LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1279, 10 August 1922, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The many friends of Mr A. J. Sinclair (general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company) will regret to learn that he has suffered a breakdown in health, necessitating several weeks’ rest. Passengers in the trains recently have noticed blue herons in Porirua estuary. The other day a Wanganui resident noticed two of these birds standing close to the railway line. A colony of white herons has established itself at Ngahauranga, near Wellington. „ ' Regarding the orchards in the .South Auckland district, a report issued by the Department of Agriculture states that “ dry weather still prevails, and growers are well ahead with the winter work. 'Lemons are recovernig well from the effects of late frosts. Early tomatoes are being planted out in a few most favoured positions. Some peach tree's are now in bloom.” Among a bundle of magazines received from Mr G. Gifford, stationer, Te Awamutu, is a copy of the new Australian publication, The Happy Magazine, which is crammed full of humorous pictures, interesting stories, and entertaining sketches. The excellence of the first number is a haplpy augury for the future success of this latest addition to the list of our monthly journals. The influence of the fox trot on the appearance of women’s feet is more noticeable every day, even with the gradually-lengthening skirt (says the London Times). Anyone who has an eye for a neat ankle has seen that t'he younger women are walking as if about to dance. They put their feet down with the sliding motion of the favourite step, and have 'lost the tapping movement that was the smart walk in quick waltz days. Feet seem to have lengthened and grown more pointed to suit the new dances.

On Saturday next a visit will be paid to the local High .School by the teachers and pupils of the Te Kuiti District High School to play football and basketball. There will be a basketball team and a football team from the secondary department and from the primary department. The football match between the two secondary depart: ments will he for the Teddy Shield. It will be played at 1.45 p.m. in Bockett’s paddock, aijd Mr Frank Bowden will referee. The visitors will be entertained at the new Miss F. J. Taylor being in 'charge. ' Parents are invited to co-operate with the staff in, providing for the visitors. If the weather is fine a pleasant time should be spent, and some good games witnessed.

The Salyation Army encourages the fathers or mothers (as the case may ■be) of semi-orphan children to support their little ones who are under the care of the organisation in the homes conducted by the Salvation Army. 'Eight years ago only albout £IOOO per annum was received from parents,' but this year already £7OOO has been contributed by parents towards the support of their children. In stating these facts at Palmerston North (says the Standard) Commissioner Hoddpr said this was done to maintain a link of interest between parent and child, and not to let the parent feel that he or she had relinquished the child altogether, simply because it was being reared by the Salvation Army.

The Commissioner of Police, in a report presented* 1 to Parliament, states that the Archhill (Auckland) murder mystery is being further investigated.

Messrs H. R. Ryder and S. H. Dunkley presided at a sitting of the Police Court this morning, when T. Kenealey Was charged with allowing a motor car to stand at night in Alexandra Street without, a light. The Bench ordered defendant to pay costs of prosecution (7s). A similar .penalty wias inflicted on Frank Quin for a like offence.

The contemplation of letting work in connection with installing the Arapuni hydro-electrical scheme in three contracts is indicated by information received in Putaruru from the Minister of Publi'c Works. The contracts are suggested as follow: (1) Provision of means of transport; (concrete road or railway); ('2) building of dam; (3) provision of power house.

During the hearing of a maintenance case in Auckland an Irishman said he was 79 years of age, but could not remember the year in which he was born. Counsel suggested that he hight remember if an event was suggested, then added: “Was it the year of the big snow?” A pleased smile passed over the face of the old man, who nodded and said, “ That’s correct, sir.’

While commending the action of an Ashburton lady who recently donated £3OOO to the local Hospital Board, Mr W. T. Litt, chairman of the County Council passed scathing comment on those people who had made their fortunes and forgotten the district which had given its wealth to them. “I know of men in this county,’ he said, “ who made their fortunes and who ieft not so much as a 4-inch brick to charity or anything else.”

This week’s issue of the Sporting and Dramatic Review stands out as the best selection of illustrated matter that has yet been published. Owing to the great number of pictures coming forward it was found necessary to include an additional four pages of illustrations this week. An outstanding feature is made of bpxing, two pages being devoted to phonographs of the North and South /Island championships in Auckland. “The shortage of houses to rent,” said an Invercargill land agent, “is more acute here to-day than I Wave ever known it.” He said that he saw little relief from the present position, and every day he had many inquiries from’ people after, rentable houses. The cost of erecting houses had not fallen to any appreciable extent. He had devised plans for a big apartment house, but lie was not sure that this would make any impression on tlje situation.

The Opotiki County Council is inviting the co-operation of the Waipa County 'Council in urging the Government to make the cost of erecting cattle dips to deal with cattle tick a charge on the Consolidated 'Fund. As the spread of the pest threatened the whole cattle trade of New Zealand it is held that it should be treated as a national 'question, and one small section of the community should not be financially taxed to protect other sections whose* districts are not affected. The request will be considered at the next meeting of the Council.

Replying to a suggestion by Mr J. A. Young, M.P., for the inclusion of river boards among local bodies entitled to borrow from the 'State Advances Office, the Prime Minister said he was quite willing to admit that many river boards were doing excellent work, and were somewhat hampered by the present law. He did not know of any special reason for which they should be unable to borrow .from the State Advances Office, if they gave the necessary' security. The trouble, however, was that not one-fourth of the money wanted by local bodies could be supplied at the present time. The curtailment of teachers’ holidays through time lost in travelling was considered by the Auckland Education Board at Thursday’s meting. The New Zealand Educational Institute, on behalf of the Wairoa suibbran'ch, suggested that school committees should have power to grant the country school teachers an extra day during their May and (August holidays to enablfe many of them to travel back to their schools on the "Monday instead of the previous Friday. The Board decided that the extra day, if granted, should be taken from the three single-day holidays in the year, which are granted in commenoration of local events. On no consideration could .t'he 'Christmas holidays be so extended;

Though hard times are reflected in the Lands Department report presented to the House of Representatives, it is instructive to note that returns' from tbe South Island, where land values were not inflated to any great extent, compare a good deal more favourably with last year’s figures thn those reeeivd from the North IsInd, sayst the report. Crown tenants to the number of 468 had their holdings forfeited for non-compliance with conditions of their leases, the area involved being 101,025 acres, and the annual rental £B2BO. In addition 200 tenants voluntarily surrendered their leases over an area of 162.485 acres, with an annual rental of £BBBS. Arrears and postponements of rents in arrear 'at the 31st March last amounted to £167,838, an increase of £14,379 from last year. The question of hospital levies is exercising the various county councils and in this connection the clerk of the Waipa pQunty Council has received from the Ashley County Council a communication drawing attention to the need for firm and immediate action in the matter. Ashley and iSeiwyn County. Councils last year had advocated the proposal, that one-third of the annual levy should be calculated upon the population and two-thirds ■upon the capital value of the contributing districts, the effect being to make the levy more fair as between the rural areas and the more populated districts, which were the chief users of the hospitals. As ai new Hospital Bill was being brought down by the Minister of Health, and as the executive of the New Zealand Counties’ Association had adopted and promised strong support to the proposed reform, it was advisable to have the fullest support .possible. The Waipa County Council will consider the matter at its meeting on 21st August.