Local and General.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 199, 8 August 1923, Page 4

Local and General.

The Hastings Fire' Brigade’s annual ball comes off to-night at the Olympia Cabaret.

The concert and dramatic recital which was to be given in St. Andrew’s Hall to-night lias been postponed. The future date will be announced later.

Most of the delegates from the various countries attending the PanPacific Science Congress have arrived in Sydney.

There have been widespread snowfalls in New South Wales, including districts where snow had not fallen for years, causing heavy mortality among poor-conditioned stock.

The coincidences which occur in daily life were referred to by Mr. J. W. Poynton. S.M., in a decision given at Auckland. He said that few surnames ended in “ee.” Yer at the relief of the Pekin Legations, the commanders oi the contingents of the three Great Powers—Britain. Germany, and America—all had such names, Gazelee, Waldersee, and Chaffee. The likelihood of such a combination occurring again, and within 20 years, %as millions and millions against one. Yet they had von Spee and Sturdee in the Battle of the Falklands.

At the annual meeting of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian congregation, Wellington. last night, it was resolved to reimburse the Rev. J. Robertson Orr the expenses incurred in connection with the recent legal proceedings against him for damages over some land required bv the church. The meeting congratulated him on complete victory over his troubles and presented him with a gold watch and chain as a token of appreciation.

On Saturday (relates the Christchurch “Press”) a young man was taken suddenly ill and removed to the Christchurch Hospital, where it decided to operate immediately. It was evening w’hen the patient recovered consciousness, and. turning to the nurse, he asked: “What was the result?” “The operation was quite successful,” replied the nurse reassuringly. “Oh, hang the operation; what I want to know is who won the football match,” demanded the young enthusiast.

The stock drive held during the year by the Masterton A. and P. Association realised £BO3.

'The Hibernian Society’s annual euchre party and dance will be held in the Hastings Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening. 28th instant. The roads of New Zealand have a total length of 59,390 miles. This includes unformed roads > There are 23,347 miles of metalled roads.

In reference to the influenza epidemic, the Napier Hospital authorities state that there has been no disorganisation of the staff.

After writing off £520 for depreciation, the credit balance of the Masterton A. and P. Association stands at £5970, as compared with £5547 the previous year.

Owing to.the prevalence of influenza amongst the pupils and staff of the Mahora North School, it has been thought advisable to close the school lor the rest of the week, re-opening on Monday next.

“We are spending now on educational buildings £430,000 a year,” said the Prime Minister on Monday, “whereas before the war the average expenditure was £lOO,OOO a yeAr.”

The Haumoana Beach Improvement Committee has asked the Hawke’s Bay County Council to proceed with the erection of the bridge across the lagoon, from the main road to the beach.

A successful year was reported at the annual meeting of the Napier Building Society on Monday evening, when Mr. J. V. Brown, who was re-elected chairman, said that no debt had been incurred during the year.

In accordance with the regulations, one-third of the members of the Napier Technical College Board of Governors must retire Before September. The retiring members will be chosen by lot, and will Ke eligible for re-election.

Twenty odd .years ago there was a meeting of forty odd Maori War veterans in Palmerston North. To-day they are represented by about five Maori War pensioners, and these have all passed the traditional allotted span hy several years.

Australian mails by the Maraina at Wellington, arrived in Hawke’s Bay this afternoon. The Taihiti is due earyl on Friday morning at Wellington with the San Francisco mail. Tho letter portion is expected to reach Hastings by the 1.12 p.m. train on Saturday next.

A rare occurrence happened at Kamo a few mornings ago (says the “Northern Advocate”), when quite a. stiff frost was experienced. Residents of that locality state that the climate there is so genial that potatoes may be grown all the year round.

A Feilding stock firm is lamenting tho departure of a client who lias not honoured a little account for approximately £llOO on a deal in the latter having been purchased in the Wairarapa. A Blenheim telegram states that the Marlborough A. and P. Association has adopted a progressive move in erecting covered sheep pens at the local showgrounds. The project, which involves a large expenditure, is to bq carried into effect for the next show.

While illustrating to the parents at the dental hygiene lecture at Mastertion how the majority of people discarded the most nutritious portion of the food and gave the children the rubbish, Colonel Hunter stated that if the hens were given the same stuff that was put before the children, people would not get much in the way of eggs.

Counterfeit coins are in circulation in tho Waikato. A half-crown which was handed into an office a few days ago was declared by tho bank officials to be spurious. Another was passed on the cashier of a picture theatre. With a view to warning others, the manager nailed the coin to the ledge of the ticket office. To his surprise, he found the coin hail been wrenched free and taken. Both coins were good imitations of currency.

Was any subsidy now being paid by the Government to encourage the development of tho Taranaki oil-fields? asked th© Leader of tho Opposition in the House of Representatives. The Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Marine)’ replied that nothing was now being paid by wav of State subsidy in respect of the Taranaki oil-fields. A company was working at present attempting to develop one of the bores; and the Government as mortgagee* was leasing th© oil-well in question to the company and a small quantity of oil was being obtained.

A social and dance is to be held in the Clive Public Hall on Thursday next, at 8 p.m. sharp, in aid of funds for the Clive Catholic Church. An enjoyable evening is assured. Between the dances musical items will be rendered by Rev. Father McDonald, Mr. R. Horsefield and Miss N. Coughlan, of Hastings, and Miss K. Mullaney, Messrs C. Tidy, and E. R. Murphy, of Napier. The decorations will be a special feature. The supper will also leave nothing to be desired, and the music will be in the capable hands of Mrs Keane’s orchestra. Duco cars will run from Napier and Nimon’s ’bus from Hastings. An arrangement was last year entered into between the Government of South Africa and New Zealand for the interchange of material in the Grey collection of the Capetown and Auckland libraries, relating to the respective countries, the Capetown library possessing records left by Sir George Grey of ftvlue to New Zealand, and the Auckland library holding similar records of value to South Africa. The exchange has been carried out, and the Minister of Internal Affairs has received notification from Auckland that valuable books and manuscripts have arrived safely. The Maori section should add to the material available to students of the Maori language.