LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3807, 11 September 1936, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Jersey breeders paid in the vicinity of £5OOO for 112 Jersey bulls at the national sale at Claudelands on Wednesday, when a record bench of buyers competed for entries from all parts of the North Island., The 112 head sold at an average of 42i guineas, the prices ranging from 30 to 135 guineas.

For being in possession of an unlicensed radio set at Parawera on 17th July, William Chalklin was prosecuted at the local Magistrate's Court yesterday. The inspector said the set had not been registered, and Chalklin had since left the district. A fine of £1 10s and costs £1 8s was imposed.

At the professional wrestling conat the Empire Theatre last Wednesday evening it was noteworthy that the audience was fairly appreciative and demonstrative up to a certain point in the contest, and thereafter the silence was almost startling. After the decision, which also was received with silence, even though the eventual winner had been accorded a great deal ot encouragement from the audience, there were several arguments on the merits or demerits of the contestants, and there seemed a preponderating opinion that squares with the old axiom that “there is one born, every minute.”

“ I am not fond of him. He comes to my home, and does no work, no fences, no firewood, and nothing to help me at all. In fact, he’s retired on me ! ” That was the expressive description given by a half-caste Maori woman in the local Court on Thursday when asking that the man she had formerly befriended be bound over to keep the peace towards her, he having allegedly threatened her life. Her counsel added that the defendant drifted around the country attending tangis, and when there did not happen to be such a ceremony in progress he usually repaired to the home of the woman complainant, where his behaviour had become objectionable.

A reminder is given in our advertising columns that entries for the Te Awamutu Horticultural Society’s spring show, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, September 16th and 17th, close on Monday evening next.

Steps are being taken to have a hall erected on the Waikato Land Settlement Society’s block at Wharepapa. As it is the desire of the Society that its funds should not be devoted to this purpose, an appeal has been made for voluntary contributions toward the cost, which is estimated at £250. Already £225 has been received or promised. Several prominent Auckland citizens have contributed.

In a traffic by-law case at Auckland on Wednesday morning Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., said it was not sufficient for a driver of a car to put out his hand to show a signal when about to turn to the right. It was his duty to exercise care until he was sure his signal had been seen by the driver of any following car. This had been decided by the Supreme Court of South Australia and adopted in New Zea land.

During the hearing of an application, by a half-caste Maori woman in the Owairaka district to have a Maori man bound over to keep the peace, the allegation being that he had threatened “to do for both of us,” mention was made by counsel of the relations between the two principals, and he suggested that it was “ a species of Scotch courtship.” This brought a look of mystification to the face of His Worship, who asked for enlightenment, remarking that surely it could be explained. However, the 1 emark was not explained, or was the suggestion pressed that the parties were engaged in a “ Scotch courtship.”

“ I think it would be a gracious act on our part and a step that we should take.” commented the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) at the fortnightly meeting of Hamilton Borough Council on Wednesday evening when he moved that the Council give its patronage to the concert of the inmates of the Waikeria Institution that would be held in Hamilton next Thursday night. He added that the Council should give a lead in the matter and show the young men that they were not forgotten or that they were any different from any other members of humanity. The attitude of the Mayor was endorsed by several councillors, and the motion was carried unanimously.

A reminder is given of the spectacular concert to be staged in the Parish Hall next Monday, 14th inst., by the pupils of St. John’s Sunday School. Judging from the standard of rehearsals the performance will be a really good one. The large variety of items includes dances, choruses, solos, plays etc., some of which are exceptionally novel and pretty. This attractive entertainment, which is being staged through the efforts of Mrs H. Steer, ought to be well patronised when it ; s remembered how great a success was the concert organised by Mrs Steer in aid of the Dental Clinic funds. Altogether a really excellent treat is in store for concert goers next Monday evening.

An inquiry whether the chairman of the late Government Railways Board was still in the service of the Department in any way was made by Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Independent, Egmont) during a discussion on the vote for the Working Railways Account in the House of Representatives last Tuesday evening. Mr Wilkinson also asked whether any consideration had been given to the members of the Board, who deserved something better than to be presented summarily with their “ running shoes.” “ The cx-chairman of the Railways Board is not now employed by the Government,” replied the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, “and I understand that he has gone to Australia. No compensation was paid to the members of the Board. We were advised by the Crown Law Office that they were not entitled to any compensation, with the possible exception of one member, but the Government did not consider that there was any obligation on it in that diretcion.”

In its racing section the Sydney Sunday Sun-Guardian, dated August 30th, the following reference is made to the Te Awamutu owned and bred three year old filly Stretto, who has been in Australia for the past two months to be prepared for important spring engagements: "Stretto continues to dodge along quietly on the Randwick tracks, a habit acquired by most of Frank McGrath’s charges. Stretto is not a particularly imposing filly; in fact, she would be passed over easily at a casual glance, but she is worth a second and more searching look. She has apparently done well in Sydney on a good deal of solid toil, so that she should be fit for something equal to her New Zealand deeds. Critics from over the Tasman rate her very highly, but the locals have had no opportunity of forming an opinion. No doubt the opportunity will arrive in due course.” Six days later Stretto was given her first race in Australia, and she finished sixth in a strong field, the winner of which created a course record for seven furlongs to beat the last Auckland Cup winner. Cuddle, who is racing nowadays over shorter distances.

Te Awamutu and neighbouring districts were represented among the buyers at the National Jersey bull sale at Claudelands on Wednesday, when the following purchases of local interest were made: Mr J. Karl, of Ohaupo, paid 44 guineas for the two-year-old bull Greencroft Honour’s Ace, offered by Mr J. Bones, Kaipaki; Mr E. W. Tozer, Otorohanga, paid 38 guineas for Mr H. Moreland’s two-year-old Roy ton King’s Successor; Messrs Candy Bros., Pokuru. secured Mt Truby King’s Fem’s Oxford Planet, two at 33 guineas; Mr P. Rowe, Otorohanga, paid 40 guineas for Mr J. A. Mitchell’s (Longbum) yearling Santa Rosa Resound; Mr J. Tozer secured the Taranaki yearling Golden Zola’s Master at 30 guineas; Mr A. T. Cooper, Puahue, paid 44 guineas for Misses Kilgour’s Middlewood Greek Gold; Mr R. F. Braine, Kawhia, had to pay 40 guineas for the Waiuku-bred Valebit Fannist Boy, a yearling; Mr A. C. Smith, Otorohanga, secured at 60 guineas Mr Cato’s Finvoy Handsome Lady, six years old; Mr J. Trapski, Otorohanga, paid 35 guineas for Mrs Larsen’s Bokaboa Jellicoe, a yearling; and another purchase by Messrs Candy Bros., Pokuru, was the yearling Ridgway Famous Raleigh, offered by Mr W. Luxton, Matangi.

A sitting of the Mortgage Adjustment Commission is being held iii Te Awamutu to-day.

A report of the children’s concert at St. Andrew’s Church Hall last Wednesday evening i s unavoidably held over until next issue.

Te Awamutu-trained horses engaged at the Wanganui races yesterday failed to run prominently, but some of them are expected to perform creditably to-morrow.

The Cambridge Rugby Union has notified that it has chosen Mr H. Taylor to referee the Waipa v. Cambridge junior rep. match at Albert Park to-morrow.

Arrangements have been completed for the Manukau by-election. Nominations will close on 16th September, and the polling day is fixed for 30th September. The writs are to be returned on or before 20th October.

A Gazette notice published yesterday contains the announcement that summer time will begin at 2 o’clock New Zealand standard time on the morning of Sunday, 27th September, and will end at 2 o’clock on the morning of Sunday, 25th April, 1937.

Australian files to hand mention that at the Bohemia Stadium, Brisbane, last Saturday week, Leo Demetral, 13.11, defeated Billy Bayne 13.7, in a wrestling contest. Bayne had secured a fall in the fourth round, but was injured near the end of the sixth and was unable to continue the contest.

At the South Auckland ladies’ golf championships at Hamilton, which were completed yesterday, the Ellis Cup was won by Mrs F. Preston (Akarana Club). In the semi-finals for the St. Andrew’s Handicap, Mrs Austin (Otorohanga) was beaten by Mrs E. Farmer (Wihakatane) the ultimate winner. Mrs J. Oliphant (Te Awamutu) won the third-day putting competition.

A demand for the public reinstatement of workers discharged as the result of the Motueka dispute, and severe criticism of the actions and attitude of the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, were contained in a resolution passed by the Auckland Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union on Wednesday night. Letters to this effect were sent yesterday to the Minister and the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon M. J. Savage.

The disappointment so widely expressed at the "low” guaranteed prices fixed by the Government for butter fat brings to mind the story of the farmer who was approached by his landlord during an excellent season. “Well, George,” said the landlord, “yon have little to complain of this season. You have plenty of grass, beautiful weather for haymaking and a good price for your products.” Said George, scratching his head: “I don’t know about that. It's very annoying having no musty hay for the calves.” It is human to be dissatisfied. If the butter fat prices were still higher there would no doubt be ground for complaint.

During rhe next 12 months £3,500,000 will be made available to the Ministry of Housing for construction of houses for the State and loans to local authorities for the sanie purpose. The expenditure of the funds will be under the direction of the Ministry of Housing, of which Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Minister of Finance, has taken full charge. A statement to this effect was issued by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, on Wednesday evening. He stated that arrangements had been made with the Reserve Bank to provide the funds in conformity with the Government’s intention to make direct use of the public credit.

In a professional heavy-weight wrestling contest held at the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, last evening Bob Kruse, 15st, drew with “Lofty” Blomfield, 16st 101 b, each man securing a fall. There was a large attendance of spectators, many being unable to secure admittance. The bout was a strenuous one, the contestants mixing rough methods with straight wrestling. In the fifth round Kruse Weakened Blomfield with a series of dumps and head-lock throws, securing a fall with a body press. Blomfield evened in the seventh round when he applied his odtopus clamp. In one of the preliminary amateur bouts, L. Owens (Pirongia) 10.7, beat W. Target (Rotorua), 10.9, on points, no fall being registered.

Dr Turbott, district health officer, when addressing the Waikato Hospital Board yesterday on Maori health measures, said the actual steps in the Waikato in the immediate future would be along these lines. The Government was recommended by the recent, conference on Maori health to set aside a fund for Maori housing. Other measures, apart from health, included adult education and land development. The department’s immediate scheme provided for the appointment of a health inspector at Morrinsville. Three additional nur ses were to be appointed, one of whom would live at Morrinsville, another at Te Kuiti, and another- at Kawhia. The nurses would each have the care of from 1500 to 2000 Maoris, and as far as possible would cover the whole dis trict.

Occasionally a ray of sunshine brightens the unhappy lot of the tax collector. Once in a while that rara avis among taxpayers, the man who pays cheerfully without questioning the amount of the demand, will bring a smile to the face of the local body officer concerned with receiving of rates. Such (says the Napier Telegraph) was the experience of Mr W,. J. Pallot, clerk to the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, recently, when he received the following letter from a ratepayer, who at the time was staying at Waikaremoana: “ I am in receipt of your demand for overdue rates. I was unaware that any w’ere due, except this years’ rates. I have all my receipts in my home, but it is not convenient for me to go there at present. I am enclosing the money due and also that required to meet the demand I reeived last week. I am one of those almost extinct specimens who pride themselves on being out of debt. I prefer an empty stomach if I cannot obtain employment. Never mind, it’s only for a lifetime. If it was for a day longer I’d give up the ghost. Don’t think me mad, but a smile is worth more than unpaid rates —eh, what ? ”