LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 26 January 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Under the heading “Troubadours in London’’ the “New Zealand News” of December 13, records that the Misses Joan and Betty Rayner “Troubadours of Today',” who recently toured New Zealand, were 'to play in London at th e Grafton Tottenham Court Hoad. The Misses ilaynei* are nieces of Mr. W. A. Duckworth of Hawera. A successful lambing season has been experienced in the King Country, largely owing to the fact that favourable spring conditions followed a mild winter. Over 117,000 lambs have already been sold this season in the northern King Country, and early this month 32,000 were awaiting delivery, to the Waitara freezing works. At a meeting of the Ohawe Troop Legion of Frontiersmen held last week a vote of thanks for the efficient manner in which Trooper W. R. Shaw, of Hawera, lias served the troop in the capacity' of secretary, was passed. Sympathy was expressed with Trooper Shaw in his present illness and the hope that he would experience a speedy return to good health was expressed. A vote of sympathy was also accorded Trooper G. Shaw, who is also ill and is at present in hospital. Fatal injuries were inflicted on William Callaway, aged 62, by a fall of papa from a cliff face at which he was working at Kohuratahi yesjberday morning. Deceased liad 'been in the single men’s relief camp at Kohuratahi only a fortnight, and was working at road level at a cliff face on Waipuna Hoad. The whole face fell without warning. A heavy' lump of papa struck Callaway on the leg as he tried to jump clear and other pieces fell on him, injuring him about the head. No explosive was being used. The Waihi Borough Council has decided to take a referendum of the elec, tors at the municipal election in Mayon the question of the amalgamation of the Waihi and Thames Hospital districts, the object- being to test the feeling of the townspeople on a subject which has been claiming the attention of the council for several years. As £2003 of the council’s income from gold revenue goes toward the maintenance of the hospital annually, it is naturally anxious to obtain a measure of relief from the burden. This would be afforded by the fusion of the two districts.

“Everywhere we went we were congratulated on the hoys’ behaviour.” stated Mr T. A* La,ppm, of the Auckland Grammar School, when he returned on Monday in charge of the i ity of New Zealand secondary school boys' from a tour of Australia (reports the “Auckland Star”). Such comment was very satisfying to masters and hoys alike, and though they' did not appreciate to the same extent a remark made while they were attending a test match at Melbourne, they saw humour in it. Whenever they were being entertained the boys wore their school uniforms, and as they were walking through the cricket crowd a lad.v was overheard to remark, ‘‘Here comes the bov scouts.” A companion went one better and corrected lier. “Oil, no,” she said, “they are from the orphanage.”

The recent easterly gales at Mercury Bay resulted in the. washing-up on the Buffalo Beach of millions of horse mussels (states the “N.Z. Heralds correspondent). Near the new wnan at Whitanga they were particularly plentiful, and hundreds of gods, both of the tern and the blaclc-backed variety, were busy picking: out the choicest. Usually after a blow there are plenty of eating mussels, but on this occasion these were conspicuous b v their absence. The New Zealand ' Marine Department announced yesterday that as a result of the preliminary inquiry into the mishap to the coastal motor-ship Foxton, no further inquiry would be held, reports the “Dominion.” The Foxton touched a. rock off. Karon Rock m the heavy fog on the night of January 15, while bound from Patea to Wellington.

One of the disadvantages ol having university examination papers marked in England was mentioned by Professor J. Macmillan Brown in Christchurch, in discussing the. recent decision of the New Zealand University Senate to inquire into the possibilities of nUark'nig degree examinations in the Dominion. That difficulty was the time and hazard involved m sending the papers overseas. There was one occasion when the Mataura was lost •t the straits of Magellan, and all the papers with her. Third-stage students were passed or. failed on the professors’ recommendations, but the honours students had to sit all ovei again, and their papers were marked by Australians.

Pasture management is a subject m which Mr. M. E. O’Brien, of Bendigo, who is touring the Dominion with the Victorian farmers, is keenly interested He said at Wellington that there was one word of . comment lie would like to pass on for what it was worth. To his mind superphosphate, was used too extensively in New Zealand. As a result of that it appeared to him that the soil would ultimately be lacking in potash—an essential plant .food. TherOvwas something in the claim ot those who contended that with tne excessive use of superphosphate the coil was iikeiy to become ‘superphosphate sick.” In Victoria superphosphate was used on an average ot about one cwt. an acre. “It is unfortunate that in recent months in this district there has been a marked increase in this type of crime,” remarked Mr. J. Miller, S.M. when dealing with two boys who came before him in the Children’s Court, at Masterton, on three charges of breaking and entering dwelling houses at Carterto‘n and stealing money and roods (states an exchange). The 1 ' magistrate said that he did not know whether unemployment among youths hat. anything to do with the matter. One lad whose father said he was a goo; worker and honest was ordered to the Weraroa- Training Farm, while the other youth, described as the ringleader was sent to the Borstal Institution for a period of three years. As a result of a keen demand foi Marlborough peas in Melbourne, a direct boat is to sail from Picton to Australia next month. This will be the first instance of direct loading for Melbourne at Picton for many years, and recalls the hey-day of the barley trade, when direct shipments of the famous Marlborough gram to Australia were common. : Another familiar feature about the present instance is the fact that the name of the vessel to call at Picton is the Wainui, but it is not, of course, the little old Wainui of the Picton-Wellington ferry service. The boat is to load on February 10.

In view of Wanganui’s central position, it has been decided that the Wes; Coast (N. 1.) Amateur Athletic Centre championship meeting will be held or. February 18 on Cook’s Gardens. At the annual meetinjg of the governing body it was. suggested that the meeting should be held at New Plymouth as the last had been held at "Wanganui. New Plymouth athletic executives were in‘agreement that in view of the present times it would aid athletes. from all sections of the district if the meeting was held in Wanganui, as it was the most central athletic ground in the district, besides being one which is eminently suited for such a meeting.

Spectators' at the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland a nil Wellington at Eden Park. Auckland, on Saturday afternoon 'hadl their interest momentarily diverted from the field of play by the cry of .“Fire” from persons seated in the main stand, (reports the “N.Z. Herald”) Probably ignited by a discarded match or lighted cigarette, a portion of the flooring in the stand caught alight and the fire seemed likely to obtain a hold. One of the first to take action was a president of a prominent local amateur athletic body, who created much amusement by running to the. seat ot the fire armed with a large tin filled with water. A procession of helpers qnicklv, followed with water container? raiudno- from kerosene tins to enamel pails, and .the flames were extinguished.