LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Intensely cold weather was experienced in Hamilton yesterday morning, when 16.4 degrees of frost was registered, a record for six years. Several minor accidents occurred in the morning owing to tho streets being slippery from ice and frost.

A motor-car that was reported to be missing from Auckland last week has been found in a seriously-damaged condition and abandoned near Huntly. The cathas been identified as tho ono which collided with a stationary car owned by Mr. H. A. Wilson, of Hamilton. Tho collision took place near Ilangiriri when Mr. Wilson was repairing a tyre. The car, which was being driven rapidly, did not stop at tho sceno of the collision.

Evening meetings aro not popular with a majority of members of tho council of the Auckland Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The innovation was tried for tho first time Inst evening. and it was then decided to revert to tho original custom of mooting in the afternoon. "Wo have a quorum and that is about all thaj. one can say," said the president, Mr. J. T. F. Mitchell. Mr. W. W. Massey remarked that the association would loso several members who had taken a keen interest in its affairs if it adhered to night meetings. On the motion of the president it was dccidod to revert to day meetings. Fifteen years ago to-morrow Great Britain declared war on Germany. The British ultimatum, requesting an assurnnct- from the German Government that the neutrality ot Belgium would be respected, was despatched early in the morning ami an answer demanded beforo midnight. At 12.15 a.m. on August 5 the following statemont was issued from the Foreign Office: —" Owing to tho summary rejection by the German Government of the request made by His Majesty's Government for assurances that tho neutrality of Belgium will bo respected, His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin has received uis passports and His Majesty's Government has declared to the German Government that a state of war oxists between Great Britain and Germany as from 11 p.m. on August 4." Lord Kitchener's appointment as War Minister wad not delayed many hours, the Fleet put to sea. the Army was mobilised and recruiting commenced under tho stimulus of tho well-remembered poster, " Your King and Country Need You." British troops, under Sir John French, landed in France on August 9.

The Hamilton Library Committee has decided to purchase copies of the book " All Quiet 011 the Western Front " and to issue the book from behind the counter only to adult subscribers who ask for it.

It is.often believed that-the kauri tree will not grow in Dunedin. About 35 or 40 years ago the late Bishop Nevill took a kauri seedling home with liini from Auckland and planted it in tho grounds of his residence at Woodhaugh, says the Herald's Dunedin correspondent. The bishop's kauri has increased in bulk and stature, and to-day it stands 40ft. high, and is an almost perfect specimen of its kind. Instead of having the typical high crown of foliage, it has now sent out two leaders. But it is an eloquent demonstration of the fact that the rarest of native tfees can bo made to grow and flourish in tho southern part of the Dominion. There are other specimens of the kauri to be found in Dunedin, in at least 12 private gardens in t'he city and suburbs, and also at Waironga, 13 miles south of Dunedin.

A good demand' continues to exist for oysters, and tho Government oyster depot is doing a brisk business. The various beds at Whangarei, Russell and in the Hauraki Gult are yielding large supplies of tho best quality oysters, and ample stocks should be available throughout the season. A Blenheim pig-shooting party in the Avondale district of Marlborough witnessed tho bursting of an exceptionally brilliant meteor in tho south-western sky about 6.30 on Sunday morning. A bright shooting star flashed right across tho firmament and then burst into a shower of smaller stars.

The first vachfc to be built in Otngo Harbour for a number of years has been ordered by Mr. B. Nees from tho Port Chalmers Shipwright Company. Tho new yacht, with a length of 33ft., 7ft. sin. beam and a draught of 4ft. on a 24ft. waterline, gives the stability and roominess characteristic of a comfortable cruiser of tho keel-typo class. Tho hull will be constructed of kauri and jarrah. A new structural featuro will be a special trunkway for the shipping of an auxiliary outboard motor. ». The vessel has been designed specially for harbour cruising, and for that reason is of shallow draught.

An old Christchurch couple, Mr. and Mrs. John Quinlan, aged 75 and 72 i«spectively, died last Sunday within 10 minutes, 'neither knowing that the shadow of death was over tho other. Mrs. Quinlan had been suffering from bronchitis for two years, and the illness became sorious on the preceding Friday, when a doctor was called in. Mr. Quinlan had become ill threo days earlier, and his condition toward tho end of tho week was so serious that it was not deemed advisable to tell him of his wife's illness.

The sympathy of many people in many parts of Now Zealand has been extended to tho Mayor and Mayoress of Christ-' church, the Rov. and Mrs. J. K. Archer, in tho trouble the.y have suffered as a result of the attempt made on Friday night to destroy their homo. Telegrams were received by Mr. Archer from Auckland, Diinedin and other places, and many Christchurch citizens offered to houso the Mayor and his family until their own homo was again in a fit stato for occupation. One of the offers came from Bishop West-Watson, who telephoned Mr. Archer early tho next day and asked him to accept the hospitality of Bishopscourt. Knowledge of New Zealand geography seems to be scarce in Mexico. A copy of a publication recently received by the Alexander Museum, Wanganui, was addressed: "Tho Museum, Vanganui Island. Now Zealand." It was in Spanish, and was the initial number of Quetzalcontl, tho organ of tho Mexican Society of Anthropology and Ethnology. Tho scheme for a municipal milk supply for Christchurch is believed to have been droppod. A local bill is required, and the City Council has allowed tho timo limit for introducing such measures this session to pass without taking action. Tho Labour councillors who secured election last May were not all enthusiastic supporters of municipalisation of the milk supply, and tho special committee to which tho question was referred has not. yet reported to the council.