LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 January 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Southland freezing works will commence operations this year on January IS, when good drafts are expected to come in. A small car driven by a lady skidded in new gravel on a Huutly road and turned two complete somersaults, lauding right, way up, but facing • the reverse way to that in which it had been proceeding. The lady was severely cut about tin l mouth by the broken windscreen; also one shoulder was hurt. Over thirty applications have been received by a certain Wanganui draper for a vacancy in the show-room. This surplus of young girls anxious for employment has probably been created as a result of iarge numbers of scholars having recently completed their terms at the various educational institutions in Ihe city.

In the latest population statistics Auckland heads the list with 380,790, followed by Wellington 118,490. Christchurch 118,270, Dunedin 77,480. Then come Wanganui 24.940, Invercargill 20,990, Palmerston North 19,240, Napier 18,910, Timaru .17,110, Hamilton 17,070, Gisborne 15,700, New Plymouth 15,360, Hastings 14,590, Nelson 11,050. In each case the remainder of the urban area is included.

There seems no doubt that in those days there is an increasing tendency among the people of the Dominion to require medical attention for some ailment or other. Hospital statistics show this. In 1914-15, 33,375 people, representing 30.5 per thousand of population, wen* admitted to hospital for treatment. Ten years later, however, found that number greatly increased, reaching to 63,068 people, or 48.3 per thousand of popula f ion.

At the inquest on Edgar Murray, who was fatally injured during excavating work at Island: Bay, Wellington, on Wednesday, Henry Levy Wolland, contractor, stated that Murray and two others were clearing earth from a face which had been blasted. A fall occurred and Murray was caught and his legs buried. One leg was broken and he died of his injuries. Other witnesses said that tlio method used in the work seemed to the employees to be safe and usual. The coroner (Air W. G. Riddell, S.M.) said there had been some question about the method, but he did not p'op>se to comment on that now. The verdict was that death arose from shock due to injuries received during excavation work.—Press Association.

Eleven hundred Bov Scouts, who wil| take part in the big jamboree which commences at Dunedin to-day, are at present in camp at Tahuna Park. The visitors include ten from South Africa and 80 from New South Wales and Victoria. There are 572 from the North Island and 438 from the South Island. The Prince of Wales, Sir Robert Baden Powe'i. and Sir Alfred Pick ford have sent messages expressing the hope that the jamboree will move most successful. Tiie camp is under the charge of Commissioner J. D. Campbell, of Raroonga. .Major W. F. S. Furby. general ‘d ietary of trie movement, is adjutant, and Commissioner .7. R. T. Glitter is ■'iliai tennaster. Commissioner AY. S. .Meek is camp supply officer.

The scenic road which is being built by prison labour to the summit of Rangitoto, tin* volcanic island which stands like a sentinel at the entrance of Auckland Harbour, lias not yet progressed 200 yards, but if a proposal to double the gang now at work is made effective, the road should be completed in well under two years. In any event if will open up several good beadier, near the Beacon by next summer (states tlie New Zealand Herald). The road is to be seven miles long. Tt will run from near the wharf along the shore for about three miles to a point a little way beyond the Rangitoto Beacon, gi\c ing access to a number of pretty little coves with bathing beaches. Thence it will run up a spur, encircling the crater in a spiral, and ending at the summit, 85(1 feet above sea level. It will have no grade "exceeding one in twenty, so that motor buses will be able to make the climb at a good pace.

The Oversell Settlement Department states that the Church of England Council for Empire Settlement appointed hv the Church Assembly' to deal with" migration matters on its behalf, amt which started operations in Aprii last under the chairmanship of Lord Jellicoe, has now received well over two thousand nominations for migrants wishing to proceed to Australia and New Zealand, says a London cable message. Among the last nominations received was one from New Zealand for fifty lads. A unique sight wa-j witnessed off Hobart by Air A. Abel, skipper of the motor-yacht Arcadia. While the vessel was negotiating the passage between the entrance of D’Entrecasteaux Channel and the Derwent River a school of whales came round the craft and started spouting. Mr Abe] ran the Arcadia into lihickman’s Bay in an attempt to decov the whales there, and so strand them on the beach. His attempt was unsuccessful. After sporting round the yacht for about half an hour, the whales disjrersed. It is about 15 years since a school of whales was seen in the locality

Plums, nectarines, and peaches are practically a total failure in the Rotorua district this season, probably through the severity of the spring in extremes of weather and wind. However, the trees appear to be appreciating the rest, for such beautifully green foliage has not been seen on them for years (states the New Zealand Herald). Smiling are the faces of the Maoris when potatoes are mentioned, and thev will tell you that the crop will probably be one of the best for many seasons, and their satisfaction is increased by the fact that there is little or no biight. “1 believe that the New Zealand speech has the makings of one of the best national speeches,” said Professor Maxwell Walker at the close of the first day’s items in the Exhibition musical and elocutionary competitions. There was a good deal of criticism of New Zealand speech, but much of it was not justified. All were interested in the improvement of the English language, and competitions like the present one were the best means oi doing so. Professor V\ alker said he hoped to say more on the subject later, and lie intended to meet some of the competitors personally. An elocutionary judge should not be a god in the distance whose decisions were looked up to in awe. Judge and competitors should meet on a friendly basis.

Police and campers on Kaiti beach, near Gisborne, joined in a search on Wednesday night for an unknown man, who has been prowling about the beach for the past three days. The man hunt commenced shortly before midnight, but though a thorough search was made along the full length of the beach no trace, of the nocturnal visitor could be found. So far, no one has been molested, but- a number of campers, those of the weaker sex especially', have been considerably alarmed. '1 he incident has not been without its amusing side. One young camper was so alarmed at the first appearance of the nocturnal visitor that he retired to bed again with a. hammer and a. large carving knife under his pillow. When he had fallen asleep one of his fellow campers tapped him on the shoulder to wake him up and tell him something, and a tragedy almost took place. Leaping out of bed, the lad was about to lay out lii.s mate with the hammer when lie saw who it was, and stopped in time. Whether a district has been passing through prosperous or lean times may generally be gauged from the number of settlers or residents who have had to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court. For Hawke’s Bay. 1P25 must certainly be considered a prosperous year, on e of the best, in fact, experienced for quite a time. With ] rices for the district’s produce reaching so high a level in the early part of the year, thousansd of pounds in excess of previous .years found their way into the pockets of the farming community. But it was not to remain there, a big proportion soon being put into circulation. and al] manner of trades and business leaped some benefit. The position of the farmer, perhaps, is the most striking feature of the 12 months under review (states the Hawke’s Bay Herald). True, he is not receiving the prices of twe’ve months ago, but to iiiin 1925 has been a year of prosperity. There has not been one single instance during the whole of the twelve months ••••here a member of the farming, community has been faced with such a stnurgle that lie has not been able to win through. This is in marked contrast to 1922 and 1923, for in those two vears no less than 20 “went under.”

Some amusing stories are going the rounds in railway circles regarding the unwillingness, or apparent unwillingness. of those for whom family concession tickets are intended to believe in the opportunity for travel which the new tickets' now afford them. For instance, a bushman from Ivohuratahi. with almost a cricket team of sons and daughters, ranging in age from three to 15 years, decided to take his wife and eldest son for a vacation, and so he informed a station official. A camping trip at Rotorua was decided upon. The problem then presented itself of finding a competent person to take care of the remaining 10 children during his absence. A substitute for the parents was not forthcoming, and the father, believing that it would cost £32 to take all of them to Rotorua, even at excursion fares, practically decided to abandon the trip. Later on he mentioned his trouble to a railway man, who promptly informed him that there was a cheap rate for families. The fare for himself, his wife, and eldest child had amounted to £lO, hut he positively refused to entertain the declaration of the railwayman that the transport of the extra 10 children would cost him nothing. He thought there was a “catch” in it somewhere, but his wife, thinking there might be something in the statement, got into communication with the nearest railway office. The reply was that, provided three tickets were purchased, the whole 13 could travel on them. The “family party” story has a very obvious ending.

Members of the Operatic Society arc asked to get their tickets for the annual picnic from the secretary by the loth of January to enable the committee to arrange for catering, etc. The picnic is to he held at Opunake beach on Wednesday, 20th January, ’buses leaving Hawera at 0 a.m. and 12 noon. A programme of sports has been arranged, including a Bathing Beauty Competition, and running events. BATHING COSTUMES. Our Hawera store is brim-full .of men’s and women’s and' boys’ bathing goods. Cotton or wool costumes, boys - " 2/G, 3/1, men’s 3/-, 3/11, wool 7/11, 10/G; ladies’ jade green yellow hand costumes; ladies’ 2-piece costumes; boys’ or men’s bathing V’s at the New Zealand Clothing Factory, Hawera.—Ad vt.

Summer colds and Hay-Fever quickly banished bv “Nnol.” Inhaled or taken on sugar it has a wonderful healing elf.ft. GO doses 1/6. 4

Corns permanently removed with Progandra —1/6. —Advt.

It- lias been arranged that at the conclusion of the ceremony at Gliawe Military Cemetery on Wednesday, a committee will entertain the children and arrange for races for them. A large number of toys and other prizes have been secured lor the purpose. Favoured by the recent dry spell, harvesting operations throughout the Rangitikei district are well advanced. Holden grain is stocked on all sides ready for collecting and threshing, but it is" noticeable that the crops are more stunted in growth than usual. This is no doubt due to the check in growth occasioned by the unusual season. The crops are shorter than in the past, hut the quality of the yields is expected to come up to the average.

The Stratford Post- understands that boring operations will shortly be commenced with a view to ascertaining whether the coal deposits in the Ta-hora-Tangarakau district are likely to prove a payable proposition. From what can be gathered, it appears that the indications are encouraging and that there is every likelihood of a large quantity of coal being discovered.

At the monthly meeting of the Eltham County Council on Saturday, 66 applications received from various parts of New Zealand for the position of mechanic on the staff, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr F. E. Maynard, were dealt with, and it was decided t-o invite two of the applicants, one from Auckland and one from New Plymouth, to interview the council during this week. For several sessions past various members in the House of Representatives have urged that greater use should be made of New Zealand coals on railway locomotives. As the question was highly technical, and as alteration of firebars on engines was a possibility in the event of certain coals being burnt, it was decided to set up a committee of inquiry, consisting of the Engineer-in-Chief of Public Works, the Assistant Chief Mechanical Engineer of Railways, the Designing Engineer of Railways, the general secretary of the Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association, an engineer of the Mines Department, and a representative of the mine owners and miners respectively, to submit a report to the Minister. The committee has been at work for several months, but it has now completed its labours. Its report will he published in due course.