LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3426, 29 September 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At a meeting of the executive and members of the Maniapoto District Silver Band held on Monday night it was decided to carry out the usual sports and novelty events on Labour Day, 24th October next.

The men in the camp at Waitomo are in urgent need of old clothing for patching their clothing, which has to undergo heavy wear on account of the work the men are engaged on. At present they have to resort to the use of the canvas of old tent flys to do their patching. Those willing to donate any old clothrhg, however much worn, can leave same at Chronicle Office, and it will be sent out to the camp.

The final game for the King Country amateur billiards championship was played at Taumarunui on Monday evening between C A. Stevenson and L. Baker, and resulted in an easy victory for Stevenson by 247 points. The game was 1000 up.

"The climate of the North Island appeals to me as being comparable to that of California," said Dr. A. L. Lewis, speaking at the Wanganui Rotary Club recently (reports the Chronicle). With regard to earthquakes, he said that the Californians had had some experience of them and the San Francisco 'quake had been "quite a little affair."

"I do not think we make our churches comfortable enough—the seats and kneeling facilities are likewise most uncomfortable," commented Bishop Cherrington in a sermon at Hamilton. The essence of religion, his lordship added, was adoration. Religion must be of a homely character. When they came to church they came to adore God and must be on familiar terms with Him. How could they express their thoughts and most ardent aspirations otherwise?

>"lt is time that local bodies abandoned the principle of using the No. 5a scheme for self-benefit," remarked Mr. J. Gibbs during a discussion at the Taranaki Hospital Board (reports the Daily News). Mr. A. Corkill said that in the interests of the ratepayers the Board had to study economy. Mr. J. BroWn declared that local bodies did not get the benefit of the No. 5a scheme for nothing, as the scheme had last year cost the New Plymouth Borough Council £4OOO.

The prospects for the fishing season, which opens this Saturday, seem to be favourable as regards local streams, which, reports state, are well stocked. It is to be hoped, however, that the rain does not make conditions too unpleasant or the water too turgid for fishermen, as may be the case if there are heavy falls in the next day or so r The rain that has fallen so far should not affect the position a great deal.

The tennis season in the district will soon be starting in earnest, and several clubs, will commence play within the next week or so. At least two clubs are opening this Saturday, the local Methodist and the Hangatiki courts. It is probable that the Te Kuiti Club will open on the 15th of next month. Working bees are to be held on the intervening Saturdays m order to prepare the courts for the season. Also opening on that date are the Mangapeehi Club, while the local Railway Tennis Club will start the season on the 23rd.

Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P. for Stratford, has asked the following question in the House of Representative?: Whether, in view of- the fact that 80 per cent, of fire brigadesmen in the Dominion are volunteers receiving no payment, and that they protect an enormous amount of Government property from fire loss, the Minister of Internal Affairs will review the decision cancelling the issue of free railway passes to brigade members attending the annual business conference of fire brigades; and whether he will take into consideration the fact that the annual subsidy for this purpose has been revoked and that the issue of tickets entails little or no cost upon the Government.

The difficulty of recovering debts in Sydney at the present time was remarked on at Christchurch by the Rev. Frank Rule, who has returned to that city after a visit to Australia, reports the Press. The Moratorium Act enabled householders to go for practically six months without paying their rent, three months before action could -be taken, and generally three months after they appeared in the Courts. Mr. Rule added that business was brisk in Sydney and that everybody was hopeful of better imes. The rise in the price of wool and the expected benefits to exporters from the results of the Ottawa Conference had brightened the outlook of Sydney business men considerably.

The "hard-up" dance held for the blue baby in the Parish Hall on Tuesday evening proved a great success. Most of the dancers turned up as "hard-up," and many costumes had original notes which caused much merriment and conjecture. The prizes Were carried off by young man who looked hard up in real truth —he was a mass of rags an inch or so thick from head to toe. The ladies prize was won by a simpering bride, who gazed down at a small but fine head of cauliflower to hide her blushes. Another costume most worthy of note was "Moses," complete with sackcloth and beard. Others also in the running are too numerous to mention. Much of the success of the evening was due to the capable M.C., a Dr. Donehasbeen, who, strangely enough, greatly resembled, save for beard and side-whiskers, a local medical luminary. During the evening he added to his popularity by his instructions to the dance orchestra not to stint the •ncorea.