LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 27 April 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails which left -Auckland on M^irch 21 per s.s. MakuTa, via Vancouver, ar^ rived iv London on April 24.

The first £&*i»e*s' school held at the State central development farm at Levin is now in progress. It is attended by 100 yonng farmers from allparts oS H3ie Wellington province.—Press Association.

In ©rlfir that a start xnay be made with the -erection of the High School in. Mss&ertan at an -eai-ly date, the .Board sof Governors has decided to issue further "debentures (states the Wairarapa l>aily Times). The board invite applications for the purchajse of £8000 worth «f 'lxovevmn*;nt debentures of the value od: £50 to &JAJO, bearing interest at the rate of 5J per cent, from date <af pus-chatae.

Whether the yellow rata is a freak or a distmct variety is still debatable (says an Comparison of the blooxns srith those of the scarlet rata shows no -difference except in. colour.

Young plants are obtainable on the tJreat Barrier, where there is quif» a, large patch of them. Isolated speciments have also been found on the banks of the Mokau and at Arthur's Pass, in the South Island.

"Last night was the worst night I have had at sea ior a long time," said Captain A.. J. Channan, of the Waimana, which arrived in the stream at Wellington at a little after 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning. "We had a four_ ton anchor down, and yet were blown right into Evans Bay, the lights of Wellington being totally obscured." The Waimana had encountered bad weather since last Thursday, and Monday night's wind was a disappointment to her company, who had anticiapted a peaceful night in the protection of the harbour.

The Hawera branch of the South African Veterans' Association held a re-union in the Drill Hall last night, which passed off most successfully, Mr G. Easton (president) occupying the chair. Representatives were present from New Plymouth and Stratford branches, and they received a very cordial welcome. The Defence Department represented by Captain Bremer, the returned soldiers by Captain Johnstone, and Maori War Veterans by Mr Black. A fairly lengthy toast list was honoured, interspersed wi^h vocal and instrumental items. Various incidents connected with the Boer war were revived, and the hope was expressed that gatherings such as "the present would be more frequent, in order to foster the spirit of comradeship engendered on the "veldt. One point that stress was laid upon was that all South African veterans should wear their badges at _all times, as a means of identification. Several instances were given of the value of this practice. Great praise was awarded the ladies whlPhad provided the provisions and so tastefully laid +lie table during the afternoon. Sergt.-Major Mahoney filso came in for unstinted praise for organising the gathering.