LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 April 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Hawera -Municipal Band gave ar interesting programme of music in High Street" to the west end of the town on Saturday evening, and attracted a good attendance of listeners. Appreciation was expressed of the action of the local business firm, outside of whose premises the performance was given, in providing special lights for the benefit of the bandsmen.

A very old copy of a southern newspaper, which teas seen recently (says the Tirnaru Herald), shows that 40 years ago fat lambs were fetching 5s 6d to 7s 3d. others 4s (xl to 5s 3d: wheat, 3s 8d to 3s 9d (prime milling), fowl wheat 3s to 3s 4d ; oats, Is 6d to Is 8d; potatoes. .£2 to £2 10s per ton (bags in); butter, 7d to 7-jd. The last chain of metalling on the notorious Whangamomona Saddle was completed last Monday, says the “Taranaki Herald,’.’ and. according to memben*. of the Taranaki Education Bonrrd who visited Tangarakiau at the beginning of last week, the road is now in good condition, and ill the saddles have received at lent ion.

“Toromi. torongi, t-arori !” A venerable Maori at To AY Haiti used those three words- when a member of the Auckland Automobile Association during a- recent trip there made inquiries about To- Kooti’s historic war flag, (lone, vanished, disappeared, is what the tatoned veteran of the fastnesses of the Tlrowcra wished to convey. As a matter of fact the war flag of Te Kooti is in isafe keeping, and for many years has been in the possesion of the 'Wanganui Museum, (although there are reasons why it is not exposed to public view (states the “Auckland Star’’). Tt is a queer 'poking flag—a large square of dull red cloth, upon which was worked in relief In- the Te TCooti wahinos -strange -symbols and figures. The fine flavour, strength and purity of Sharland’s Table Vinegar cannot be surpassed. Brewed from pure cane sugar. —1

In a circular letter sent to horticultural societies, the Auckland Society announces that, in addition to the show early in September, it is proposed to stage two daffodil displays this year, one for early blooms during the third week in August, an id one foliate blooms about the fourth week in September. At each instructional addresses will be given and matters of interest to narcissi growers discussed.

“1 see all the Ministers have gone up a, stage,” remarked the Prime Minister pleasantly when be was handed a petition from a number of Marlborough ratepayers during the course of a deputation." “They have all become Right I tonourables. Splendid! Il Happens that the only Minister present entitled to that distinction was the Prime Minister. He had two colleagues in attendance who enjoyed the joke, and joined in the laughter following an explanation by Mr. Girling, M.P., that the petitioners having .started with “The lit. Hon. the Prime Minister,” evidently decided to keep it up.” “Splendid!” again commented Mr. Coates.

A Sunday school was opened yesterday afternoon by the Salvation Army at Ararata, Adjutant Martin Brown going out to hold the first meeting and to make future arrangements. There was a good attendance, and he is very pleased with the number and with the type of children attending. He will go out for a week or two ,and then two young men from the Army will take up the work regularly. In addition a service will be held once a month.

To-morrow (Tuesday) evening at the Okaiawa Town Hall, an interesting event in the history of the cricket club will take place—the championship shield wen by the club’s senior team will be presented. The evening will also be the occasion of the club’s annual ball at which music will be supplied by Boulton's Orchestra. Special preparations have been made for supper, and a good floor, by the committee under the direction of the lion, secretaries, Messrs. A. Betts and B. Barclay. Everything points to an enjoyable evening. At least one Sydney visitor to Wellington lias cause to speak well of its sense of honesty. “When you lose money in Sydney you never expect to see it again. That would be asking too much,” said the visitor. He went to pay for two tickets at Trentham dnniiig the races at a box outside the station, but instead of passing over a 10s note he carelessly handed in an Australian £lO note, which is the same size and hais something of the same colouring. He discovered his loss, when he arrived on the course, and considered the not© gone for ever, as anyone from Sydney would. He told the 1 secretary, Mr Griffiths, of his trouble. He was good enough to rtng up the station in town, and .sure- enough one of the men in charge of the l>ox had ■registered a tenner over in his cash. “Can you imagine that happening in Svdnev ?” was the visitor’s comment.

A wealth of blossom is now spraying the houhere, or lace-bark. This is New Zealand’s most beautiful autumn flower. Its sweetness and delicate fragrance draw the bees in swarms. It is strange that the houhere is not oftener found in town gardens. 'Hie tree itself is ornamental, being very symmetrical in. shape. It's serrated leaves are of a delicate, pale green that shows up well against a background of darker foliage (“Auckland Star”). The seeds are winged, and, falling on the moist mound of the bush or on loose garden soil, germinate easily. The young plants transplant readily and grow quickly. Houhere has been planted out at the: Zoo, where two* old trees were growing when the grounds were in a wild state. At this time of the year the traveller bv the Main Trunk railway through the King Country passes miles of-hush fringed with blossoming houhere.

A painful accident hotel a climber o!' Mount Ruapehu. Mi'. O', Grant, of Wellington, says the Ohakune correspondent af the “New Zealand Herald.” Mr. Grant, who is not familiar with tho mountain, made the ascent alone under very trying conditions, owing to frost on recent falls of snow. Reaching the. summit, he was endeavouring to ascertain the usual starting point for the well-known slide, “Gliding Gladys,” when he suddenly started to slide downwards at a terrific sicced. Mr. Grant’s predicament was most unenviable, and only his presence of mind, and in some degree the softer snow at the bottom, prevented a fatality. He sustained severe bruises and ice-abrasions. Two nights were spent •at the Ohakune Mountain Hut before Mr. Grant felt- equal to the nine-mile trek to Ohakune, on which he wiais assisted bv other climbers who had arrived at the lint.

An interesting musical event, in Hawera will be the performance, of the line cantata “Olivet to Calvary” (Maunder), by the Hawera Methodist choir. The total number of voices is fifty, and the chorus work is going exceedingly well. The soloists will be Messrs J. Fraser (tenor) and Eric Pacev (baritone), and both show in tlieir work a nice appreciation of the ideas of the composer. Mr. H. 0. A. Fox is con ducting the performance. Mr. Thornber will preside at the organ, 'and the Rev. \V. J. Ox-brow will read the descriptive narrative which links up the work. .Last year it proved so popular that it had to be repeated, and anyone intending to go would therefore be well advised to- he early in order to get a■ .seat. A collection .in aid of the clionfunds will be made. Yesterday fortyfive members of the choir gave a, full performnee of the cantata at the II awera Hospital to' the patients and a good attendance of visitors. At the conclusion the choir was entertained and the matron expressed appreciation of the visit. Mr. if. G. A. Fox (conductor) .replied, and said it was hoped to visit the hospital to perfouu another work. He referred to the fact that while sections of the chair visited the hospital every fortnight, the present occasion was the first upon which a full performance had been given at the now hospital.