LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24127, 20 November 1941, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Intermediate Schools Authority to make preliminary inquiries with a view to acquiring sites for intermediate schools at and Eemuera was received by the Auckland Education Board yesterday. The proposed area at Orakei was not mentioned, but a site of approximately seven acres was referred to in the case of Remuera. "Bush Telegraph" Fails The "bush telegraph" was very active yesterday afternoon with regard to an alleged sale of silk stockings in an Auckland shop. The rumour indicated that the stockings would be put on the counters at 2.30 p.m. and half an hour before that time a large crowd of women and girls lingered as unconcernedly as possible in the vicinity of the shop waiting for the appointed hour. At 2.30 they went in, but unfortunately on this occasion the "bush telegraph" wires must have been out of order for there were no stockings for sale. Kikiyu Grass in North Concern at the menace to Northland pastures created by the planting of kikiyu grass by the Public Works Department is expressed in the annual report of the Wbangarei Agricultural and Pastoral Society. The report states that the executive had taken up the matter with the Minister of Public Works and the Minister had stated that the grass would not be further planted on roadsides, but its use was to be continued on sand dune reclamation. The report states that this grass, which was introduced from South Africa some years ago, has already ruined several hundreds of acres of good pasture land. Popular Picture Theatres More people patronised picture theatres in New Zealand in 1940-41 than in the first year of war or the last year of peace. The Abstract of Statistics.shows that admission receipts in 1940-41 were £2,107,4.43, against £2,009,662 in 1939-40, and £1,893,617 in 1938-39. A total of 31,491,811 people paid for admission to picture theatres in 1940-41, compared with 31,171,130 the year before and 29,809,454 in 1938-39. More people were also engaged in the industry last year, there being 2979 employees in 572 theatres, against 2897 workers in 574 theatres a year earlier. Wages paid theatre employees rose from £353,128 in 1939-40, to £370,762. A Hat for Mr. Webb The frequent statement by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, that he would take off his hat to miners and waterside workers was the subject of an amusing incident when the Minister arrived at the annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation at Wairakei yesterday. He was presented with a miniature felt hat by the president, Mr. C. V. Smith, who remarked that he hoped Mr. Webb would shortly be taking it off to manufacturers and that when he did so he would use a New Zealandmade product. The Minister promptly raised his small hat in mock deference. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, received a similar presentation. Tree from Te Rauparaha In the peaceful grounds of the Spreydon Church in Lincoln Road, Christchurch, is a cabbage tree which had its origin in much less peaceful surroundings than a churchyard. Its history was related by the Rev. I}r. J. J. North, speaking at the opening of the church's jubilee celebrations. He had planted the tree himself and was the person best qualified to speak of its origin; and he had taken the cutting from which it grew from a tree next to the whare from which the Maori Warrior Te Rauparaha had been arrested by order of Sir Grev. The tree had flourished, he said, and he knew of no evidence that it had infected any ministers of the church with any of the cannibalistic tendencies of its former owner.