Local and General.

Waikato Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1403, 24 January 1914, Page 4

Local and General.

Advertisers and subscribers are requested to note that there will be no issue of Waikato Independent ” on Thursday next, Anniversary Day. The Waikato Hospital authorities acknowledge receipt of a parcel of toys from a parly «>f Cambridge girls. Masters Kevin Bell and Douglas Clow, both of Cambridge, were successful at the recent 'examinations for matriculation and Junior Univisity scholarships. Some necessary tarring and sanding of footpath in Queen-street was decided upon at the Boiough Council meeting last evening.

Cambridge beekeepers are at present busily engaged harvesting ” their crop, and-a satisfactory return is expected.

The schools of this district reopen after the Summer vacation on Monday, February 2nd. Many mothers will not be sorry.

The work of diverting the strea&h at Mhilker’s Gully, Pukerirnu, back to ils original course, necessitated by ihe recent “slide” of earth shifting the large concrete culvert, has now been completed.

Too gasworks engineer, Mr F. C. Bun yard, in ’his report to the Borough Council last evening, mentioned that the quality of the gas produced of late was too rich, causing the blackening of mantles. This was owing to the use of “ foreign ’’ coal, which was not entirely suitable to the plant at the local works. However the defect bad now been remedied, and consumers would, he anticipated, find no further trouble

Improved gas lighting arrangements are to be provided by the borough at the municipal baths, to enable life-saving classes, carnivals, etc., to be held in the evenings. A letter came before the Borough Council last night from the local Swimming Club asking for better facilities and it was decided, on the recommendation of the Engineer, to install four two-light arc lamps’ at a cost of between £lO and £l2.

The dangerous condition of a verandah fronting certain premises in Victoria Street was brought under the notice of councillors last night by Or. Lewis, who said it was a positive menace to public safety, and suggested prompt action by the Council. Fellow councillors concurred, and the Clerk was in. strutted to draw the attention of of the ownin' of the structure to its unsatisfactory condition, and request him to rebuild it', or, better sfill, to rebuild it.

Warners Faist proof Corsets. Every pair guaranteed not to rust, break or tear. Your Draper stocks Warner’s —A dvr.

There is no class of immigrant? which the country needs more than laim workers, who will help to develop its resources and increase its exports, and the best recipe for obtaining immigrants who will become permanent and usolul settlers may well be to catch them young.” — Timaru Herald,

While preparing a duck for the table the other day (says the “ Lake County Press ') Mrs T. McDonnell was surprised to hnd a small nugget of gold in the gizzrad of the bird. The nugget weighed almost exactly a pennyweight, and as the duck was bred on the farm, Mr McDonnell is now seriously considering the advisability of carrying out some prospecting work on the land in the vicinity of his residence- Presumably, many ducks in that district will meet with sudden deaths in the furtherance of prospecting.

| eerie wail of the night winds tnrough the hollow holds and deserted cabins of the wrecked Tyrone is creepily to suggest Tam-o-Bhanter’s entertainers performing che mournful note that may be taken !ls . prelude to a midnight chase. Of course, that may be but the imagining of a temporarily unhinged nerve. Anyhow, the eerie wail of the night winds through the wrecked ship is not conducive to merriment (says the Dunedin Star). Whether iu is the sounds or the surroundings,• there is no doubt that the vicinity oi the Tyrone is at present a popularresort of the finny inhabitants of these waters- Crustaceans also iavor of the locality. Mold have reen netted plentifully, and crayfish potted at the rate of twenty-five to every lift. The salvage party have plenty of fresh lish diet-

At the conclusion of the staff tour next week, Major-General Godley visits Eotorua, where he inspects the senior cadets on Saturday next. A similar inspection will be carried out at Te Puke, Tauranga, Waihi, Pae10a, and Thames. General Godley will arrive in Aucklane on February ; Jtb, leaving again for Wellington on the following day.

A strange happening is repoited rom Pukerimu. After the water nad ceased to flow through the culvert the contractors went to examine it and they were astonished to find it crowded with eels, which they estimated at somewhere about 2,000, of all sizes and conditions—a vvrig-' ghng writhing mass of good eating lisa- What a grand opportunity for the Maoris, who relish the eel as a dainty bon mot.

Yesterday afternoon the N.Z Loan and Mercantile Go.. Ltd., instructed by the Registrar of the’Supreme Court, Auckland, held a sale )y public auction of a block of land comprising 2487 acres 16-3 perches, situate in the Pukekura and Ngaroto Parishes. There was a fair attendance of the public, but, as events proved, a scarcity of bidders. Mr Glias. Hunter read the conditions of sale, which included a deposit of 25 per cent and possession subject to existing tenancies ; and then invited bufs. At Mr Saunders spnke, iVlorse soon followed with f., 050 ; and theie being no further hid the property was knocked down to him ac the figure named.

A rather laughable incident broke he monotony of the Court at Taihapc last week. It was a Defence case, where a khaki-clad representative of the Department was giving evidence- He made a certain statement, and desiring to withdraw it exclaimed hurriedly and authoritatively : As you were !”

There is at present, it is stated, rather a scarcity of beef cattle in the Taranaki district, and the prospects arc ior a continuance of that scarcity ioi some time to come. Although the wholesale prices are firmer, with a probable upward tendency, it is not thought there will be any change so far as the price to household consumers is concerned —not for some time, at any rate.

At a meeting of the vestry of StV Andrew’s (Anglican) Church on Thursday evening, an offer was received from the Ven, Archdeacon Walsh to donate two hatchments in memory of the European aud Maori soldiers who fell in the Maori War. The gift was gratefully accepted, and the hatchments will be hung in the Church.

Prior to the ordinary meeting of the Boruugh Gauncil last evening, a special meeting was held to decide the statutory half-holiday within-the borough for the ensuing year. His Worship the Mayor moved that Wednesday be the day, gaying that it had proved most suitable to practically all sections. Saturday closing was only an experiment, and had not up to the present proved satisfactory. Cr. Bell seconded, and the councillors unanimously supported the motion.

Ladies ! Warner s Jorscts arc com-fortable--guaranteed so-the shape fashionable. The bones cannot rust nor can the fabric oear. Order NOW. Local drapers.—Ad vt,

A few nights ago the. Borough vaterworks officials set the pumps :mng overtime to fill the public )aths, which are now under the uiiadiction of the local swimming ;iub. Imagine the surprise and Appointment of bathers next nornmg on finding the baths ty. Someone had forgotten to oat the plug m. and as fast as the pumps sent the water into the oat ns it ran out again.

Shipwrecked,” the star film a t the picture entertainment in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, provided quite a novel change to the general run of pictures, showing some remarkable marine glimpses, >vtaob were Mraatly appreciated bjt “® audlenoe - The remaining subjects went to make a thoroughly representative and enjoyable programme.

headquarters stall tour, winch takes place at Camondge next week, will be the presence of the Auckland section of the tni ealand Forces Moto1 ’ Reserve of Officers, which will be mobilised ‘or the hrst time since its inception ihe motor reserve officers who will oe m attendance number eight, and are Captains N. Newcomb, C. Ehodes, r °t n’ ?;. Stewarfc ’ and Oieutenants J. G. Allen, J. 0- Hardie, C. C. Auckland, and H. H. Shaw

A larger area of maize, kumaras and potatoes than usual has been sovyn by the natives in the Tauranga dis net this year. All the crops are ooking well, with the exception of toe potatoes, waich are affected with the blight.

I 1 eilding is regarded as one of the best stock centres of the West Coast, !tnd it is maintaining its reputation, during December over 34,000 fat sheep and lamhte and 1111 bales of wool were sent away, practically all the stock going into the freezersihe aggregate value, it is estimated? would run over £40.000.

Word has just been received in Cambridge that M. Paul Dufault and his concert party arrived in Invercargill this week by the Manuka, having just completed the most successful series of concerts ever given m Launceston and Hobart. In the latter city, people were turned away A from the Town Hall for each of the three concerts, when the receipts even exceeded those of the previous series of concerts given by Mme. Noidica and M., Dufault three months earliei. So great was the success of une Default season that rather an • innovation in the form of a morning concert to commence at 10.30 had been arranged for the day of the Company s departure for New Zea* land, but unfortunately had to be cancelled owing to the Manuka sailing at an earlier hour than that originally scheduled.

Rumour is prevalent here, says the Otaki Mail, that Mr J. Eobertsop, M.P. for Otaki, will contest the Y* aikato seat in the Labour interests at the next election.

Another yellow peril ” bogey! An Australian who returned recently from a visit to Japan, said that in every school there the largest map was that of Australia, and the children were taught that Australia was the future home of cbe Japanese people.

iiiviciently sea-fishing in the Bay of Plenty is far more lively than trout fishing in the Waikato. The Tauranga Times says : The waters in the vicinity of Plate Island are now swarming with sharks. Last week Messis Chadban and Ensley visited a shoal in the vicinity of Plate Island with the object of catching hapuku, of which they secured eighty-three. The school sharks, however, kept the linesmen busy, and it is estimated that about 150 sharks were captured, the longest being about five feet. A local fisherman informs us that he has sighted several “ mako ” sharks in the waters of the Bay recently, but so far has not been successful in making a capture. The teeth of a well-grown “ mako ” are estimated to be worth £35.

bo far Mr J. 6. Hazlett has been unable to trace the sheep lost by him some time ago, states the “ Winton Record.” \s the number totalled over 100 the financial loss to Mr Hazlett is over £IOO. Last week we mentioned that other farmers had reported losses, and Mr J, Looney, ot South Hillend, now informs us tnat since he mustered last October he is 110 sheep short. The disappearance of the sheep is a mystery, is causing owners .of flocks considerable anxiety.

A number of Maoris have been employed during the past few days spearing eels in the lakes on the north side of the river from the pearls. Large quantities have been bagged and sent away to be dried.— Herald, Poston.

Iqf 'f ner s Rust £r°of Corsets. 1 the FW t M lode 8 bust is low and fall. rsetmg above the waist ia the result—the newest figure fashion Perect comfort with figure elegance.

The Waikato Boy Scouts have asked us to state that they feel grateful ' for the kindnesses shown them in with their recent annual camp, and wish to extend their sincere thanks to all helpers, and particularly to Mr C. Day, Tainahere, on whose property the .. camp was pitched—and others who ' supplied much of the plant, draught horses, etc.

Local riflemen will be pleased to learn that the Te Awamutu _shootists intend to visit Cambridge on Anniversary Day (Thursday next) to fire a match against a team from the Cambridge Rifle Club. The team is expected to number ten or a dozen, and the local mm are preparing to make their vi.-it an enjoyable one. In conjunction . with the match the local men v. ill •compete for two trophies, under handicap conditions.

The increase in the annual value of the Borough of Cambridge came in for some eulogy on the part of the city fathers at last night’s meet og of the Borough Council- The increase for this year is £1327—83 percent on the total. This, in the Mayor’s opinion, speaks well for the borough, and he expressed himself as confident there would not be any need to increase the present rates Burgesses will breathe a sigh of relief.

On the motion of Or Lewis, it was decided at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that several wire receptacles for rubbish be placed in the main streets of the borough, so that the thoroughfares may be kept clean. Fruit skins, paper, cigarette packets, etc., are now thrown pro* miscuously about, and present anything but a pleasing spectacle. >■

At the sale of the block of land at Monavale yesterday the auctioneer, Mr Cbas. Hunter, informed those assembled that some years ago he owned the land, and sold it eleven years ago for £270. Yesterday the successful bid fras £JOSO. There is money in land at that rate.

It is proposed bv the Borough Council to close the Victoria Bridge during certain hours of the day while the re-decking process is in hand. ThL, itclaimed, will enable the work to he expedited. ■ The hours suggested are iVo.m-M u, 9 a.m., j 0 to •IX a.m., 1 to 2 n . m and 3 to -1 p.m. A special me ..mg of the Borough Council is to o« ' !iu just prior to the next ordinary mooting to proclaim the ox-eye daisy ,ragwort as noxious weeds within the Borough. It Jt is quite time, too.