LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 30 January 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Apparently exhausted by the swirl of the breakers, a smalt penguin struggled on to the rocks near Island Bay, Wellington, on a recent afternoon. lake tlie majority of its kind, it was quite tame, and provided amusement for the picnickers. Later a man carried it to more placid water, where it dived in and made for the open sea. An onlooker remarked that Ihe had Jived in the vicinity for 10 years, but had not previously seen a penguin on the shore. Commenting on life-saving precautions on the Auckland West Coast beaches, a representative of the Royal Life-Saving Society expressed the opinion that SO per cent, of the fatalities which occur on New Zealand suri beaches could be avoided if the local authorities erected notice boards showing the points of danger, and the places for safe bathing,' and, further, either prohibited bathing at low watei or warned bathers of the danger o, the increased backwash at that stage of the tide (states the “Auckland Star”). Respecting the establishment of reels and life-lines at the beaches, he stated that each reel and line required at least two experienced men, including one practised in the art oi swimming through surf, with a line An inexperienced swimmer with a lifeline would only get himself into difficulties. The Royal Life-Saving Society could not, at present, patrol the west coast beaches regularly, but it had offered to send life-guards with picnics, or large parties of visitors when application was made.

There is a mild stir in the usually placid municipal atmosphere of Mosman (writes the Sydney correspondent of the “Melbourne Argus”). This suburb is one of the leading residential districts of Sydney, overlooking the harbour from the northern side. Its population was largely professional and also civil service. Conditions Socially and otherwise are better than the average. Mosman for many years had its aldermen assemble at the council table in evening dress. Aldermen oi other districts jeered, but the custom continued. Then came a -change. Some new aldermen were elected, and they attended in tweeds and coloured ties. The old regime wilted. The evening dress section kept its ground, and the tweed party persisted, but stateliness seemed to- be dying. There was a further shock for seme of the aldermen when the Mayor discarded the robes of office and presented himself in evening dress only, accompanied by a town clerk who- had discarded wig and gown and wore evening dress to match the Mayor’s. Inquiries concerning the reason for the change were met with a brusqueness that left curiosity unsatisfied .

The large number of young people in search of billets was emphasised at a meetin-r cf the Auckland Hospital Board this week, when it wa.s reported that, in answer to an advertisement calling for applications for the post oi cadet in the pathological department, a.uout 200’ had applied (reports the “Auckland Star”). The applications were referred to* a committee with instructions to reduce to twelve. The Piako County Council has experienced considerable difficulty in the past in obtaining ail applicant for tine position of dog-tax collector. This year, however, the council had replies to its advertisement from a number of men who were prepared to allow their commission to remain with the council in payment of their rates. To have a medal which lie had lost restored after a. lapse of 38 years 'was tiie good fortune which befell Mr h • Hitchcock, of Matamata, recently. Mr Hitchcock won the medal while a member of the Ponsonby Club, and lost it within a few months. Recently his brother entered a chemist’s shop m Aaicklancl, and on giving liis name the chemist mentioned he. possessed a medal with the name Hitchcock inscribed thereon. The trophy was identified and restored to its owner.

Although the total number of sheep travelling to the Waikato from Poverty Bay this year is not so large as in past years, -substantial mobs are at present on tiie road from the Gisbo-rne and coastal districts. As a contrast with the experience cf the past two years (says the “Poverty Bay Herald”) most of these have been already purchased by farmers, and very few of the sheep, which are practically all breeding ewes, will go to the safeyards. In addition, large numbers of sheep are on the way to Hawke’s Bay, mainly two-toot-li ewes ami wethers. Most of these also have been purchased by farmers. As a result of t-lier number of mobs, travelling both north and south, practically all district drovers are at present on the road.

The sales of Bibles by the British and Foreign Bible Society in New Zealand last year reached the total number of 16,062 copies. This is 5949 in excess of the previous best year, and about double the number sold three years ago. The sales of Testaments and Portions reached 29,791, making a grand total for the .society lor 1932 of 34,602 copies of the Scriptures. “Records in the sales of whole Bibles,” says the Rev. David Caklerj Dominion Secretary of the Society, “are a marked feature of the world work at the present time. Particularly is this iso in China and among the Mohammedans of the Levant.” A strong sot from .the beach about a quarter of a mile from Paritutu rock at New Plymouth yesterday swept Miss Monica Thorne out of her deptn for a considerable distance. The swimmer soon found herself, in difficulties and she was brought to shore only after a strenuous fight with the set by Mr I-lenrv Anthony, New Plymouth, who went to her assistance. The two were swept out about 200 yards, Miss Thorne becoming unconscious before Mr Anthony could bring her to land some chains from where she entered. Meanwhile the reel was in use in the original place and tne beltman had to rescue a would-be assistant clad in trousers. A fatal drowning accident occurred from the same place three or four years ago, a girl 'being swept out to disappear before help could be obtained.

On* the motion of the Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniveii, the Taka-puna - Borough Council this week decided to write to the Prime Minister urging amendment t-o the existing policy of relief, particularly No. 5 scheme (reports the “Auckland Star”). Mr: Guiniven sniii that from what he had hoard and react be was satisfied that the dole system as it operated at Home had much to commend it. It was really a form of unemployed insurance which included medical benefits. He said that No. 5 scheme was too burdensome' on local authorities, while it also tied relief workers to a particular locality and gave them no incentive to seek more remunerative employment. The worst feature of this scheme was that it was breeding a sense of hopelessness, and did not induce men to give their best in return for the money expended on their behalf. Other councillors spoke m ,support, one stating that relief workers did not earn sufficient to keep their families, and certainly were not able to have the necessary, food upon which to do hard work.

A pronounced feature of the Christmas holiday traffic at Ballarat, Victoria. was the extraordinary increase in horse-drawn vehicles, especially linkers and buggies (states a Dunedin resident who recently returned from a visit to Australia). A return was observed also to the old-fashioned method of picnicking by van and waggon and covered-in carts. Confirmation of the revival of popularity of the horse was given by a member of a firm of leather and harness merchants. He stated that 1932 had been one of the best years for some time in regard to the trade in harness of all descriptions. There had been a big advance in orders for draught harness, an much old harness had been brought to life for reconditioning by farmers, whom economic conditions had divorced them from tractors and other motor machinery. Light harness had also sold remarkably well, and more riding saddles had been sold in the past two years than tor the previous twelve years. There was every indication of still better times in the harness and leather trade.

What is planned to be the greatest and most comprehensive advertising and marketing exhibition ever conceived will he. opened by the British Advertising Association on July 17 at Olympia, London. The association, of which Major the Hon. J. J. Astor, M.P., is president, conducted a remarkably successful exhibition at Olympia in 1927. On that occasion most of the exhibitors were drawn from the British Isles,- hut this year the Dominions and Crown colonies will also be well represented, as will those foreign countries with which the Empire cap profitably trade. Concurrently there will be held an advertising and marketing conference, which will bring together advertising and other business men from mil parts of the Empire, the Continent and l America during London’s most- popular month for overseas and provincial visitors. The exhibition and conference has been conceived a:s “the Ottawa, of the business man,” and as a challenge to the apathy born of world depression. Tn the course of a week it is intended to present a comprehensive picture of the advertising and. marketing services available to industry and particularly to demonstrate to the consumer the advantage of ■‘buying advertised' and, branded goods.

HUNTINGTON’S; ’Phone 2118. ‘Our Novelty Prints ami Cambrics are proving very popular for Ladies’ and Kiddies’ Beach, Picnic, and House Frocks, nnd- are just ‘‘tlic thing’ 7 tlie.se hot days. Printed Rayons, Crepe Crcsta, Art Crepe do Chino are most fascinating for better wear frocks. Bale prieesjfroni 1/6 to 4/6 per yard.—Advt.

Due to engine trouble a launch which loft Waitara early yesterday morning on a fishing expedition failed to return at the expected hour and anxiety for one of the occupants, a young man whose presence was required for work in New Plymouth early in the evening, caused many enquiries to be made. Growing fears, however, were allayed when at 10 o’clock last evening the launch arrived at the "Waitara wharf.

Ideal weather prevailed throughout the Taranaki Province yesterday and large crowds visited -southern beach -resorts or joined organised picnic parties on a visit to New Plymouth. When the excursion train from Hawera reached Lepperton a count of heads revealed 605 passengers. A few left the train at East End, but most of the travellers went on to Kuwaroa Park, and the Breakwater, where the hot sun and warm calm sea tempted many more besid-s the Hawera visitors to the beaches. 'Two hundred motor cars or more ware drawn up in orderly lines at Ngamotu. Every shady spot and many sunny ones were occupied by parties taking al fresco meals. Sunbathers and sea-bathers numbered many hundreds.