LOCAL AND GENERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4514, 3 July 1937, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Readers will be pleased to learn that the Railway Department has arranged a week-end excursion to Wellington on Friday, 9th July. Full particulars will be found in the advertising columns of this issue.

Parents, ex-pupils and friends are cordially invited to attend the High School dance to be held oh Thursday next in the Parish Hall. O'Connell's Orchestra has been engaged for the function, and an enjoyable evening is assured. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

A pruning demonstration is to be given by the Government orchard instructor next Saturday afternoon in the orchard of Mr. A. S. Gresham, Hill Street, to which all interested are invited.

For the fourth time in recent months the police yesterlay executed a raid on premises in Taupiri Street where it was suspected that liquor was being dealt with in a manner not permitted by the law. It is understood that this last matter will be brought to the notice of the court in due course.

A meeting of ladies was held in the Municipal Hall on Thursday to organise a farewell to Mrs. O.Loughlen. A committee was set up and it was decided to hold a social gathering in the Parish Hall on Thursday next at 3 p.m. The many friends of Mrs. O'Loughlen are invited to be present. Wellington on Friday, 9th July.

Labour costs to-day were double what they were three or four years ago, said a sheep-farmer when giving evidence in the Hunter state case in the Supreme Court, Wellington. "It would be correct to say that costs have increased by at least a third?" asked counsel. "You can call it a third •if you like," witness replied, "but when you want the men to work they want a bit more than a third. That is our experience in the Manawatu."

At a .meeting of the Otorohanga branch of the Farmers' Union the Aria branch forwarded remits that they proposed to bring up at the King Country Sub-provincial Conference, asking for comments regarding the treatment of bobby calves. Members were definitely of the opinion that calves should be carried by lorry direct from the farm to the freezing works, thus avoiding several handlings and long waits at railway trucking yards.

The chairman of the Otorohanga Town Board, Mr. F. 0. R. Phillips, has been advised by the Postmaster-Gene-ral's office, Wellington, that the architects have well in hand the preparation ■ of the final working plans and specifications of the new post and telegraph office to be erected at the corner of Ballance and Maniapoto Streets, Otorohanga. As soon as the plans are completed tenders will be called for the erection of the building. . The present post office, although not an old building, has outgrown its usefulness with the steady growth of postal business.

The belief that the Government's opinion was that the raising of the embargo on citrus fruit from the flyfree areas of Australia would merely have the effect of distributing the imports evenly was expressed by Mr. T. C. Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruit. Growers' Federation, at the Canterbury provincial conference of growers in Christchurch on Tuesday. "We are assured," he said, "that no great increase in imports is expected; rather, it is thought that the imports will be steadied.

Because of the formation about Wellington every developmental work involved higher expenditure than in most centres, said the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop at the luncheon tendered the directors and officers of Union Airways by the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. That was again the case in respect of Rongotai Aerodrome. Many thousands of pounds had been spent there already and last year the council had been able to build a new hangar, at a cost of between £IO,OOO and £II,OOO, out of revenue, but the work could not be completed except by loan and Government subsidy. The failure of the last, loan proposal, said Mr. Hislop, was simply a result of lack of Interest, for of 30,000 ratepayers only 7600 bothered to vote —the active opponents and the keenest enthusiasts — and the great number let the opportunity of an offer of £70,000„.go by. He was confident that the result would be different next time. It had been suggested that ttye proposal should be brought forward again at an early date, but he thought it would be wiser to wait till the municipal elections, in May, when a large vote was assured. Wellington could not hope to retain her position as a commercial and business centre- of the Dominion unless her people were willing to cari-y their share of the cost of bringing air transport, to their city.

In the past there has been rather more criticism than approval of daylight saving by some sections of the rural community. Among the remits for consideration by the annual conference of' the New Zealand Farmers' Union, however, is one from North Taranaki suggesting that daylight saving of half an hour be continued throughout the year. A resolution favouring the free importation of stock from Great Britain into the Dominion was adopted by the New Zealand Veterinary Association at its annual meeting. There were only two dissentients, who pointed out that as foreign buyers were coming to New Zealand for their stud stock all steps should be taken to keep this country free of foot-and-mouth disease. Further, it was contended, New Zealand stock would not deteriorate if breeders did their job properly. The resolution carried has been passed every year since 1932. The work of constructing the overhead bridge at a dangerous level crossing at Piriaka is now approaching a definite stage. The approaches which have been built up for a considerable distance on either side of the line are consolidating well, and the concrete structure of the bridge itself is well on the way. The overhead bridge at Oio is also well in hand, but this work is not so far advanced as that at Piriaka. The elimination of these two danger spots is part of the Government's scheme of road safety.

A statement that the Nokomai Gold Mining Company had been refused permission by the Government to secure the entry into New Zealand of three Chinese to replace three Chinese racemen who were leaving the company's employ to return to their native land was made by a speaker at the annual meeting of the company on Tuesday night. He said it was impossible to get Europeans to work a full season on the races at Nokoeven though award wages were paid, and the Chinese seemed to be well adapted physically and temperamentally for the work. The Government had refused to allow Chinese to come into the country to replace those who were leaving, but had promised to send some Chinese unemployed from the Auckland district. So far, however, none had arrived.

As there seems to be some misunderstanding as to the position regarding the condemning of the Mangaotaki football ground, we publish the referee's report submitted to the Sub-Union, which read as folfows: "A good game in the first half, but merely a scramble in the second owing to the - muddy state of the field. I would like to draw attention to the ground. It slopes from one goal to the other, and falls from a high peak in one corner to a hollow in the corner diagonally opposite, and is unplayable in wet weather. Incidentally, the goal and touch lines were not square with the surrounding fences and it is extremely difficult for both players and referee. I hesitate to lodge a complaint owing to the great reception given to all visiting teams by Mangaotaki players and supporters, but I think in the interests of junior football the matter should be investigated."

An unusual incident is reported by a Rotorua sportsman who was shooting recently on one of the lakes in the district. He had shot a black swan and sent his retriever dog out to bring it in. The swan was, to all appearances, dead, but when the dogdrew near it suddenly came to life and commenced to thresh the animal with its powerful wings. The struggle continued for two or three minutes, the dog repeatedly attempting to seize the wounded bird and as often being beaten off. The dog's owner, on the bank, was unable to shoot owing to the danger of hitting the dog and it appeared for a moment as though the swan would win v the battle and make its escape. However, the dog was equal to the occasion, and diving underneath the bird seized it by the neck and dragged it down. When the dog finally succeeded in bringing its prize to land it was practically exhausted.

There has been speculation regarding the allocation of seats for the Springbok-Combined Waikato-King Country match on July 28. The King Country secretary, Mr. L. McKenzie, has received the following notification: There will be 12 complimentary tickets for the stand to members of the K.C.R.U. Two complimentary tickets will also be allotted to each sub-union of the King Country. One complimentary ticket will be issued to the King Country selector. Each sub-union of the King Country will be entitled to preferential booking of 10 stand seats at 7s 6d. Bookings must be made through .the K.C.R.U. and applications for the whole allocation or part must be accompanied by the full amount to cover the number of seats required. Applications should be in the hands of the secretary of the King Country Rugby Union by July 14.

The Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture wrote as follows to yesterday's meeting of the Ohura County Council: As I wish to expedite the arrangements for allocating the amount which your Council should receive for the controlling of ragwort for the coming season. The amount for transport, materials, etc., would be paid up to 50 per cent, on the amount spent on labour would be approximately £360 labour, and up to £IBO for material, transport, etc. If this will suit your Council, please let me have your reply, and if not Mr. Cleland will call and discuss the matter with you. I may add that this is not a definite offer to you, as you will receive a communication from Wellington when the amounts have been allocated. It was resolved on the motion of Cr. Denison, seconded by Cr. Pleasants, that in view view of the rapid spread of ragwort this Council appeal, to the District Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture to send Mr. Cleland to confer with the Council with a view to considerably increasing the suggested allocation referred to in his letter of June 25.