LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 November 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At an enthusiastic meeting of representatives of swimming clubs at Invercargill it was decided to form a Southland swimming centre. The new centre will meet to-night to consider arrangements for the proposed visit of Weissmuller, the American champ.on.

W hen the half hour of summer time was introduced the authorities at the Manaia District High School decided

jt to- commence school until 9.30 Mil., a time thought to be more convenient to the children of farmers. However, owing to difficulty with bus time-tables, etc., it has now been decided to revert <to the ordinary time and commence school at 9 a.m. The necessary permission was granted by the Taranaki Education Board on AVednestlay.

It is reported that the skipper of at least one steamer trading to the AVest Coast has good reason to remember favourably the present whitebait season. The story is to the effect that a- skipper, having an eye to business-, purchased: a- consignment of no fewer than 194 tins of whitebait, at an average- price of about- 15s per tin, just before he put- ins vessel on her course for Wellington. Arrived at the capital city he found- a ready market for hr® whitebait, and disposed of the whole consignment- at a price averaging approximately £4 per tin.

A new comet was discovered on AYednesday at 2 a.m., states a Wellington message. It is of the sixth magnitude, that is, it is a bright comet visible to tlie naked eye. Its right ascension is 12 hours 8 minutes 28 seconds, and the declination 21 degrees 42 minutes south. The right ascension is increasing 20 minutes of arc a day, and the declination is increasing southwards 50 minutes a day. The comet is in the constellation Corvis (the Craw), about three hours in advance of the sun, and, it therefore may- he seen in the early morning.

A tribute to the excellent service given to members of the women’s division in South Taranaki of the Farmers’ Union by ,Sister Farqubar, of the Ha worn. Hospital staff, in the lectures she has given to them during the past few months was conveyed in a letter Kent to the matron by Mrs. Carter, president of the division. She said that members very much appreciated the lectures which”, through the kindness of the matron, had 1 been made possible for the country women and a few town members. She added that Sister Farqnhar was to be commended for giving these lectures in such a plain phraseology that was readily understood hv all.

The Independent Labour candidate for the Central Wellington fjeat, Mrs. M. Young, who introduced the novel idea of making a charge for admission to' her principal meeting in the Town Hall, has forwarded, to the Mayor or Wellington a cheque for £74 13s, the net proceeds from that meeting. Mrs. Young had asked the Mayor to name a charitable purpose to which the money should be devoted, and Mr. Troup has accordingly suggested that the money should be divided equally among the Nursing Guild, Order of St. John, Bed Cross Society free ambulance, Heme of Compassion, Residential Nurseries, Day Nurseries, Free Kindergarten, Presbyterian Orphanage, St. Mary’s Home (Karori), and the Salvation. Army Orphanage.

“We have to admit that we have sustained a very staggering result in regard to the licensing poll—in fact, a debacle,” said the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse (chairman of the district), in the course of His annual address to the Otago-South land Methodist Synod at Dunedin. Explain it as they might, he thought that it could not be denied that they found themselves in the midst of a distinct moral slump. Many people were intimidated by the bogey of unemployment, and were afraid that if they cast their votes against continuance the- unemployment, now existent would be seriously increased. “We know such would not be the case,” declared Air. Bel I house, “and that employment in oilier channels would lie increased.” He could not help feeling that they were still suffering from the moral aftermath of the war. “The moral anarchy existing in older conntries of the world is now, 1 believe, spreading out here,” continued Mr. Bolllioiise, ‘‘and because of that moral laxity there has been that terrible setback to many of our hopes ami expectations in connection with the recent licensing poll.”

A sensation was caused in Auckland •on Tuesday when if. became known that a warrant 'had been signed at Auckland for the arrest of Hector Robert Malcolm, a solicitor, who has for some time past, been practising in. Auckland, states the ‘‘Dominion.” The warrant, it is understood, charges Alalcolm with the theft of £7OO, and was applied for by an elderly widow, who, it is alleged, handed this sum to Malcolm in connection with a mortgage transaction on November 2. Alalcolm loti, Auckland as a passenger for 'Sydney .by the Ulimaroa on November 15. In the Supreme Court at Auckland, on the application of the creditor, the Official Assignee (Air G. N. Morris) was appointed interim receiver in the estate pending the Hearinig of a summons for adjudication of Malcolm as a bankrupt.. Subsequently the Official Assignee seized the books, papers and other contents of Malcolm’s office.