LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 23 April 1936, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

St. George’s Day to-day. “ Banks and law offices in Hastings and Napier were closed to-day in observance of St. George's Day and St. David's Day, Hospital Board Chairman,

The biennial election of chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board will be held at the June meeting. The present chairman, Mr. C. O. Morse, has held this office for the past eight years, having succeeded Mr J. B. Andrew.

Insuring Councillors. The New Plymouth Borough Council decided to take out a comprehensive insurance policy to cover councillors against accident while on council business. The suggestion was made some time ago and councillors were agreed that it would be wise to insure against liability incurred by accident. Railways Bill. Apart from a mild skirmish at the conclusion of they second reading debate, when a division was called for, the Government Railways Amendment Bill proceeded smoothly yesterday through the Legislative Council, by which it was passed without amendment at 3.50 a.m. The second reading was carried by 23 votes to six. Hastings Public Health. Thirty-three cases of infectious disease were notified to the Borough Health Inspector, Air. C. O. Carrell, during the year to March 31, as compared with 29 in the previous year. The 33 cases consisted of 11 cases of scarlet fever, nine of diphtheria, five of erysipelas, two of uudulant fever, and six of tuberculosis. Popples at Stortford Sale. Two enterprising members of the Hastings R.S.A. went to the Stortford Lodge salo yesterday with a view to selling poppies among the farmers there. The farmers responded generously, and the total sales amounted to nearly £B. That money will of course he added to the poppy fund for the relief of distress among Hastings returned soldiers and their dependents. Nelson Fruit. While the Nelson pear crop will pro. bably constitute a record for the district the ipple ciop will fall far short of growers’ early bookings, as the crop has not graded so well as anticipated. Considerable quantities of fruit have had to be discarded for russet, leaf roller, black spot and minor defects, said Mr. J. H. Thorp, orchard instructor. Red Indians Increasing. The phrase “The Vanishing Race” so often applied to the Red Indians of North America is a misnomer so far as Canada is concerned. A report issued by the Department of Indian Affairs shows that Canada’s Indian population increased from 134,894 in 1924 to 112,510 in 1934. Moreover, a steady improvement in the health of Indians on reserves is indicated.

Visit to Smedley, brom an advertisement appearing in another column, members of the Farmers’ Union will note that a party is being organised to visit Smedley Station on Thursday, April 30. Morning tea will be provided by the management, but visitors are requested to bring their own lunch. All members desiring to participate are requested to hand in their names to the secretary, Mr. D. Balharry, Hastings, by 28th inst., who will furnish full information regarding the trip. An Unusual Visitor.

Observing an unusual fish cruising between the Newton King and Moturoa wharves at New Plymouth, a fisherman struck at it with a barbed gag attached to a line. The gag held, and with some difficulty the stranger was landed. It proved to be a tuna over six feet in length and weighed, when dressed, 1601 b. Fishermen with many years’ experience, cannot recall seeing a tuna in New Zealand waters, but the species, which is noted for its fighting propensities, is plentiful in tropical seas. School Savings Bank. “The idea of the school savings bank is a splendid one, as it teaches the children the value of thrift,’’ comments the annual report of the Parkvale School Committee to be presented at the meeting of householders next week. “It is really an aid to the teaching of civics in the schools,’’ the report adds and goes on to say that the bank was inaugurated in September, 1934, and has been a great success, the pupils being even more keen now than at the initial stage. Striking Tribute, One of the most striking evidences of the very high esteem in which the late Mr C. W. Davis was held was the presence at the home and graveside yesterday, of a number of competitors at the Te I’oliue dog trials, now being held. These competitors, after putting their dogs through their trials, came to Napier by motor-car, attended the funeral, and returned later on to the dog trials. The sorrow manifested by these old comrades of the deceased was particularly touching.

Zeebrugge Anniversary. To-day is the eighteenth anniversary of the raid on Zeebrugge, and it was 18 years yesterday since Admiral Sir Roger Keys set off with bis tragi-coinic fleet in the moonlight to carry out one of the most daring and brilliant exploits in the whole of naval history. His flagship was the H.M.S. Warwick, and as he set sail he flew his famous signal: “St. George for England.” It has lately been told of the admiral that wiien it was realised that on the night chosen for the raid there would bo a brilliant moon, he answered: “Yon know, I was hoping it would be moonlight.” His and his men's minds were made up. and nothing was going to frustrate their plan of celebrating St. George’s Day by making their heroic raid.