LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 September 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Another motor-car was found birnied at Auckland yesterday, after having, ncen stolen by "joy-riuers” the previous night. This makes a total of eight ears iso destroyed since the end oi April. The car was the property ox Mr S. D. Rendnall, of 14*1, Jervois Road, Ponsonby. and was valued at £450. It was left in Lower Albert Street at y p.m., and had disappeared «tt 10.15. j.t was found completely burned at St. Helipr’si this morning. The Wanganui Chess Club lias two players in its ranks who make it, it is believed, unique among the clubs ox the Dominion. 'One is blind and plays on a special board in which each piece can be used. The blind player discerns between the white and black men by touching the tops, those of one colour being rounded at the top and those of the other pointed. He plays a sterling game, says an exchange, though, or course, the varying positions have to be. visualised. The other player — one of the best in the club—is deaf and dumb, and is one of the keenest and most enthusiastic members of the club. The Wanganui Club is ver\ liroud of these two players.

Conjurers claim that it is the quickness of the hand that deceives the eye, but- it was the quickness ol the hand that deceived the conjurer at a theatre one evening last week (says the “Star”). A lad had been called on to the stage to assist in one of the magician’s illusion’s, and was handed a glass of water. When the water was no longer required, it became a question of what was to be done with it. The conjurer, who had previously scored heavily at the youngster’s expense, suggested that he should throw the contents of the glass over the orchestra. It was evident that the suggestion was made in the way of a joke, but in a twinkling it had been carried into effect. The lad’s aim was good, and the orchestra received enough water for half a dozen christenings. The incident delighted the “house,” and was the hit of the evening.

An extraordinary somnambulistic feat was accomplished by Olive Warwick, aged 14 years, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Stanley Warwick, of Willis Street, Wellington. Mr Warwick returned from Christchurch at 7 a.m. on Thursday morning to find the front door of his flat open and his daughter missing. Mrs Warwick was unable to account for their daughter’s disappearance at so early an hour. The police search proved fruitless. At 8.15 Olive returned fully dressed, having awakened several miles away in the Ngahapranga Gorge. In her sleep she had dressed, taken her own money in a hand purse, several handkerchiefs, and other artciles. Realising her position on awakening, she walked down the gorge to the Ngahauranga station and returned to the city by train. After breakfast and a long sleep, she awoke none the worse for her extraordinarily adventurous sleep walk of several miles. An inteiesting development in motor transport was seen in Wanganui on Saturday last when a large lorry equipped with accommodation tor live racehorses from Marton, 'whither it brought racehorses from Hastings. When the- mounts were “detrucked” on Saturday they ilooked none the worse for their ' journey (says the “Choniele”). The five stalls are of ingenious construction, and every possible provision has been made for the safety and comfort of the horses. The stalls are of just sufficient length and breadth to pievent the- horses falling in (onsequence of the swaying of the lorry and the padded walls, back, and front of the stalls obviate the danger of any injury to the animals on the journey. Each stall is fitted with a small feed-box and to reach this the horse must rest its neck on a padded bar, which prevents it from lurching forward with the- swaying of the lorry The doors of the stalls drop downwards and act as gangways, and as there is a door at each end of the stall it is not- necessary to back the horses out on reaching their destination. The stalls are covered, with stout canvas, which can be raised, at the sides or completely removed in fine weather, while in the event of rain, little water can enter the lorry. The swaying of the lorry, it is stated, cannot cause the animals to over-balance.

The Scottish Society in Hawera will hold a social evening in the Forester’s Hall on Monday next, when a farewell will be tendered to Mrs Charles Lamb, who is shortly going on a trip to Scotland. There * will be a musical and elocutionary programme and a dance will follow.

An event of interest to farmers and breeders of lvorses is the- horse parade conducted by the, Egmont A. and P. Association annually, which this year will be held on Saturday next, September 17. Entries will l>e received by the secretary, Mr M. C. Crighton, up till Thursday next. A cobweb evening is being arranged by the Manaia Methodist Ladies’ Guild for September 10, and should prove very successful. The ladies have been preparing goods of all kinds and they trust, many “spiders’’ in the shape of purchasers will come seeking the same. A musical programme will be given and supper provided. Egg-laying competitions are very popular in other parts of the Dominion. A proposal to hold one .in Hawera will be discussed at a meeting of poultrymen at the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday evening.

1 Advice was received by the Hawera Chamber ■of Commerce last evening that in the early future the Associated Chambers of New Zealand is to call a conference of representatives from throughout New Zealand “to consider fully the increased tendency of the Government to enter the business field and to make regulations harassing to business enterprise. ’ ’ The series of excellent photographs of the principals and chorus of the Operatic Society, as they will appear in “The Arcadians,” which arc being shown in Mr Woollelt’s and Mr. Olleronsliaw’s windows arc attracting much interest and attention.

Cricket looks likely to have a good season in this district this year aud competition in both divisions is going to be very keen. Five new senior teams will be playing this year, and Hawera High School, Eltham, Patea, Kaponga* and High School Old Boys have applied to the association for affiliation. The four first-named will have a senior team only, while the Old Boys will enter senior and jujnior. Further inquiries have been made regarding the possibility of reductions in telephone and toll charges. After consideration of the information from the postal authorities and perusal of the departmental accounts submitted, the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce' of New Zealand is of the opinion that the charges, in the meantime, are satisfactory, states a. notification received by the Hawera Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last evening.

The 1 objection voiced recently by the Associated Chambers of Commerce against the continuance of use of the -tenms “Australasia” and “Australasian” has formed the subject of a special bulletin issued to the American Press by the American Department of State, in notifying the Hawera Chamber, the association executive, in a communication which was received last evening expressed pleasure concerning the noticeable decrease in the use of the terms in the press and elsewhere. Detective William Robert Cooper Cooper was at Wellington yesterday sued for £2S damages by Heury Morniugton Smith, a seaman, for injuries sustained in an unprovoked assault Iby Cooper. The Magistrate gave judgment for Smith for £ls, with £3 I3s tid medical expenses and costs amounting to £B. Cooper had recently been found guilty at a police enquiry on the charge of assault aud fined £2. Cooper was stated to have taken Smith to a room in the Taranaki Street police station, after questioning him in the street, and then punched him in the mouth, necssitating three stitches in his lip. Cooper also accused Smith of knocking about with undesirable people, when, in fact, Smith had only been ashore for five hours.—Press Assn. “This is the first case I have had ill which an appeal lias been made against an said the Official Assignee, Mr Tansiey, at ’Wellington yesterday, at .a largs' y-attended creditors’ meeting in the estate of John Whitaker, a pork butcher. The total debts were shown at £346 Is 6d and the assets at £SO. Counsel for the petitioning creditors did not think it had bpen alleged that Whitaker was about to leave New Zealand. Bankrupt, however, had shut up his shop, and no one could locate him. Counsel for bankrupt said there was no question at aIL about his leaving the Dominion, and his proposed to appeal. An impasse arose as to whether the meeting could continue, but it was decided tp ask the bankrupt questions on oath. He did not answer, and tins meeting was adjourned sine die.

After investigations in the bush country on the headwaters of the Wanganui, the opinion is expressed by Mr T. W. Downes, of Wanganui, a well-known naturalist, that weasels axe numerous. He said that the animals frequented the great forest reserves, and were often seen on the river banks sometimes swimming the stream itself. These small animals were very quick, and usually reached cover before pig dogs could get them. Whether they were responsible for the destruction of native birds had not been proved, although it was quite probable that such was the case. Mr Downes said that among the larger birds the pigeon was still fairly common, while the belibird was apparently increasing. In the bush regions the latter provided a glorious chorus in the early mornings. The tui was not so plentiful as formerly, but the North Island crow could still he found in limited numbers on the high ridges of the back country. The call of the kiwi was still heard on most nights, but this bird was becoming very scarce. The birds which had actually vanished of late yeans in this pail of the country were the kaka and the kakarild (parrakeet).