LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 80, 16 March 1936, Page 6

LOCAL & GENERAL

Australian Tourists, A party composed of 19 Australian tourists, who arrived in Auckland by the P. and O. liner Strathnaver on Friday, arrived in Napier last evening and left by train this morning for Wellington. East Coast Railway. A tour of inspection of the East Coast railway line was carried out at the week-end by officers of the Railway Department, the party including the general manager of New Zealand Railways, Mr G. H. Mackley. The party left Napier for Gisborne early on Saturday morning and returned to Napier yesterday aiternoon. They left for Wellington by rail-car early last evening. Wash-house Fire. An outbreak of fire this morning completely destroyed a wooden washhouse at the residence of Mr. H. B. Lusk, Lincoln road, Napier. The building was situated about 10 or 15 feet from the two-storey dwelling and the prompt action of the Fire Brigade safeguarded the major building. A clothes line in easy reach of the washhouse was fully burdened, but the flames did not reach it. The building was covered by insurance.

Cyclist In Hospital. A farmer named Thomas O’Connor (55), of Longlands, was cycling along Railway road, Hastings, on Saturday night when he collided with a car driven by Mr. lan McPhail, of Opapa. When Mr. McPhail took the injured man to the Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital it was discovered that he had concussion and laceration of the scalp. He was in an unconscious condition,, but the hospital authorities said this morning that his condition was fairly satisfactory.

Valuable Trophies Lost, Racing trophies which he valued at about £lOOO were lost by ths wellknown trotting owner and trainer, Mr F. J. Smith, when a house at Takanini, Auckland, temporarily occupied by him while his new home was being built, was destroyed by fire shortly after 11 o’clock on Friday night. Mr Smith was in the city at the time. There is no fire brigade in the district, and the neighbours were unable to do anything to save the house, which was well ablaze when the flames were first noticed.

Hastings Children at Otakt. Hastings children who have benefited by a stay at the Otaki Health Camp as a result of the recent sale of health stamps in the town now number eight, while a further four are at present in the camp, where, like the other children from this district, they will remain for a period of six to eight weeks. The sale of stamps in Hastings resulted in the sum of £lB4 being netted, of which sum £3O has already been expended. The expenses of the four children who are at present in the camp are not'included in that £3O. Coal and Oil. “Undoubtedly oil exists in fairly large quantities in the North Island, but to what extent it is likely to become a commercial possibility the future alone can tell,” said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, at Auckland when speaking of his investigations into the industries under his control. To say the least it was most gratifying to know that there were definite possibilities as far as the oil deposits were concerned. Mr Webb said he was informed that about £2,000,000 was being spent in Great Britain in boring and testing for oil without anything like the encouragement there was in New Zealand. He added that his department would always be interested in any scheme calculated to further develop the industrv

Delivery of Show Exhibits. It is important for exhibitors at the Hawke’s Bay Autumn Show to note particularly the times at which their exhibits are required to be in position. All exhibits to be judged on Wednesday, the day preceding the opening of the show, are required to be in position by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. All poultry should be delivered by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and floral exhibits, except Class IVI (collection of produce and home industries) at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, while the exhibits for Class 101 must be in position by 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Dogs on trial must be on the ground by 8.45 a.m.; and live stock and dogs for exhibition by 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Wireless Sets for Homes. The three wireless sets which have been purchased for the three Hawke’s Bay Children’s Homes as a result of efforts which have been made at Hastings have now been installed, one having bee.n put in at each of the two Napier homes during last week, while the one at Eskdale was installed yesterday. All of the sets are of the latest allwave type, tlieir retail price being £2G each, but a considerable reduction was secured on that price. The necessary money for the sets was soeured as a result of broadcast appeals by Uncle Ed, of 2 ZL Hastings, by a concert given by Uncle Ed in Napier, by a special penny collection by Uncle Monte and by a concert arranged by the National Service Club. Hastings.

Head of the House. It is conceivable that when the Census schedules arrive there may be in some households —particularly those where a widowed mother and her son or sons are living—some discuss'on as to who is the head of the house. One ol the questions in the householder's schedule deals with the relation of others in the dwelling t< the head of the household. Those filing in the schedule are asked to state whether the poisons enumerated in the first question arc the “bead,” “wife,” “son,” “daughter,” “visitor,” “boarder,” ■‘servant.” as the case may he. In >< household in which a mother and a son cf twenty-one years of age or over ore living each may claim headship. Who is the head is no concern ol the Census and Statistics Department: the issue is one for the individuals of the houMhold to aettle.

St. Patrick's Day. To-morrow is St, Patrick’s Day, the day of the patron saint of Ireland, who, according to available authorities, was born about the year 389. On thia day all the banks hold a holiday, as do the lawyers, but Government departments do not close on saints’ days. Votes on Ngaruroro Loan. There is a doubt in the minds ot some Hastings ratepayers as to who should vote on the Ngaruroro river loan. Mr. C. Lassen, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, said this morning that not a few people had inquired of him whether all or only some Hastings borough ratepayers were qualified to vote on this question. He states that all may vote. Individual rating demands are not sent to Hastings borough ratepayers, but the Hastings Borough Council receives a demand for the whole amount

Wintry Weather, The cold weather last night called for extra blankets and the application of personal fortitude in getting out of bed early this morning. Mr. H. Nelson Fowler, the Government weather recorder at Hastings, who daily gives a report to the “Tribune,” said this morning that the minimum temperature was 35 degrees, which is approximately six degrees higher than that accompanying a frost. Nevertheless, in many parts of the borough at five o’clock this morning gardens and lawns were white, and even two hours later all the hoar particles had not been dispersed.

Deqtal clinic Fees. Parents of school children who attend the Hastings School Dental Clinic are reminded that the children's fees are now due. Actually to-day was the elosing date, but tho clinic committee decided to extend the period till the end of this month. Inquiries made from the clinic show that this year the fees are coming in fairly well, and that in all probability the aggregate will equal that of last year. No approxi nate figures can bo given, but there are indications that if parents continue to support the clinic, which is doing a fine service for the children, the sum of money available after this month will enable the clinic to continue its full work of service in the coming year. Egg Shortage, There is a shortage ot eggs in Hastings, as there usually is at this period of the year. Perhaps there has been a more sudden decline in the output than was noticeable last year, but this would be due to a continued lack of warm weather, said a poultryman this afternoon, and comparatively cool temperatures. These climatic conditions seem to have prompted the hens to delay their moulting for a short period, then the majority of them moulted at practically the same time, and before the pullets had commenced to lay. Thus the gap between the moulting of the hens and the laying period of the pullets is slightly increased, but not to any marked extent. Somes Island Seabirds, “This society views with concern the proposal to open Somes Island to the public, because this will be detrimental to the seabird nesting-ground on the island,” stated a resolution passed by the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. “These birds do invaluable work in scavenging the harbour and its surroundings. If their numbers are lessened, it will be detrimental to public health, as well as in other ways. The island in the past has been a most valuable quarantine station, and is still so used. In the event of any unfortunate happening such as foot-and-mouth-disease being introduced, its capacity as a quarantine station would be fully taxed. Because tho stock are confined in paddocks on the island, the steep sides will in the course of time become covered with vegetation owing to birds distributing seeds. This is happening now, mainly because the island is reserved for its present purposes, and the beauty of the harbour is thus being added to without cost.”