LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 28 September 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

* “The broad, flat noses and everted lips characteristic of certain races have been developed by the need of peoples living in hot climates for greater ‘ventilation’ than those living in cool temperatures,” said Mr. Gilbert Arehey, director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, in a recent lecture. Peoples whose ancestors had lived in cool regions had narrow, sharp noses, with consequently smaller nostrils, and thin tight lips. A request that the Wanganui Hospital Board should provide false teetli for relief workers and their families was lately received from the Wanganui Relief Workers’ Association. The

chairman, Mr. W. Broderick, stated that a similar request, had been re-

ceived some time previously, when the matter had been referred to the Health Department, as it was considered that it was outside the board’s duties. It was agreed, on Mr. W. J. Rogers’s motion, that a further letter be sent to the department on the subject. The rarest exhibit at the Cheeseman Memorial Spring Exhibition of native dowers at the Auckland War Memorial Museum is probably the least spec-taeu-ar of all the plants displayed, says the ‘ New Zealand Tderald.” Its scientific name is phylloglossum drummondii and the uninitiated might easily mis_ake it for a small daisy with the flower not yet opened. Nevertheless, it is a much-valued specimen, and will probably be sent to America after the exhibition. Visiting botanists have been j known to display more interest in this plant than in the kauri. Compliments to the Press of New i Zealand are not frequently paid from j the floor of me House of Eepresenta- J fives (says the “Dominion”!, but Mr. i E. E. Healy (Govt., Wairau) had a | vord of praise yesterday for what he said were the best newspapers in the | world. “The public are quite in the i dark as to why the newspapers were | prohibited .from publishing dividends,” mid Mr. Healy, when introducing the j Gaming Amendment Bill. “We should j feel proud of our Press. No other country has a Press superior to our own, yet our Press is gagged with re- j spect to publishing dividends. Wei have to wait for the arrival of the Australian papers to see the dividends in print. The position is absurd.”

At the annual meeting of the Ha-i wera Poultry Society last night it was! stated that two of the successful exhibitors and prize-takers, Messrs Don Stewart and CYiar.es Cudby, had been active breeders and exhibitors at shows for well over forty years. Both members were given an enthusiastic reception at the meeting.

The purpose of the Law of. Libel Amendment Bill, read a first time in the House of Representatives yesterday, is to protect from actions for libel persons who in good faith and without malice publish a fair and accurate report of the proceedings of domestic tribunals set up by -sports organisations and other bodies. An example would be the proceedings and findings of a committee appointed by the Racing Conference to hear charges of malpractice against a jockey.

The raising of the marriage age in New Zealand to 16 years for both sexes is understood to be contemplated in the Marriage Amendment Bill, which, the Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Gobbe, intimated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday he would introduce this session. Under the existing law a girl may marry on teaching the age of 12 years, and a boy on attaining the age of 14 years. The raising of the age -has been advocated by women’s organisations for many years, and it is anticipated the Bill .shortly to come before the House will be widely welcomed. The danger of sailing toy boats at the beach was illustrated at Cheltenham, Auckland, on Monday morning, when a child was nearly drowned. As often happens, the boat drifted beyond the child’s reach, and when he attempted to reach it he lost his footing. He screamed, and Mr R. J. Dickie, who was near by, rushed into the water, fully clothed, and reached the child, who had already sunk twice Presently a woman arrived who knew where the child lived and he was taken home, little the worse for ms experience.

The Judicature Amendment BiU, which will shortly be introduced an the New Zealand Parliament, i» expected. to follow the lines of a. measure with a similar title which was placed on the- Statute Book last session. That Act was passed with ob-, ject of enabling the Uourt of Appeal to hold a special sitting to consider the appeal of Edward Tarrant against his 'sentence to death in connection with a murder at Pieton. It is understood the new Bill will seek to give general application to the Judicature Amendment Act.

Notice of his intention to introduce the Fire Insurance Companies’ Liability Bill was given in the House o-l Representatives on {Tuesday by Mr. A M. Samuel (Coalition, Thames). In an interview Mr Samuel said the ch,.ei provision of the Bill was to protect t,he assured -aganst the unnecessary payment of premiums necessitated by over-insurance, and to make the companies liable for payment of the amount mentioned in the policy fin the event of total loss by fire) or to expend the same amount in the reerection of the building. A-s an indication of the increase of the work in the Auckland town clerk’s department during 1932-33, Mr J. S Brigham states in his latest report that for the year ended March 31 last incoming letters numbered 8619 as against 7602 the previous year. Tfu number of stencils used for preparing agendas, minutes and reports called for by the council and its committees was 6480 in 1933 and 4488 the previous year. This involved the use in 1933 of 848 reams of duplicating paper, totalling 437,568 sheets, its (compared with 500 reams, or 257,000 sheets the previous year.

PetroL thieving is .causing motorists considerable annoyance and inconvenience in Auckland at present. The thieves are believed to work in. gangs, and- usually at night, in unfrequented streets. They select a likely-looking car, post -one or two scouts to give tlie alarm in case the owner should come back in the middle of the operation, and calmly set about draining the tank of its contents. Tliiis is usually done by siphoning with a rubbei tube into cans brought for the purpose. The success that has so far attended their efforts has emboldened the thieves. A glaring example ocaurreu when a powerful roadster was parked in Shortland Street, with a large and full tank. Undeterred by the bright l;ghts and passers-by, the thieves started the car, drove it to a darkei and less frequented spot round the corner in O’Connell Street, and there drained the tank. The motorist, at first frantic at losing- his ear, which was not insured; gave a- sigh of relief upon seeing its familiar radiator in the distance. His relief turned to anger when the car stopped after the first hundred va.rds. and he was obliged ti walk to the nearest garage for a can of petrol.