LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4558, 10 April 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The liquor traffic, which has been much before the public of late, will form the subject of a special sermon by the Rev. Forde Carlisle at the Baptist Church, Te Awamutu, on Sunday evening next. The service will commence at 7-30 o’clock.

The amounts subscribed for “ Bonds for Bombers ” at the under-mentioned places was as follows: Cambridge, £14,019 (including £230 by the Cambridge branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union); Te Kuiti, £9143; Pio Pio, £3290; Te Anga, £1448; Mangapehi, £217.; Aria, £145; Kopaki, £2l.

Pampas grass is now at the height of itg flowering season in the Auckland district, where the long, feathery fronds are a conspicuous feature along the roads and railways. One of the best displays is that on the banks of the drains across the Hauraki Plains. The flowers are of two colours, one' white and the other mauve-tinted.

Sellers of motor cars in Te Awamutu and district these days have generally to use more than the stock phrases in convincing prospective buyers. It now takes more than talk of pre-selective gears, radio, and independent wheel suspension to overcome the reluctance of sceptical “ prospects.” Here, therefore, is a hint to Te Awamutu car-sellers: An advertiser in a newspaper recently used a line that would appeal to the most hardened buyer. Without elaborating the various engineering triumphs incorporated in the car, he made use of the brief but deeply significant phrase “ full tank.”

This tale of a Te Awamutu district household begins with a radio that suddenly refused to go. It was out of action for some days while the family tried to repair it. They were tinkering about with the inside when all at once out jumped the culprit a mouse. Scuttling across the floor, it finally leaped on to the stove, which was hot, and its little feet almost sizzled as it slid along the top and then on to the floor again. It managed to get away, though it was caught later. And what were the first words the voice on the radio uttered when it was switched on ? “ Have you heard the story of the mouse with the blistered feet ? ”

The.Kio Kio Knitting Circle celebrated its first birthday on 31st March by holding a garden party at Mrs Barker's residence, where twenty ladies were present. Outdoor games and competitions were much enjoyed by all, the winners being Mesdames Annan, Pickford, Scott, Brown, Williams, and Henderson and Misses J. and M. Rae. .After the serving of afternoon tea, Mrs H. Barker, convener of the Circle, read a report of the year’s activities. This showed that 68 garments had been kitted, 30 for the Red Cross and 38 for men serving overseas, who had also received 22 parcels of food. A very enjoyable afternoon was brought to a close by the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne.”

Strong criticism of the transporting of liquor, which, it was alleged, was being done by taxis operating in the county, was made at a meeting of the Whakatane County Council. Three members condemned the supplying of beer to Maoris in pas. “ I would like to see those in authority follow up the social security money which is paid to Maoris,” said one member. “ I would like to know how much of that goes over the hotel bars. That money is paid out for a special purpose, but an interview with any of the district native nurses will show what has been happening. All the work is undone by the one thing—liquor. The nurses can tell the story. Instead of the social security money relieving the position, there are still want and misery.” The chairman said everybody knew what was going on, and there would be no lack of evidence. A well-known resident of Te Awamutu yesterday handed a Courier representative the following paragraph from an English newspaper: “ Miners’ ‘Treason.’—Wearmouth (Sunderland) miners—2soo of them—decided not to carry on working after the air raid warning is given. ‘ This is an act of treason and cowardice,’ Mr Will Lawther, president of the Mineworkers’ Federation of Great Britain, declares. lam surprised and shocked. Wearmouth, as regards vulnerability, is no worse off than other areas in the north-east and the Kent coalfields.’ ” This caused the said Te Awamutu resident to ask a searching and arresting question: “If the miners’ president thinks that miners should work during an air raid, what would he do to the Westfield strikers ? ” Echo answers: “ What ? ”

Over 2000 bottles of beer were sold by auction in Hamilton on Tuesday. Although the attendance of the public was well below’ expectations, there was a sustained demand, and the total offering was disposed of. The liquor represented confiscated lots in the the hands of the Police Department, much of it from King Country districts, where police action had been taken for illegal trafficking in liquor. The beer was sold in five-gallon lots, and most of the well-known brands were in evidence. Prices fluctuated, but generally were only a little below the retail price. In some instances, however, purchases were made at prices well below ruling rates. No spirits were offered, but a quantity of wine came under the hammer. There were no bidders for five-gallon lots of wine, so one or two bottles were , included in the five-gallon lots of beer.