LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4540, 23 February 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Another consignment of mutton birds is to be sent to the Maori Battalion by the National Patriotic Fund Board. At its last meeting the board’s standing committee agreed to the expenditure of £l5O for this purpose. Mutton birds and other delicacies have been sent to the Maori soldiers in the past, in addition to the provision of general comforts.

In regard to the Court proceedings arising out of the recent theft of benzine at Mangapiko, the Editor is requested to elaborate one point in Sergeant Clist’s address to the Bench, namely, that the young man Herlihy did not leave the car, which had been pulled up at the roadside, while the* benzine was being procured from Mt W. Alexander’s shed.

To most people the speed at which they can sign their names over a long period is probably an unknown quantity, but if the experience of the Christchurch City Treasurer (Mr J. W. Niven) is any indication, a good steady rate for a short name is 200 signatures an hour. Mr Niven can can talk on this subject with authority. His biggest signing job was in 1935, when he had to put his signature on 7000 debentures involving the Council’s big conversion loan.

At the Hamilton Horticultural Dahlia Show held on Friday, Mr A. G. Freeman, of Te Awamutu, was a very successful exhibitor. He gained the Elsie Memorial Cup for six giant decorative dahlias, champion bloom with a very remarkable specimen of “Consul General Quist.” He also won five firsts, three seconds and a third—a fine performance at this show, which attracts experts from a very wide area. ’ ■

At the gala sports meeting on Saturday, the President of the Te Awamutu Swimming Club (Mr G. Wanklyn) formally accepted the Melrose Cup, donated by Mrs Melrose in memory of her late husband, George. Baines Melrose, a Vice-President of the Club. In doing so, Mr Wanklyn thanked Mrs Melrose on behalf of the Committee and Club, which appreciated the token very much. The terms for its annual competition would be decided at a later date.

The Price Tribunal has,, gazetted an order relating to superphosphate sold in the North Island the effect of which is to return to the “sacks in” basis. This step has been taken at the request of numerous farmers and farmers’ organisations, including the Te Awamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The “sacks extra” basis was found unsatisfactory, particularly in the case of back country properties, where it was almost impossible to return bags and receive rebates. The previous order fixed the price to farmers at £3 9s 6d a ton net on trucks ex works, sacks being charged extra. The present order fixes the price at £4 a ton net on trucks ex works, sacks in. A rebate on bags returned within 90 days will be allowed in respect of purchases prior to the issue of the new order.

An incident which happened at the western end of Alexandra Street this morning unerringly demonstrated the desirability of the ratepayers voting solidly on Wednesday next in favour of the loan for the proposed new stock route. Just as the school buses were coming in, and children were cycling to school in large numbers, a mob of station cattle was driven up the street en route to the local sale yards, where a live stock sale is being held to-day. Opposite the school the cattle began milling about, and had they not been under efficient control would have become a menace to life and limb of all in the vicinity. This would not have happened had'a stock route from Tawhaio Street to Pirongia Road been in existence. It is to construct same that the authority of the poll is sought, and ratepayers, in the interests of public . safety, would be well advised to vote for the proposal.

Scout work, which is being held throughout the Dominion as part of an effort to enrol 50,000 Scouts and 2000 or more scouters and other helpers, was inaugurated successfully in Hamilton at the week-end, the Te Awamutu troop participating in the various functions. Addressing the Scouts, the Mayor of Hamilton (Mr H. D. Caro) remarked that the occasion was significant, for it occurred during one of the Empire’s worst weeks of the world war. “You are going to be the future Empire-build-ers,” said Mr Caro, “and meanwhile all the work of the pioneers of this Dominion is imperilled. It is the duty of parents to give the Boy Scbut movement the fullest possible support and encouragement, to make the British nation tough.” Mr Caro concluded by saying that they should develop all the youth of the country along sound lines, instilling courage and self-reliance into the boys and girls so that they could worthily take their rightful places in the community.