LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Holiday Season Tho Hekalt> will not ho published to-morrow, New Year's Day. I* Or the convenience of advertisers, tho Queen Street office will he open to-morrow between 5 and 10 p.m. Fewer Bankruptcies Tho bankruptcies filed in the Hamilton district this year numbered 22, as against .30 for 1935. Of the 22, seven of those who filed were contractors, while only two were farmers. The number of petitions this year was the lowest for many years. No New Year Honours Owing to the abdication of King Edward VIII. and the accession of King George Vf., no New Year honours will bo conferred this year. According to a recent cable message, the customary semi-annual list, is not to be issued until February 1. 'lbis applies to honours conferred on persons resident in all parts of the Empire. Mysterious Telephone Calls Telephone calls which leave tho answerer waiting for a, conversation that does not ensue are puzzling a number of residents of Remuera. Ihe calls generally come at night, ami their frequency over tho holiday season has led to the surmise tbafc they originate from some person or persons who desire to know no more than whether the house called is occupied or not. Bride's Trousseau Burned To have her trousseau and practically all her wedding presents destroyed in a fire the day after she was married was tbo experience ot a North Canterbury bride. She was Mrs. F. A. Barltrop. formerly Miss Hilda Culleu, daughter of Mr. «T. !!• Culleu, of Dariield, and it was when her father's bouse was burned that she lost her possessions. The house was completely destroyed and the occupants had to make a hurried escape in their night attire. The Paper Hat

A tall, tweed-clad young woman strode purposefully through the crowd in Colombo Street, Christchurch, on Christmas Eve, evidently bent on some last-minute shopping. Oblivious of tho amused glances of tho crowd, she was apparently too busy for any merrymaking, but she must have participated, in some jollity earlier in tho evening, for she was wearing a tall paper hat, at least 2ft. high, which she had completely forgotten. Value of a Watch Chain

The rise in the price of gold and its effect on the value of personal trinkets was amusingly introduced by an elderly witness in the Police Court yesterday. He was asked what value ho placed oij a gold watch chain, which had been stolen from him. "I bought it many years ago for £6 10s," he replied, "but gold is more valuable to-day. I have been told my Royal Albert is worth £lO, but if I deducted os from its original price 1 think I would be stating a fair value, although I would not accept that for it."

Mary Ann Lane t A decision to name a small street Mary Ann Lane was made by the Nelson City Council at its last meeting. A letter was received from Mr. G. B. Richardson, Picton, who expressed the hope that this would be the name chosen, as Richardson Street, which is divided by the lane, was formerly named Mary Ann Street after Mrs Cross, wife of Pilot Cross, who was a good friend to many of the women who landed in Nelson in the early days. The writer's mother had often spoken of many kindnesses at the hands of Mrs. Cross when she landed in Nelson in 1851.

Enjoying the Rain At least three young Auckland women enjoyed the downpour last night. Protected only by the flimsiest of capes they came out of a picture theatre when the rain was at its heaviest and walked arm-in-arm up Wellesley Street East singing and laughing. Then, to show that their high spirits wero not a sham, they took off their hats and slowed their pace down to an unconcerned stroll, while scurrying and sliding past them, wrapped in coats and bearing umbrellas aloft, were other pedestrians, whose opinion of the storm was equally heartfelt hut not as complimentary.

Two Informativo Handbooks For the information and assistance of the several hundred delegates and visitors who will bo attending the Science Congress hero next month two notable publications have been prepared. One is an illustrated handbook of over 150 pages, contributed to by leading scientists throughout the Dominion and published by tho Government. It forms a comprehensive summary of up-to-date scientific knowledge about New Zealand's history and physical and social conditions. Tho second is a smaller publication devoted wholly to a description of tho history and conditions of Auckland and the neighbourhood. It is profusely illustrated, and the cost of it is being borne by the City Council, Harbour Board, Power Board and Transport Board.

Dry Queensland Unwelcome though tho present wet weather is to New Zealand holidaymakers, a Brisbane man who arrived in Auckland this week finds it a pleasant change. "When I left home," he said, "there was not a vestige of any kind of growth 011 my lawn; it was just bare earth.' The drought was so bad that Queensland had not merely stopped exporting butter, but was even importing it. from New South Wales. That was not altogether a bad thing, because tho Government takes all butter intended for local consumption and blonds it in a State factory according to its own notions. I. can tell you, the public does not liko'tho stuff at all, and you New Zcalandcrs would lie even more annoyed if you hail to eat it."

Holiday Climbing Ascents of several peaks iu tho Mount Cook area have been made recently by Miss Kate Gardiner, an English climber, who is staying at The Hermitage for the climbing season. In company with Guide K. Alack and Guide V. Williams, Miss Gardiner climbed the south peak of Mount Cook, but an attempt on La Perouso was unsuccessful, because of unfavourable weather. Miss Gardiner hopes later in tho season to climb Mount Aspiring near Wanaka, and 'Mount Tutoko, near Milford Sound. Pending favourable weather for an attempt on Mount Cook, several climbs have been made by Mr. H. K. Douglas, the Wellington mountaineer.. The mountains climbed were Mounts Elie de Beaumont, Walter, Green, and the Minarets.