Local and General

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 June 1935, Page 6

Local and General

While walking overland last week from Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound with the object of securing photographs and material for ft special publication advertising Southland s attractions, Mr F. N. Robson saw and captured a kiwi. The bird was kept in captivity long enough for photographs and motion pictures to be taken o* it. Although there are a good manv kiwis in this corner of'Fiordland, the.v are rarely seen in daylight. On a recent morning when the wind was like a whetted knife and a shower of hail had filled the odd corners on the weather side of the houses at Lyall Bav, a lone bather emerged from ins dwelling. As he dashed across the road on to the beach three men from the city engineer’s department, engaged on a survey, who were sheltering from the icy blast, caught sight of the white-haired bather. Scarcely able to believe their eyes, they watched him cross the road. Then, as he ran over the sand and into the water they gave him three cheers.

Claiming that the mechanical means of handling bulk cargoes developed within recent years had created a permanently grave position in the industry and that many men at present engaged in it were virtually on the borderline of starvation, a deputation of waterside workers waited on the Minister of Employment (Hon. S. G. Smith) at New Plymouth yesterday. The deputation asked the Minister to vary the present regulations of the Unemployment Board so that the men might benefit more by the provisions of relief. In reply the Minister stated that the Unemployment Board was already considering a thorough revision of the regulations as they affected the coal-mining land waterside industries particularly.

As a practical farmer the Hon. A. Hamilton, Acting-Minister of Finance and Postmaster-General,, has gained the distinction of winning the first award for fat lambs in the South Island lamb competition at Sraithfield. London. Nine districts competed, and the awards were:—First, Southland, pen No. 21; second, Eastern Southland, pen No. 31; third. Central Otago, pen No. 6; fourth, South Otago, lien No. 67. The winning lambs were raised on Mr Hamilton s farm at Thornbury, Southland. Southland won the shield, and the judges, commenting on Mr Hamilton’s exhibit, said: “A pen of good strain Down lambs of exceptional merit, short in the leg, lean across The loins and perfeet in shoulders. Represent an idea) lamb for the London trade from every point of view.”

Some latitude was permitted to students at the Massey College graduation ceremony this week. Among their achievements was the embarrassing of a Cabinet Minister. It was easily done. As Hon. Adam Hamilton sat down after making bis speech, the chorus from the gallery was “Adam where’s Eve?’’ As graduates and graduants descended from the dais after receiving their degrees at the hands of the Chancellor, they received a number of “bouquets” in t.h<forni of slabs of cheese, burlesque sheep, milking cups, etc. But there was a graceful tribute when the onl> woman student present to receive honours (a number were granted in absentia) was presented with a bouquet of real flowers.

Apparently more than usual value is attached by philatelists to envelope covers carried by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross on the recent ill-fated attempt to cross the Tasman. Perhaps this is only to be expected, in view of the fact that of the 28,000 covers comprising the mail which left Sydney, only approximately 1000 were safely returned, the remainder having been dropped int< the sea to lighten the load when fears were entertained by the crew for a safe return. Evidence of the apparent intrinsic value may be gained from prices quoted in Australia for the covers. Dealers are offering 3os for those autographed by Sir Charles and members of the crew, 27s 6d for those autographed by Sir Charles alone, and £1 for unautographed covers. Harold Connelly, of Dunedin, will remember Temuka. Temuka will remember Harold Connelly, of Dunedin. He will go down in history as the man who gave the unforgettable insult. Harold Connelly is a motor cyclist, which, of course, is evidence against him, and he rode his motor cycle through Temuka in such a manner as to cause Traffic Inspector W. R. Ashwell to call out ‘“Stop” or “Ho, there!” When Connelly was charged in the Temuka Court, before Justices of the Peace, with riding his motor cycle at a dangerous speed through Temuka'' the inspector, blanching slightly at the memory, told .the court that Connelly said lie hardly knew or even saw that there was a town there: In a grim silence Connelly, was fined £2. It is not quite clear whether that was for speeding or for not seeing Temuka.

Methods used by Wellington’s private detectives are seldom explained by them in public, but in the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday one ol them allowed a glimpse into iiis technique. He gave evidence from the witness stand in a divorce petition. “1 went to the respondent’s flat,” he said, “and asked her if she was on the municipal roll. She said ‘No,’ so I gave her a form, which she filled in.” (The form, which contained a signature, was produced). “Then,” lie continued, “she showed me over the flat,” upon details of which witness gave evidence.

The weekly flag “500” hold in the Soldiers’ Club at Hawera on Tuesday night again drew excellent support. First prizes were won by Miss Donald, Mesdames Coad and Whitton and Mr Coad; the ladies’ special prize by Mrs Whitton; men’s special by Mr Fink, while Messrs Hannah, Doyle, Rasmussen and Maddaford won consolation prizes.