LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4871, 16 July 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A reminder is given that the annual meeting of St. John Ambulance Association will be held in the Municipal Hall at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next.

The bobby calf trade is again being ushered in, numbers of early calves among the milking herds promoting its commencement rather earlier in the season than usual.

Recently the Te Kuiti Borough Council has been making inquiries from the Public Works Department to determine whether it would be possible for local bodies to purchase road materials and other things through the Public Works Departmetn. However, at last Monday's meeting a definite reply was received from the Minister that such a procedure could not be approved.

Readers will be pleased to learn that the Railway Department has arranged for special train arrangements and low fares to Taumarunui in connection with the representative football match, Taranaki versus King Country at Taumarunui on Saturday, 18th July. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns in this issue.

Union Airways Limited carried its 3000th passenger on its trunk air service between Palmerston North and Dunedin last Tuesday, stated an official of the company to "The Dominion." In the period from January 16 last until June 27, the company's machines flew 161,665 miles without any mishap. A total of 1307 hours had been spent in the air during that period, and the number of passengers carried was 2847, although since June 27 the 3000 mark had been well passed. During the period under review 20371 b. of freight and 88061 b. of mail were transported on the company's machines. Tne passenger miles in that period totalled 639,805, the ton miles frieght 247 and the ton miles mail 1176. "Of the 336 scheduled trips, 334 were completed in the period being reviewed," added the official, "this figure corresponding to a percentage regularity of 99.4."

Favourable opinions on the Government's payments on quality scheme for dairy produce were expressed in North and South Taranaki on Tuesday when Daily News reporters interviewed dairy company directors and members of the rank and file of the industry. The only criticism of consequences was that the scheme provided for rather too many differential payments, with very fine distinctions between each class. One man considered the margin of 9s 4d between the payment for whey butter and the guaranteed price was too great. It was pointed out that with the price varying for every half-point of grade the graders' responsibility was much increased. There was a general feeling of doubt whether it was possible for a grader in New Zealand to compare two cheeses within half a point of their respective qaulities when they reached the London market. However, it was agreed that the grading was quite satisfactory, taking a broad view, and that nothing was to be feared on this point. The contention was that there should be fewer payment classes, but this was rot regarded as a very vital matter.

The possibility of growing light types of timber in Napier for the construction of model aeroplanes is being exploited by the Napier Aero Club, states the Daily Telegraph. A supply of the timber known as balsamodrendon is to be obtained, but it has been discovered that for the cultivation of this timber temperatures of from 75 to 90 degrees at night and from 100 to 120 degrees during the day are necessary, and it is therefore proposed to carry out the experiment with the aid of hothouses. It has been suggested by Mr. J. R. L. Freeman, of Hastings, that cuttings should be obtained from Australia.of a species of timber named cittarexylum quadrangulare, which requires for growing purposes temperatures of from 50 to 60 degrees in winter and from 60 to 80 degrees in summer. The club has accordingly written to the curator of the City of Sydney.

A lucky escape from serious injury Was experienced by several members of a Temuka family who were sitting by the fireside at their home a few days ago when a violent explosion in the grate blew pieces of coal out into the room with considerable force. The explosion followed* the placing of a shovel of coal on the fire, and the most fortunate member of the group was a boy who was reading a book which was in a line between the grate and his face. Several fragments of coal struck the book with such force that they tore the cover extensively and pierjced several pages. Other pieces of coal hit the boy on the legs, inflicting several small wounds. Another occupant of the room was struck on the legs by pieces of coal, which raised a number of blisters, pieces of the firing as large as a cricket ball beingstrewn over the room. Fragments of a detonator were found in the room after the explosion.