LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2391, 1 November 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Prime Minister states that he hopes to (dose the session on Wednesday next.

The Diamond Jubilee of St. ."lames' Sunday School (Presbyterian).. Auckland, will be celebrated to-morrow.

In support of the citizens' candidate in the Band Queen Carnival a carnival dan.ee as'advertised to-day will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday next.

■ The first wool sale of the season will be held at Auckland on December Tn It is generally thought that the prospects for the season are excellent.

A euchre party and dance, in aid of St. Peter's Parish Fund, will be held at the Town Hall on Tuesday next, 4th November.

The annual concert .and dance of the Hautapu Rugby Football Club will be held in the Hautapu Hall on Thursday next.

The Southdown freezing works have re-opened for the slaughter of stock for expor.t. The Horotiu works will re-open when sufficient stock is offering.

The Main Trunk express did not arrive at Wellington until (.5 p.m. on Thursday last, the delay being due to an accident at Erua, some 20 miles north of Ohakune, part of the undergear of one of the carriages giving wav.

The general secretary of the Band Queen Carnival (Mr T.'H. Hampshire) advises that it has now been decided to issue all voting tickets only from the general secretary's office, Lake Street, committees • obtaining their supplies as required.

The country in Taranaki is looking very well indeed, frequent rains having caused :i good growth of grass, farmers, however, are. anxious for more warm weather, the cold wind experienced during the past week having had a bad effect on stock.

A flicker of a smile went round the local Court on Wednesday last, during the hearing of the drainage dispute case. Counsel invited information from a witness as to the depth of the R.oto-o-rangi lake when it was a distinct sheet of water, to which witness replied "that he had never been down to see."

It would be hard to find a. more aggrieved person in Hamilton at the present time than the man who, while awaiting his turn at the Police Court for a. minor breach of by-laws, had his bicycle stolen. "I wouldn't have left it like thai in front of a hotel," he complained, "but in front of the court of .justice I thought it would be safe."

At the monthly meeting of the Cambridge Farmers' Union the president (Mr R. Feisst) reported that the Chamber of Commerce were quite willing to reciprocate in Iho matter of a delegate from each body attending, the meetings of the respective bodies, and that the president (Mr T. P. Richards) would act as the Chamber's delegate.

Mr Chus. Sargeant. who is at present on a visit to Cambridge from Wanganui, and one who has travelled extensively, in conversation with an Independent reporter said in the. Domain gardens Cambridge possessed one of the scenic spots of the Dominion. With sufficient money available to improve the lake and sloping banks it. could be created one of the finest scenic reserves in the Southern Hemisphere.

At. a meeting of the executive of the N'.Z. Farmers' Union at Wellington, yesterday, the question of the Rural Credits Bill before Parliament was discussed and it was unanimously resolved that: "The executive views with great regret the proposals published to-day with regard to the agricultural credits, and are still hopeful that a. majority of the House will agree to the report of the committee of the House which recommends powers being given,to establish agricultural banks on lines of the Danish institutions.''

Quite ti number of- "sports" left Cambridge yesterday for Auckland to attend the Auckland -spring- meeting- at Ellerslie, which opens to-day.

A drunken woman at Otaki caused so much trouble that she was arrested. The. constable had a difficult task , to manage the obstreperous woman, and ultimately conveyed her to the lockup in a wheelbarrow.

Our Horaliora correspondent reports that quite a number of good trout have been caught, in the river in that locality recently. The- fish appear to be fairly Humorous,' and-are. in good condition.

Mr 0. 11. By'c'rdft and party motored through to Auckland from Cambridge, on Thursday, and , returned yesterday. They found the Rangiriris in fair order on Thursday, though there were some nasty ruts. Yesterday, owing to the rain, the road was very greasy, but was negotiated safely. The northern journey occupied just under five hours.

A narrow escape from a serious accident occurred yesterday at the "booms," when a tow rope neeame disconnected from a raft of logs on which, an employee, Mr Harold Crunch, was standing. The raft began to float down the river, the current taking the logs under the water, Mr Crunch, being up to his waist when a line was thrown successfully from the bank and he was safely pulled ashore and the possibility of another river tragedy averted.

Our attention has been called to the fact that several children have? been detected walking along the top of the railing on .the side of Victoria bridge, over the Waikato. This is a most dangerous and foolhardy practice, as in the event of a child slipping he or she would fall iuto the river, a depth of some 150 ft. and certain death would result. The Borough Council has decided, in the' interest of public safety, to prosecute any children detected indulg: ing in this highly dangerous practice in future. We would urge, parents to speak to their children on the matter.

At a meeting of Hamilton Borough Council on Thursday night Mr Webb moved that the price of electric current be reduced by 25 per cent. He said they started in 1923 with no cash surplus, but with a debit of over £.1300. In 1923 the department had a. turnover of £IB,OOO, and made a profit of £5654. This was put to reducing the debit. In 1921 they collected £7.163 on a. turnover of £22,0.00 more than they needed to run the department after making all reasonable charges. The matter was referred to a subcommittee.

Three local bodies in Auckland were on Wednesday authorised by the ratepayers to raise loans for various: improvement schemes. A total sum of £37,700 was involved in the proposals submitted by the respective authorities of Newlharket, Otahuhu and Nortkcote, and with the exception of an item which would have incurred an expenditure of £5.100 at Northeote, all the proposals were approved. The Newmarket poll was on the raising of £15,000 to carry out concrete paving schemes in IChyber Pass. Park Road, Victoria Crescent, Short and other streets. The voting resulted: For*the proposal, 276; against the proposal, 71.

In a hitter to the Hamilton Borough Council, the district railway engineer stilted in regard to the suggested subway at Frankton station, that the matter was looked into by local officers as late as January, 1923, and, after consideration the suggestion was vetoed. Except tor the subway giving protection and shelter from, rough weather, ■its .advantages over the present bridge would be almost negligible, and the cost of a. subway would be approximately £7OOO. The Mayor, Mr Fow, said the; writer of the letter had. apparently overlooked certain things which he had previously regarded as desirable, one being that the Department was anxious to get rid of the overhead bridge, as it was unsightly, and because, chiefly, it interfered with signals. Mr Fairer said he considered the whole station a botch, and thought, the Council should have a heart to heart talk with the Minister of Railways, on his next visit to the Borough. 1 was decided to act on this suggestion.

In spite of the many attempts by the struggling farmer, the gum lands of the North Auckland district have proved unsuitable for general agricultural purposes. Cropping is not a paying proposition in those ports. There is one exception, however tobacco thrives well in these latitudes and splendid types of leaf have been produced on soils that not long jijjo were covered with ti-tree and fern. A small portion of these waste lands if planted in tobacco would be sufficient to transform this poverty -stricken district into regions of affluence and wealth; £.lO net is the average yield of a tobacco crop per acre and often more. Fe.w people realise the immense possibilities of the tobacco industry, but anyone wanting information on the subject is referred to the ready manufactured article, " Riverhead Cold" mildest of all; "Toasted Navy Cut." (Bulldog), of medium strength; and "Cut. Plug No. 10" (Bullhead), full strength. Do not. forget thai all three brands are "toasted" and, therefore, more wholesome than the average class of goods from overseas, often so harmful on the score of excess nicotine.

The need for drastic improvements for the convenience of the public at the Franktou railway station, including the construction of a subway leading from the station to the town side of the railway line, was discussed by the Hamilton Borough Council at its last meeting. The Railway Department decided last year that' the subway was not necessary. Dissatisfaction with the conditions at Frankton was expressed, and it was resolved to interview the Minister for Railways at the opportunity. '.-■,•. " ■ • v

Yesterday afternoon Cambridge residents were brought in closer touch, with Arapuni activities by the appear-ance-in Duke Street of two 4-ton and one 3-ton Albion motor trucks which were \en route to Arapuni from Auckland. These trucks, which bore the contractors' names conspicuously, wero imported, while the bodies were made in Auckland. The trucks left Auckland on Thursday morning, and after a trying time over the Rangiriris, reached Mercer at 7 p.m. that night. They lefi Mercer yesterday at 6 a.m., arriving .hr Cambridge at 2 p.m. .