LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 January 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A two weeks old baby was found abandoned in an untenanted home at Waltham on Sunday night. The child had congealed blood on its head. Medical opinion is that it had been abandoned early in the morning and its cries attracted the attention of passers-by (says a Christchurch Press Association telegram).

The fusing of telephone wires which had been made "alive” by coming into contact with a 500 volt electric cable outside, of the Waihi Gild Mining Co.’s offices at, Waihi, was responsible for an outbreak of fire at. the office building on Sunday afternoon (says a Press Association message). The fire was subdued by the company’s fire fighting plant, aided later by the fire brigade. The damage was estimated at £3OO.

According to the Wanganui Herald, the extremely bad state of the road between Wanganui and Wangaeliu is resulting in a loss to that town, settlers of the Marton and Hunterviile -districts preferring to motor over the better roads of the Rangitikei, Manawatu and. Oroua Counties and do their business in Palmerston North.

It has been decided that the district band contest, which it was originally intended to ho'd at Wanganui on Anniversary Day (January 22), but was postponed as .the majority of the bands considered the notice too short, will be held at a later date on a probably larger scale. As the Hawera Municipal Band will shortly take delivery of its new instruments, tins should b t > a gooil opportunity for competing, as it would prove good experience to the bandsmen and prepare them for competing in a larger arena, such as the annual Dominion contest.

Sharks are very numerous off the Fijian coast this season, and niany have been caught. No case of their attacking any human being is on record. Females have been caught in good numbers up to 7ft or Bft. In the seine nets of the fishermen small ones of 3ft or so are common. They cause havoc in the nets. It is a common thing to see Eropeans as well a 6 natives_ bathing, while within a few feet quite big sharks can be seen swimming by. No one seems to take any notice.

Americans are nothing if not original, and in order to bring before the notice of the speed fiend the folly of his ways They have adopted novel methods, but there is a county in Otago that has got the best of the States ..eaten. "Go ahead, if you like it, but don't sqim.l if you’re hurt,” is the philosophy of the people down there. And this is what they’ve painted in striking colours at both ends of a dangerous pass on tin* main road from Owaka: "Mol or drivers before taking this hill should order their coffins.” And above it is an impressive skull with the usual crossbones. That ought to bo enough to cure any speed fiend. rile King has sanctioned publication of the complete correspondence of King George ILL. and his Ministers, which is in the Royal archives at Windsor, says the London Daily Telegraph. It will be edited by thp' Hon. AY. Fortesque, who is familiar to all readers, both as the historian of the British Army and :i’s the Royal Librarian. Several historical writers liave already consulted George Ill’s correspondence. Sir 'George Trevelyan among them, and it will be found ’to have important bearings upon American history.

Attention is drawn to two special addresses to be given in the Gospel Hall, Princes street, to-night and to-morrow night, at 7.30 o’clock, by Mr Herbert S. Taylor, to which all are invited.

The Talvaksi district on Friday expericiice«l a heavy fiooil, described as the worst in forty years. The river overflowed its protection works and covered a wide area, including most of the town where, in some low-lying portions, water reached the windows of the houses. Miles of fencing were swept a wav. The loss of stock will be farily heavy. It was thought that a. youth named 11. Sparrow had been drowned, but lie was found marooned on an island in the river. Telegraphic communication has now been restored (states a Nelson Press Association message). At the Auckland Police Court John Henry Irvine, aged 2d, was charged with obtaining a typewriter from Alpe Bros, by means of a valueless cheque with intent to defraud, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Detective Hammond described the accused as something ot an adventurer. He had got money from people in Wellington for Joys Unlimited, a bogus theatrical company (says a Press Association message).

Two great bowling performances were recorded at the Dominion championships by the Otago Daily Times, when it says that “Foster thus went through 12 rounds of the siugles without losing a game. It might be mentioned that at the Christchurch tournament tw'o years ago W. Carswell, the well-known'Taieri player, also won the singles without being beaten. When the question of care of cars at race meetings was being discussed by the Automobile Association last' night, the chairman (Mr S. C. Tonks) remarked that Egmont was the bestparked racecourse on the Coast, and had more space available than any other lie knew.

Before and during the holidays a large number of members used the Automobile Association to obtain information as to distances, hotels and accommodation houses, maps and various other details of information required during a tour. This fact proved the value of the association to the travelling public.

The secretary of the Hawera Municipal Band wishes to explain that the reason the band did not give the performance at Te Ngutu Park last Sunday as arranged was on account of information received from Oltaiawa. that the weather conditions were very unfavourable. The bandsmen had been looking forward to the visit and regret that the project was abandoned. The band, however, will carry out the arrangement at am early date, and a most enjoyable programme has been arranged for the occasion. It is interesting to note that the Wanganui fishermen have picked up during the course of years a, good deal if information about' Cook Strait that is not recorded either in the/ New Zealand Pilot or on the Admiralty charts, says the Herald. For instance, there is a well-defined reef formation running parallel with the coast, near the twenty fathom line, of a kind of soft coral. One of the best fishing grounds in the strait is slightly to the south of Patea, a couple of miles off the coast, a fishing ground known to the early Maoris as one of the best off the New Zealand coast. A bit further south, off Nukumaru, there is likewise a good fishing spot, but the bottom, is rocky, and for that reason not particularly in favour.

In accordance with the decision of the employers, clothing factoi'ies in Auckland will work a six-day week of 44hours from February 1 in pursuance of the clothing trade awards. During the past few years a number of factories have been working a five-day week, closing from Friday evening until Monday morning, as the Factories Act limits the daily hours of work for female workers to ‘Si and the weekly hours have been limited to 41J. The fiveda v week was introduced in the first p’ace as a war measure, and has been continued in a number of factories by mutual agreement between the employers and employees. Owing to the efforts of the Employees’ Union in the recent Arbitration Court proceedings to have the five-day week embodied in the clothing trade awards, the employers have unanimously decided to work a six dav week of 44 hours as a counter move.—Press Assn.

When two motorists approach a bridge upon which there is no room for them to pass one another, there is apparently no rule as to who sho il>! have the right of way. Neither there any recognised signal by which a motorist at one end of the bridge can communicate his intentions to the other. The Stratford Branch of the South Taranaki Automobile Association has discussed this question, and decided to refer it to the Central Executive with a view to having some action taken in regard to it, and to obtain a legal opinion.—Post. In rural districts not far from Christcliurch a certain amount of damage has been done to crops and gardens by the pukeko (states the Press). At a recent meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the secretary reported that he had written to landowners near Lake Ellesmere regarding damage done by the birds, and asking for opinions as to an open season for pukeko. The chairman (Mr E. F. Stead) stated that the pukeko was a bad inhabitant of any reserve, and people whose crops were visited by the birds should be considered in the way of being allowed an open season for a certain length of time. There was no doubt that the birds did a lot of damage to crops. Mr M. H. Godby gave notice of motion that there be an open season for one week at the beginning of the season, the limit to be five birds to a gun per day.

Aii inquiry into the death of William Hinks, aged 36, a gang foreman employed by the Auckland Electric Power Board, was held at Auckland yesterday before Mr J. W. Poynton; S.M. (coroner). Hinks was killed instantly at Mangere on January 18 while working on a 11,000-volt line. The evidence showed that linesmen in the board’s employ are expressly forbidden to work on high tension “alive” wires, and that work on such lines is not to. be commenced until the men are notified that the lines have been made “dead.” Oliver Mathieson' said he gave Hinks a list of jobs to be done after the line had been made “dead,” and the particular work at Mangere was included on the list. No man was allowed to touch tension wires until witness told him the line was “dead.” Hinks was a most cautious man, and had a wide experience. In answer to the coroner the witness suggested over-zealousness on the part of Hinks as the only reason for his action. The finding was that death was due to electrocution, no blame being attachable to anyone.— Press Association. The scholars of the Methodist Sundav School are asked to assemble outside Somerset boardinghouse at . 8 o’clock sharp on Wednesday morning to receive their railway tickets. Substantial reductions will be the order of the day at Harrops ’ Great End-of-Season Sale, which commences on Thursday, January 21, at 9 a.m. Thrifty shoppers wili find that they have a wonderful opportunity to effect savings which cannot be found: save at sale time. —Harrops Ltd. —Advt.

A conference of members of the New Zealand Factory Managers’ Association will be held nt'Patea to-morrow morning.

Eleven out i. ■ twelve members at present constituting the New Zealand Cabinet are native born, Mr. Anderson being the exception.

Wellington will shortly have a trooo of killed Scouts—-the first to be organised in New Zealand. A decision to form such a troop was reached, at a meeting of directors of the Wellington Caledonian Society.

About eight hundred acres of plantation and grass lands were swept bj r a fire which started last evening in the vicinity of Burnham camp at Christchurch' Cadets fought the fire, saving the camp.

The Union Company’s Waikouaiti has been held up at. Lyttelton since Wednesday awaiting a crew. The company’s call met with no response, the men demanding that three extra trimmers be signed on. The company declined. A further effort to secure a crew yesterday was unsuccessful.

During the storm at Auckland cn Friday the seas were very heavy in the harbour when the tide was high at midday. Waves broke over the ends of King’s and Queen’s Wharves, a most unusual happening.

A report from Turua received at Paeroa stated that on Friday a mar, Mr. Alexander Johnson, was seriously injured by a falling chimney. It appears that Mr. Johnson was in his house when he heard a grating noise outside. As he went to investigate the chimney came down on top of him. The nature and extent of his injuries are not yet known.

The express train from Wellington did not arrive in Hlawera until 7.&V o’clock last evening, being over an hour and a half late. It is understood that the delay was due to the loss of a signal tablet, without which the interlocking signals and points could not- be operated. The train was held up for over an hour at Palmerston while search was made along the line for the missing tablet.

A public meeting was held at Timaru yesterday to offer congratulations to the Hon. F. J. llolleston, member for Timaru. on his elevation to the Clalbinet. The 'speakers were the Mayor (Mr. G. J. Wallace), Mr. T. B. Garrick (chairman of the Levels County Council), representing the rural portion of the electorate, and Mr M. J. Knubley (president of the Law Society). Reference was made to the public service rendered by the member, whose appointment was said to give universal satisfaction in the electorate.

While examining a popular make of car tliis morning, a Hawera motor mechanic noticed that the feed pipe from the benzine tank to the carburetter was rubbing against the exhaust pipe. A closer examination revealed that the brass feed' pipe had been so ■worn by friction and Jieat that benzine was slowly seeping through: the opening. Had this been allowed to continue a serious explosion would probably have occurred at some time when the exhaust pipe was hot. Owners of the type of cars where the feed pipe runs close to the exhaust, should profit by this experience. At the Wanganui Court yesterday, W. M. Luxford, of Wanganui East, was convicted and discharged on a charge of having in his possession without authority a .303 rifle. It was stated that defendant handled the rifle in his capacity as president of the Defence Rifle Club. Mr LuxfoTd said he thought it was a mistake to include rifle clubs under the provisions of the Arms Act. as the clubs did a great deal of: work in training rifle shots. Furthermore, all the rifles handled were registered by the Defence Office. His Worship said the offence in this ■ease was not of a serious nature. — Chronicle.

Now and again one hears complaints of the poor equipment of some Government official whose business it is to furnish tourists with information about New Zealand. The departments have surely been plumbed by the Gover 1ment Tourist Bureau (Dunedin) official who took part in the following cmversation, which but for the impeachable source of the information, would sound incredible:—Exhibition Nor til Island Visitor: “Would you favour me with information in regard to Stewart Island?” Government Official: “Stewart Island? Sorry, madam, but we have no information beyond New Zealand.”

Mrs. H. F. McKeown, of Havelock North, with three children and Mrs. and Miss Hill, of Napier, who were her visitors, were driving from Havel iclc North to Hastings in a motor-car yesterday afternoon when Mrs. McKeov/r. placed her foot inadvertently on the accelerator and the car swerved into a deep drain on the side of the road. Mrs. McKeown had one of her fingers badly injured, and one of the children, Leila, aged 14, sustained a fractured leg. The rest of the passengers were cut and bruised and the car was wrecked.—P.A.

A shocking fatality occurred at the Milton railway station last evening when the south-bound express from Dunedin to Invercargill was drawing into the railway station platform. A young man named Robert B. Barlow, aged about 22 years, employed as an engine-cleaner at Invercargill, _sras a passenger by the train. On arrival at Milton he was standing on the carriage platform and was waving to his brother, who was the engine-driver on a. train standing at a siding. Evidently the young man overbalanced and fell between the carriages. He was killed instantaneously, several carriages passing over his body. An inquest was opened before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M. Evidence of identification was given by the deceased’s brother Charles, an en-gine-driver residing at Clinton, and the inquest was adjourned to a future date. —Press Association.

The commission appointed to inquire into certain allegations and claims made aganist the Government by the Woolston Tanneries, Ltd., in respect of regulations for the control of hides and skins during the war commenced its sittings at Wellington yesterday (says a Press Association message). The commissioner is Sir John Hosking. Sir John Findlay appears for the Government and Mr M. Myers. K.C., for the tanneries. In opening, Mr Myers said the company made no charge of conscious bias against the Director of Agriculture or any Government official. He traced the history of the petition before Parliament, stating that in 1923 the M to Z Committee reported favourably thereon. In 1924 the committee recommended the setting up of a commission. The petition haa also been considered by a joint committee of both Houses, but the report of that committee bad not been tabled in the House of Representatives, although tabled in the Legislative Council.. Mr Myers submitted that the regulations in question operated unnecessarily and unreasonably against the company, which was in a unique position so far as trading businesses were concerned.