LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 April 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mr. Gregor McGregor, during an interview regarding his travels in China, was asked by a “Wanganui Herald’’ reporter liow he managed in regard to food and accommodation, particularly in regard to his long travels inland bv horse, mule, etc. He replied that there were plenty ol inns at each village. He generally slept in the mangers, and cooked his own food. He lived principally on fruit, rice, and bought poultry, which lie cooked aimself. lie had an interpreter with him all the time.

The P. and O. Company had _to re*, place during the past year 92.977_ wine glasses and tumblers, and 276,78/ cups, plates and saucers. Lord Inchcape gave these figures when presiding at the annual meeting of the company. The replaoemnt of .linen, he added, bad run into a fabulous sum. “They tell me,” continued Lord Inchcape, “but 1 cannot believe it, that at the end of a. voyage, pillow slips are frequently utilised by ladies when packing up to make boot bags. I mentioned this to a, lady the other evening who frequently travels by the steamers, and the reply was : ‘What an excellent idea ! I never thought of it.’ I was sorry I had •spoken,” he concluded. Why is it that rainbow trout will not stay in the Canterbury rivers, although they do well in North Island streams? That is a question which awaits an answer (says a Christchurch exchange). The North Canterbury 1 Acclimatisation Society finds they do well in the ponds and lakes where there is no outlet, but they disappear from the rivers. They are considered to be a better sporting fish than the brown trout, and the back country lakes are stocked with them.

By jumping from his motor-car as it ran off the road and fell over a- 60ft embankment. Leslie Lees, of Auckland, who travels for the tailoring firm com ducted bv his brothers and himself, was saved from being burned to death in a motor-ear (telegraphs “The Post’s” Auckland correspondent). The car carried about £2OO worth of stock and samples. The accident occurred in a. gorge' on the Howick-Whitford iroad, near Auckland. A s the car left the road Lees jumped clear. The car rolled over .several times and burst into flame at the bottom. Together with the stock, the oar was destroyed. The car was insured for £250. A coastal oil-tanker, the Pawa, ot about 1000 tons, which is now under construction in Britain, will in a few months commence the transportation of benzine in bulk from Wellington to New Plymouth, where it will be stored in the huge underground tanks now under construction at Moturoa ior the British Imperial Oil Company. From the tanker the benzine will be pumped through an underground pipe to the place of storage. The “Taranaki Herald’*; says that the importance of New Plymouth as a distributing centre by reason of the good harbour facilities is shown by the fact that tank space is being provided for over 750,000 gallons.

The supreme initial hall takes place in the Otakeho Hall to-night, commencing at 8.15 sharp. All arrangements for the ball are well in hand, and the public may rest assured that the committee in charge has strived in its efforts to uphold the high reputation and popularity that the Otakeho dances have attained. Mr F. Boulton’s orchestra of six artists will be in attendance, and this well-known and popular orchestra, together with a good floor and an excellent supper, should make the evening .an enjoyable one from every point of vi<Jh\ Numerous novelty dances will lie included in a specially selected ballroom programme. Further particulars regarding the ball may lie obtained from the advertisement on page one of this issue.

Good progress is now being made with the strengthening of the Wait like re tin in, preparatory to increasing its height by lOft. and thus doubling the capacity of the reservoir to 440,000,000 gallons (“New Zealand Herald”)- The engineers in charge of the work consider they have now broken the back of the undertaking in having completed the foundations at the centre of the dam for the extra thickness of the 13ft. of mass concrete that is being added. A little more excavation is required before the concrete for strengthening the wings can be put in, V when this is accomplished, during the next few weeks, the placing of the buttress to the full height of the dam will proceed apace. When the top is reached the tramway across the dam will be raised to' allow' of the addition of the further 16ft in height. Complaints of mireavsonable delay in making the medical examination of passengers arriving on inter-colonial steamers were again brought up at the fast meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, says aWellington exchange. The chairman (Air. C‘. J. 11. Norwood) mentioned a recent instance of delay in Sydney, when the .steamer arrived about dusk, and tlie New Zealand passengers were kept on board all night owing to the port health officer deferring his visit till next day. While it was desirable, said Mr. Norwood, that care should be taken to protect the country from epidemic diseases from other countries, the passengers should not be subjected to harassing delay. At the suggetion of Air D. J. McGow'an, the question was referred to the transport committee for consideration, as to what steps should be taken. As a result of a criticism of the display of New Zealand wool at the High Commissioner’s offiiees in London, voiced to Ihe committee of the Otago Expansion League by Air. Charles Todd on his return from a trip abroad, Air. W. B. Steel (secretary of the league) wrote to the -Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. -T. Hawken) suggesting that an endeavour should he made to improve what was by all accounts an inadequate representation of one of the Dominion’s leading industries (‘‘Otago Daily Times”). Tieplying to Air. Steele’s letter the ATinister says: ‘‘l quite agree that it is desirable that the wool display at the High Commissioner's ofiiee should he worthy of the industry represented, and 1 shall lie glad to arrange for an exhibit to he prepared, and forwarded to London. If is, however, too late for any action to lie taken this season, and in the meantime a letter is being sent to the High Commissioner asking whether he considers that the exhibit, should be sent as soon as possible, or delayed until such time as the offices are removed to the new building. The building which will eventually be occupied by the High Commissioner’s department will have much better facilities for the display of a comprehensive exhibit, and for the storage of the wool when it is not actually on show.”

After many inquiries by Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., as to who was the first white child born in Palmerston North, that honour is now claimed by Mr. Arthur Brightwell, of Pongaroa,. son ot Mr. Edward Brightwell, of Woodville, one cf the earliest settlers in Palmerston North. Mr. Brightwell, ,Tunr was born in Rangitikei Street on July 5, 1870. The .annual harvest festival celebration was held at the EUtham Salvation Army Hall yesterday, when a special meeting was held, addresses being given bv Captain Thorne, of New Plymouth. There was good attendances at all the meetings. The festival was continued hist night, when the Methodist choir, under Mr. Farnell, gave a short programme. Each item was rended in a manner greatly appreciated ny me audience. The anthem particularly revealed earful training. land correct interpretation. The meetings will be continued to-day, when the Hawera brass band will, in conjunction with the Eltha.m band, render a programme of band and other items. To help a distressed member, the Manchester Unity Oddfellows have organised a grand charity ball for tomorrow (Wednesday) evening in the Savoy rooms. Special arrangements have" been made for an interesting evening, under the control of a. strong committee, with Mr G. Collins as secretary. Features of the ball will be the Taranaki waltzing championship and the attendance of lodges in regalia. A large attendance is expected, so that a- substantial amount may be handed over to the member for whom the ball is given.