LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 237, 19 September 1934, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL

Measles liav e been prevalent in tho Puketapu district during the last few days, with the result that a large number of children have been absent from school.

On board the steamer Canadian Britisher, which arrived at Auckland from Montreal on Monday afternoon, are two purebred Ayrshire bulls. The animals were bred in the Quebec Province and they will be unloaded at Wellington.

Ou behalf of the Children’s Homes, Mrs. Herbert Coleman makes an appeal for gifts of potatoes, apples, and eggs for preserving, and also for sports coats or similar working coats for the boys in tho home at Eskdale. Mrs. Coleman or Mrs. Guy Rochl'ort will arrange for the collection of parcels if donors will communicate with cither of them.

The boxers, trainers and delegates assembled in Hastings for the New Zealand amateur boxing championships tournament, which opens this evening, were the guests of the management ol the Regent, Arcadia, State and Cosy Theatres last night. A large number ol the visitors availed themselves of the invitation to enjoy the fine picture entertainment that was offering.

The gift of u very valuable collection of 640 different types of molliiscun fossil shells from Mr. C. R. Laws was reported to the Auckland University College Council. It was stated that .Mr. Laws had made this gilt in addition to carrying out a thorough revision and rearrangement of the college collection of fossils. The council decided to express very great appreciation ol the work done and of Mr. Law’s generosity in making over his collection to the college.

Following the recent accident on the Ngaruroro bridge, two engineers in Hawke's Bay have come to the conclusion that if automobile brakes exercised equal pressure on the wheels, the car would not depart from the straight line. Rather than slippery deck.* . being tho cause of so many car accidents, it is claimed that frequently the trouble lies in faulty brake adjustments, which cause cars to wobble ami skid on tho decking, particularly after rain.

Never before in the history of Hastings has there been such a representative gathering of visitors at the one time. It is a striking fact that the New Zealand amateur boxing championships tournament attracts a more representative assemblage of competitors from the different distriSts than any other annual amateur fixture held tn the Dominion. At present there arc 22 different districts represented and it is significant of tho pride that one has for one’s homo towu that the '‘ambassadors’’ all sport u generous splash of their district colours.

Two finds of ambergris ate reported from Mason’s Bay, Stewart Island. Messrs. Jennings and Simpson, of Awarua Plains, who are spending a holiday on the island, made a trip to Mason's Bay, on the west side, and there found two pieces of ambergris, one weighing 12 ounces and tho other 12) ounces. If the old high prices, for ambergris had still been ruling the find would have been a very valuable one, but prices have dropped sharply during the last few years. Ati authority on ambergris told a reporter that, because of a recent small rise in values, the “finds” would net their owners about £l6 each.

“If you want to see the finest collection of motor cars to be seen anywhere, then come to the Hawke’s Bay Spring Show,’’ stated Mr. E. A. Dawson, of Wellington, treasurer of the New Zealand Boxing Council, in the course of bis reply to, the civic welcome extended by tho Mayor of Hastings, (Mr. G. A. Maddison) this morning to the visitors in connection with the blew Zealand amateur boxing championships. “The Hawke’s Bay Show is one of the outstanding shows held In Now Zealand, and it is typical of Hawke’s Bay people that they should be champions of what they take up.’’

Tho executive committee of the Christchurch Free Ambulance Association last night confirmed a previous resolution to wind up the association’s affairs. A meeting of creditors of the association will be held on September 26, when ft decision on the appointment of ft liquidator will be made. The Christchurch Free Ambulance started operations in 1931, Once it had four vehicles on the road, but for a year it has been operating only one. Soon after the establishing of this association, the St. John Ambulance Association, which had previously charged for services to patients able to pay, made the ambulance free, suffering a considerable loss of revenue.

Reference to the first professional light staged under properly organised control in Hastings was made by the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Maddison, at the civic welcome to tho visitors attending tho New Zealand amateur boxing championships in Hastings. “I see before me Mr. Tim Tracy, who was one of the principals in that fight in June, 1908,’ said Mr. Maddison. “I wonder if he has with him a gold medal that was presented by the people of Hastings to him, through Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, in recognition of his outstanding sportsmanship!’’ Mr Tracy intimated that he had the medal still in his possession with a number of others at his home in Wellington.

An inquiry from the State Forestry Department concerning the prospects for tho use of power poles grown in New Zealand has been received by the Waitemata (Auckland) Electric-Power Board. The timber mentioned is creosoted eucalyptus ovata poles. The board has replied to the department that it is at present using Australian hardwood poles, the species being eucalyptus paniculata, and all the poles were desapped. The board’s estimated requirements next year were not less than 600 poles of 25ft. and 600 of 30ft. When the matter was mentioned at a meeting of the board, a member commented that the Australian poles could not be bettered, as the timber grew too quickly in New Zealand.