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Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 23, 23 December 1932, Page 6

In order to mark the success in batting scored by Sam Matangi, of the Okuiaiva School, in the final cricket match with Kaponga, the committee has purchased a chain and medal to be presented to him as a memento of the great feat of scoring 126 runs in 55 minutes. Attention is drawn to an advertisement on page one announcing the. result of the blue doll competition conducted in connection with the Mayor’s Christinas Appeal Fund. The winning number is 3769, Mrs Ferguson, 26 Rangitano Street

The “Standard” will not he published cn Monday next, December 26, and on January 2. Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on a Sunday, the customary holiday in each instance is being observed the following day.

The party of English public school boys who are to visit New Zealand in February next aro to include Palmerston North in their intinerary.

The 30th summer conference of the New Zealand Student Christian Movement will bo held at Bombay, Auckland, from December 29 to January 5.

A contract has been let to a Christchurch firm for the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge over the Clutlia Itiver at Balclutha at a cost of nearly £40,000. Less than three hours after he was placed in the cabin of the Auckland Aero Club’s Puss Moth at Gisborne on Tuesday, a farmer who was seriously iil was admitted to an Auckland private hospital. Stocktaking at the Young People’s Library at Wanganui revealed the fact that out of some 2000 books only one was missing. As there are some 250 children who are subscribers to the library this is regarded as most satisfactory.

The New Zealand Surf Club Association, at a meeting held in Wellington, definitely decided this week that the Now Zealand championship competitions will bo held on the ocean beach at the Manawatu Hoads on February 25 and 26 next.

To-day is the 16th anniversary of the Battle of Magdhaba, Palestine, in Which the "New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade played an important part. The force of which they were part attacked the position for 30 hours after which it fell, and 1282 prisoners and much material were taken.

The suggestion that county council rates should be a first charge upon returns from land instead of being subservient claims under stock mortgages or moneys owing to the Lands Department or the State Advances Office, is contained in a report which was presented to the Cook County Council by its finance committee. The report was adopted unanimously. An improvement in general cargo imports for November was reported to the Wellington Harbour Board. The chairman, Mr C. J. B. Norwood, said the figures were satisfactory as showing a tendency toward a movement in trade in tho direction which would be helpful in a small way to the board’s finances and to the country generally. It was the first month for a considerable time that the figures had shown an upward tendency. On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, the Tongariro River presented a strange appearance. From the junction of the Poutu with the Tongariro-, the latter stream assumed an extraordinary green colour and rose considerably. Maoris at the Tongariro Pa reported rumblings in the hills and stated that there had been a subterranean disturbance. However, tho river cleared again at the week-end and trout did not appear to bo affected.

Tho new comet, tho discovery of which was announced this week, is at present in tho southern skv, close to the bright star Fomalhaut. The cablegram from Adelaide gave the impression that the new body was in the constellation Pisces, whereas, from advice received from tho Dominion Observatory, the comet was in the star group of Pisces Australis, nearly 60 degrees south of tlie position given previously. The new comet is now about as bright as was Geddcs’s Comet when it was discovered, and is not visible without telescopic aid.

In a party of 36 secondary school boys which left this week on an organised tour of Australia, several races are represented. One is tho son of a Maori chief, and weighs 14st. Another, Maori boy in the party has claims as a pianist, and will probably be much in' demand. The lads average 16J *years in age, and are a good examplo of New Zealand physique. One of them—an Aucklander—is over 6ft in height and weighs 15Jst. The boys are very keen on seeing the second Test cricket match at Melbourne. Thirty-five of them are hopeful of Australia’s success. One lad is a Ghurka. His chief hope is that Pataudi will once again prove a problem to the Australian bowlers.