LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 May 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An outsize .in parsnips, measuring 3ft uin from crown to, tip, was grown by L. O’Keefe, an Eltham Convent school entrant in the South Taranaki Boys ‘and Girls’ Club vegetable Competitions. In top circumference the vegetable was of an average size, but the length of the root was decidedly unusual. A West Coast remit, “that the Government bo requested to .repeal the Daylight Saving Act,’’ came before the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Wellington on Thursday. In view of the importance of the issue it was* decided to postpone consideration until the annual conference in July next. A remarkable coincidence is shown in the weather report for April from Roapuna, Mid-Canterbury. During the month 2(53 points of rain were recorded on,, nine days. In March the same total on the same number of days was recorded, while the average rainfall for April during the last live years is 263 points. ____ BSSSSeyT" r " -' "ST*" “The pitcher that goes to the well too often gets broken ultimately.” was the comment of Mr Justice Reed when a jury in the Supreme; Court at Wellington on Wednesday returned a verdict of not guilty against John Paton Hardy and John Augustus. Jeanes, who were charged jointly with the tlieft of npuitz metal, valued at £7B 7s 6d, the property of the Wellington Harbour Board.

The selectors of the All Black team to tour Australia this season will bo appointed at next Wednesday’s meeting of the management committee ot the New Zealand Rugby Union, according to a statement made by the chairman, Mr S. S. Dean, at ’Wednesday night’s meeting of the committee at Wellington. The .selectors; appointed this year will probably bo asked to hold office for two seasons, selecting also tlie 1935 All Black team to tour Great Britain.

The fact that . many people cannot stand tlie sight of blood was demonstrated at the annual meeting of the Wellington Blood Transfusion Service on Wednesday evening. A film showing surgeons engaged in a transfusion operation was being screened to illustrate the latest methods, and stifled gasps were heard among the audience, (reports the “Dominion”). The picture proceeded in its graphic realism, a net. unable to endure even a black and white representation of tlie real tiling,, a number oL tbe beholders departed from the room, to return only when the film nad run its course. The opinion that Auckland had an appearance of prosperity was voiced by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, when speaking at the Officers’ Club on Monday evening. Officers of the territorial force, he said, would understand that at the present time the Government did not have a, great deal of money to spend, but it was trying to make its funds go as far as possible. He hoped that on the occasion of his next visit lie would, be able to say that the Government was going to spend more in connection with defence matters. “Judging from wliat I have seen to-day we shall have more money to spend when the rest of tlie country becomes as prosperous at> Auckland appears to be,” said the Minister. “It is a serious matter, bub I suppose there are a few black sheep among the farming community,” remarked the president, Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., at a meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers* Union at Wellington on Thursday, "when reference was made to a recent case of false packing of wool. A Southland delegate said that his branch took a verv” serious view of the matter and desired to place its opinion on record. Mr Poison said that the New Zealand Farmers’ Union could not he held responsible for a farmer who broke the law, any more than it could he responsible for any other offender. Weddirfg festivities must have been conducted in great style by two men who provided a little humour m the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. One, a seaman, was fined £2 for * drunkenness. “May I have time to pay, your Worship?” he inquired of Mr. J 3. Page, &.M. I °nlj got married yesterday morning ’ Perliape we should allow him a chance, the police representative remarked. “Very well I’ll allow a week to pay, said 'the magistrate. As defendant stepped out of the dock another man. charged with the same offence stepped in “I was the best man at the wedding,” he told the magistrate in askino- for time to pay his £1 fine. He also was allowed a week. Party politics were trenchantly condemned by Mr J- Cocker (Eltham) at vesterday’e monthly meeting m . Hawera of the. South Taranaki provincial executive of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union. Mr Cocker considered that the Prime Minister’s refusal to accede to the request of Mi U. A. Wilkinson, M.P., for tlie inclusion of fann mortgages on the Dairy Commission’s order of reference was 'because of the party system. “The trouble is that the suggestion from the wrong source,” said Mr Cockei. I it had been » Government man somethin" might* have been done. He nave got "so far into party politics and m such a way that anything that comes from the ' Opposition is wrong at once ”Mr Cocker proceeded. 1 have been’ a party man all my life and have voted for some ‘duds’ because of party. Now I am done with party and am going to vote for the man m future.” The thrills of a big game hunting expedition by canoe down the Zambesi River were related to members or the* Mt. FJgmont Alpine Club at a* social gathering last evening by Mr R*. 6. Mourie, a’ Wellington member of the club, who spent six weeks on his trip. Mr Mourie graphically described the methods of garno hunting and the capture of a baby hippopotamus, which was subsequently sold to a zoo*. He also recounted existing experiences in yacht racing on Sydney harbour. There was a good attendance of members 1 , who thoroughly appreciated the descriptions. The speaker at the next meeting of the club will he Mr M. R. Jones, who is to talk on tho Tieaty of Waitangi.