LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 September 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On Saturday, for the first time since the wash-out, both tracks of the Hutt railway were in commission again, states the WeHlington “Post.,” f An immense “Claptain Cook” pig which (had been killing large numbers ot young lamlbs on a farm in the Uppei Wanganui River district was shot last Sunday. The beast measured off: from the snout bo the base of the tail. The recent disturbance on White Island was noted in Opotiki through the strong sulphur 'fumes, residents describing them as being as strong as at Tikitore or Rotorua. Owing to 'bad visibility, however, nothing was seen of the activities from the mainland.

At a meeting of about 100 people at Welllingkon yesterday, when the Mayor, Mr W. G. A. Troupe, presided, it was decided to form the Wellington Aero Club. '.Details are to be arranged by a. committee, set up to bring down a report. The (locality of the club is likely to. be Lyailil Bay.

In order to furbher the interests o| the Hawenai Municipal! Band, tv committee of ladies has been formed and the members, have been asked to meet at the band room on Friday evening at 7.30 pjnr. An invitation has also .been giyen to any other todies interested >o attend the meeting.

Leaking verandah, roofs are not to be allowed any longer in the business area of Wanganui. Tli© City Ooumeiiil has decided to send ope of its in specious out on a rainy day in order to detect leaks, so tlilab notice to effect repairs may be served on the owners. concerned, says the “Chronicle.” . Special interest will attach to .this year’s observance of Dominion Day, which falls next Monday (September 24), by reason of the fact .that it marks New Zealand’s “coming of age.’’ It was in 1907 that the colony was declared a dominion.

The secretary of the Elthani Drainage Board (Mr W. J. Tristram) was in attendance at the Elt'ham Magistrate’s 'Court yesterday, on the occasion o'f the hearing of objections to the ratepayers’ list of the board. As no objections were lodged, the list was duly signed. Mr R. V. Tate, S.M., presided.

Scores of New Plymouth residents braved the elements yesterday afternoon and assembled on Maryland Hill in the hope of viewing the three aeroplanes wtiich are conveying the Tas>man fliers on their New Zealand tour. Several vainly waited through the thunderstorm that raged, and went home wet through and disappointed over the unavoidable postponement of the flight to Auckland.

The removal by some unauthorised person yesterday of the model of the Southern Cross, which had been loaned to Mrs. A. Morse by Mr. C. Arnold, of Hawera, for use in the decoration scheme at the luncheon given the Tasman fliers, was discovered late in the afternoon. Early in the evening, however, it was found hidden in the top of the stand in a wrapping of two curtains, also taken from the luncheon room.

Officers elected bv the" Motor Traders’ Association at the meeting at Nelson yesterday were: President. Mr O. W. .Wood (Timam); tidaisairer, JVlir J. H. Cousins (re-elected); council, Messrs F. Reynolds. (North Auckland), F. B. Cadman (Auckland), F. J. Farrell i.emes), R. Wallace (Thames), G. E. Hotop ('lb Kuiiti), ’W. M. Ferguson f North Taranaki), F. V. Lysons (South Taranaki). J. Holmes (Gisborne). J. Fox (Wairoa), W. A. Green (North Hawke’s Bay), W. L. Roberts (South: Hawke’s Bay), J. S. -Clift (Mahawatu), •T. FlaveM (Wanganui), J. C. iMileo (Horowhenua). G. Hughes (Wairara- ’ a). W. J. Edgar (Wellington), H. R. Dlax (Marlborough), L. N. Montgomery (Nekton), G. W. Tench (Canterbuiiy), O. W. Wood (South: Canterbury), H. J. Jenkins (North. Otago), G. Black (Otago), and William Grieve 'Southland).

Great amusement was caused in ■Hunter Street, Wellington, by the sight of a sea-man who had evidently been enjoying -himself, struggling with a woman whom he accused of robbing him, states a Press Association message. She broke away -from his clutches, but the man was determined and caught her again, pointing to a bulge in -one of her stockings. The merriment increased when he insisted on her taking it down, and there were revealed the missing notes. 'The woman handed them over and Avns alloAvcd to make her escape.

Last 'Saturday aauus the twelfth anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the greatest of the Allied offensives on the Western Front, in aaLiqli the N&aa t Zealand Division earned undying fame. The first Ava\ r e; of t-lie New Zealand advance consisted q-f Auckland and Otago reigimenkis, which, advanced under a terrific artillery bombardment! andi a devastating fire from machine! guns to capture their objective, holding 1 their own 'subsequently in the face of heavy counter-attacks. The gallantry of the NeAv Zealanders AVas specially mentioned by Earl Haig, Avho referred to the part they played at Flers, Marti npuicli and Coutcelette*.

Some interesting impressions of Italy under Fascist rule were given by Dr. . Hand-Newton in the course of an interview in Christchurch, recently. ' Dr. Hand-Newton has just returned from a trip abroad. In Italy, he said, there was no ‘such thing as liberty of the subject according to English ideas. The Italians were reluctant to express their opinions'' on Mussolini and Fascism, because there were Fascist agents everywhere, and ion?’ never knew whether one’s next-dloor neighbour or best friend was one or not. Even visitors had to be careful iwbat questions they asked. However, Dr. Hand-Newton gathered from a few educated people whom he had got to talk that conditions under Fascism were not .so happy os they appeared on the surface, especially for this professional and middle classes. Another thing about Italy, wa.id Dr. HandNewton, was the f.riendilineas of the •'nnle. They were most charming and friendly. Dr. Hand-Newton is a br.ot.hp r-i n -law of Sir Ernest Rutherford, the famous physicist. He said Sir Ernest was engaged in research work at Cambridge. He had 40 gradual ns from all over the world. The. nick of the best, physicists were working under hint.

Our readers ore reminded that, the Melbourne’s Great End-of-Season ond Half-Price Sale ends on Saturday next. Special efforts are being made this week to further reduce stocks of evening frocks,, winter coats, furs, etc.; in fact, all showroom goods prior to the opening display of new spring and summer goods.—Advt.

A movement is on fo'o't 'to make a presentation to Dr. ‘Randall the retiring Archbishop of Canterbury, on November 12, the occasion of Ms golden wedding. The project commenced in England, but the opportunity is being offered to Anglican Church ■people the world over to take part, and the Primate of New Zealand has addressed letters to the bishops, who in turn have .written to their clergy on the subject. Any local donations to the fund will be sent through the Rev. J. R. Young, the vicar to the Diocesan authorities.

After nearly two [months’ consideration of the report of the _ Transport Com mission the Auckland City Council has agreed unreservedly to carry out the commission’is findings and, subject to. the approval of the uate-payers, to hand over the city’s _ assets in the tramways and ’bus .services to a Metropolitan Transport Board. With this object in view steps will „be taken to out the necessary legislation threragh Padliiamenb this session, in older that no time need be lost an submitting the proposal to a poll; The high commercial value of flax seed was revealed in the Supreme Court at Auckland during the hearing of a claim for dama.gosjby a flax-milling company. Mr 'Holmden, counsel for the company, stated the manager had collected 3001 b of flax seed. “Pounds weight or pounds worth?” asked Mr Justice Reed. “Both weight and worth,” replied counsel. “‘lt is worth £1 a I'b.” .He said the-seed had all to be specially selected and. could not be obtained in large, quantities from seed merchants.