LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tusks 28 Inches Long Tusks 28 inches in length were found on a wild boar killed in the Whangaraomona district at Easter by Messrs. S. .Pilkington and W. Ducey, Stratford. It is believed the previous record tusk measurement of any pig killed in the district was 24 inches. One of Mr. Pilkington's dogs, which bailed up tho boar, was killed by it. Army Vacancies Further urgent requirements for the second echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are being made known by the Army. In addition to the bandsmen and tailors for whom an appeal was made last week, there are now a number of vacancies for clerks and two for shorthand-typists. They also will go overseas with the other members of the echelon. Injured Jockey's Condition The condition of Arthur Ctirwen, an apprentice rider, aged 22, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Tuesday suffering from head injuries, was reported last night to have shown a slight improvement, but is still regarded as serious. Curwen was schooling the horse Vaalso over hurdles at Takanini and was thrown to the ground and kicked when it fell at a jump. Tasman Air Mail A reproduction of tho printed portion of u special souvenir envelope issued by Tasman Empire Airways for the first regular flight to New Zealand, scheduled for April 4, is contained, in tho Sydney Morning Herald of March '2O. The envelope bears tho words "inaugural transtasman flying-boat service'' above the insignia of an Empire flying-boat in llight. Round the craft, are the words "first-flight cover, Sydney-Auckland." Misdirected White Feathers White leathers have been received through tho post recently by dozens of Paeroa youths. Apparently the person responsible obtained a list of names from a report in the local newspaper of i the Paeroa Amateur Athletic and ! Cycling Club's meeting, for practically | every male competitor in tho weekly ! sports received a feather. Almost all of tho recipients of the feathers are many years too young to enlist. In some cases brief notes were also enclosed in the envelopes. No Bottle Drive at Schools It makes me angry when firms think they can secure our co-operation in a matter like this." said the chairman, Mr. James Wallace, at a meeting of the Otago Education Board, when a request was received from a firm of aerated water manufacturers to hold a bottlo drive throughout the schools of Otago. The firm advised that the whole of the proceeds would be handed over to the various schools to be used for the benefit of the pupils as a body. Freight would be paid on all bottles, and the firm would undertake all the arrangei merits. The request was refused.

Train and Lorry in Mishap A motor-lorry'engaged in the duplication work on the Auckland-Frankton railway line was slightly damaged yesterday morning when it* came in contact with a train which was slowing down just before reaching the Mercer station from the south. Owing to the wet formation on which it was working, the lorry slipped down toward the track. The train due at Auckland from Wellington at 7.51 a.m. was passing and the radiator of the lorry was dented. No one was injured and the train continued its journey alter a delay of about five minutes. Troops Return to Camp Returning to camp after general leave, large numbers of troops passed through the Auckland railway station yesterday. A special train at 10.110 p.m. carried over 500 men to Papakura. half of them having arrived earlier from North Auckland districts. Over 100 soldiers also left for Burnham on the 7.35 p.m. express for Wellington. Many more soldiers will return to camp today, among them being about 280 for Ngarunwahia on the 4.20 p.m. train, 500 members of the Maori battalion who leave for Palmerston North at 7.35 p.m., and over 280 soldiers who travel to Trentham at 3.30 this afternoon. Cheaper Cow Beef After remaining stationary for 'slightly over six weeks, the price of cow and heifer beef at the Westfield fat stock sales dropped about 2s per 1001b. yesterday. The new quotations were from 28s to 33s per 1001b. for prime young cow and heifer beef and from 22s to 27s for secondary and plain. For the previous six weeks prices were from 28s to 35s and from 23s to 28s respectively. At about the same time last year quotations were practically the same, prime cow beef being from 28s to 33s per 1001b., and secondary from 19s to 275. Yesterday's drop in prices was due to a considerably larger yarding. Air Force Selections A beginning will be made in Auckland to-day hv the Royal New Zealand Air Force selection committee with the interviewing ol' applicants for entry as airmen pilots, observers and gunners. The committee, which consists of Squadron-Leader W. G. Coull, FlightLieutenant A. C. McArthur, and Mr E. Oaradus. senior inspector of secondary schools and director of educational services for the Air Force, expects to he engaged with the Auckland candidates until Monday week. The visit is being marie as part of a New Zealand tour and is the second to Auckland since this system of entry was adopted after the outbreak of war.

New Meeting House Traditional ceremonies attended the opening of tho new meeting house Ohomairangi at Te Ngae yesterday afternoon, about 500 Maoris from all parts of the district, together with about 50 members of tho Maori Battalion, attending. The ceremonies included the removal of tho tapu from the meeting house and the blessing of the carved flagpolo adjacent to the building, which has also a well-equipped dining room as an adjunct. As each party from the outlying districts arrived it was accorded a ceremonial welcome on the marae before the new house. The ancient ceremony of. the removal of the tapu was performed by two elders, To Nnera Hokoutuku, of Ohinenuitu, and Kapo-o-te-rangi. First the meeting house and then the flagpole and finally the dining room were visited by the two elders, reciting the incantations attending the ceremony of kawa, as the removal of the tapu is known.