saddle tlie tree had penetrated the horse’s back and caused a wound. The story of the pig w'as that this animal had been tethered in the .pa by a piece- of wire, and the dogs in tlie vicinity were allowed to make occasional visits and take a piece out of the animal. It Avas found to be minus its ears and a portion of the hindquarter.

Bagdad, the city of the ancient Caliphs and the capital of Iraq, already' haA'ing electric light, uoaa’ is to haAe electric trams. It is probably the last citv of its size to adopt this convenience of civilsation. Years before the Avar a Bagdad resident obtained a concession from the Turkish Government for the supply of electric po\A'er and trams. He sold it to a British firm. Then came the Avar. Noav the concession has been confirmed by the Government of King Fei.su 1. Meamvhile, the British Army has supplied electric lio-ht, so that the new company avill only have to keep the plant, and lines in order, and add the rolling stock.

The death occurred unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve of Miss Ada Dummer, a member of the staff of Messrs It. Hannah and Co.. Palmerston North. The deceased lady came to New Zealand from Sydney some five years ago to take up an appointment with the firm, being first stationed at Hawera. She was later transferred to Gisborne, and some time ago went to Palmerston North, where she acted as head saleswoman. She entered hospital about a fortnight before her death to undergo an operation, and, although she emerg. ed from it successfully, complications set in which resulted in her untimely death.

A platoon of 10 South African Boy Scouts arrived at Wellington from Melbourne the other day to take part in the big jamboree to be held at the Dunedin Exhibition this month. The lads are under the charge of Scoutmaster C. G. D. Groom, of the Second Benoni Troop, of the Transvaal, the headquarters of which is at Johannesburg, and Scoutmaster G. E. Staples, of the Seventh Troop, Capetown. The boys left the Transvaal on October 10, and travelled from Capetown to Melbourne, where they were given a great welcome. and for IS days were feted and shown the sights of the city and State. Then followed a delightful fortnight in Tasmania, with Christmas at Wyndham (Tasmania). After taking part in the jamboree and visiting the principal places of interest in both islands they will leave the Dominion on February 5. There also arrived with the South African hoys some 15 Boy Scouts from Victoria who are also hound for the jamboree.

The body of a young man named Donald McDonald, who was drowned while bathing at Ocean Beach on December 27, was recovered yesterday afternoon about a mile away from the scene of the tragedy (say® a Press Association message from Invercargill). An inquest was held last night, when a verdict of accidental drowning was returned, and a recommendation was made for a notice to be erected, warning bathers of the dangerous nature of the beach. It was also decided to bring under notice of the proper au. thorities the action of Desmond Harland in attempting to rescue McDonald from drowning. The teaching profession resembles that* of the law and medicine nowadays, in that every year the number of'applications for posts increases, and the number of vacancies decreases. The world’s “worst paid and most richly rewarded profession” (as lan Ilay says) is increasing in popularity, and is in danger of becoming overcrowded, as is shown by the applications to the Canterbury Education Board for 192 G. There are 218 applications for the position of probationer, and but 63 vacancies in the whole of the board’s district, which includes Canterbury, South Canterbury and the West Coast. —Sun. In addition “Baxter’s” possesses special tonic properties. Never be without it in the home. Order a gen-erous-sized 2s 6d bottle from your chemist or store to-day.—Advil.