LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1419, 23 October 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A big contingent of local sportsmen is arranging to be present at the Waikato Hunt races on Monday. Major J. C. Carbine has been appointed sampling officer for the Waikato Herd Testing Association No. 2 group, Te Awamutu. The engagement is announced of Miss Freda Marshall, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Recce Marshall, of Pakura Street, Te Awamutu, to Mr Douglas M. Korp, of Claxton-on-Sea, London, England. Bowling, tennis, and croquet enthusiasts had much inducement yesterday to indulge their fancy recreations, for the weather was glorious for most of the day. though late in the afternoon there were indications of rain. The local High School football team, which won the Waipa Rugby Union's third-grade competition for the season just closed, is arranging to have a group photograph taken for display in tilie school. "Have you ever been a land agent?" was a question put to a Government valuer in the Assessment Court at New Plymouth last week, and the orompt reply (says the Taranaki Herald) was, "No. thank God." Cricket is the great attraction just now at the local district, high school. Every spare moment before and after lessons is availed of by nearly every boy attending the school, and several of them show considerable aptitude for the game. H is said also that some of the girls are equally adept with the bat, though they are outclassed at bowling. Commenting yesterday on our article last Saturday on " Roadrails," a Mangapiko settler suggested tihat the advocates of the Te Awamutu-Piro-ngia light railway scheme might well obtain fuller particulars before trying to force their fellow ratepayers into a scheme that must prove expensive to carry out and doubly expensive to maintain. The paragraph in the Oamaru Mail some few days ago about the fact that a merchant's scales when tested, showed overweight, had an unexpected effect. The inspector of weights and measures had been overwhelmed with scales to test from canny merchants who feared a like result! "Five teachers in every seventeen employed by the Wanganui Education Board are uncertificated." This surprising statement was made (says the Chronicle) at a meeting of the Board last week when the subject under discussion was a request by the Department that employment should be found for six certificated English teachers and six trained ex-soldiers incapacitated through war service. The Board was further advised that there was a lot of unemployment in the teaching profession at Home. One of the members said the Board had to find employment for young teachers coming on, and another member said that if the teachers concerned were not good enough to get work at Home they would not be good enough for New Zealand. It was decided not to approve of the proposal. Incidentally it was mentioned that there are 1100 uncertificated teachers employed in New Zealand.

One of the most interesting things from a farmer's point of view is the price of cattle to-day (says the Wanganui Chronicle). The average price for 4 year old store bullocks is about £8 per head, while last year £5 10s was the ruling price. This improvement has been brought about by the shortage of store cattle in the country, the "eat more beef" campaign, and the export trade, which has helped to clean out the surplus of aged bullocks. Dairy farmers have also been knocking their steer calves on the head for some considerable time, as they have not been worth rearing. It looks as if steer cattle will prove to be a payable proposition to the farmer in future, and that the experience of the slump will soon be a thing of the past. One of the speakers at the meetingcalled to consider the establishment of a rabbit board at Kihikihi gave the following figures: The area proposed to be constituted consists of 5470 acres, and estimating that there are five rabbits on the average on each acre the area is carrying 27,350 rabbits; estimating that 10 rabbits eat as much as one sheep, 2735 sheep could be kept on the food consumed by the rabbits; estimating that four sheep equal one head of cattle, 40 rabbits would eat as much as one cow. Therefore the 27,350' rabbits represent 684 cows. Valuing the return from each cow at £ls, the increased butter-fat production per year, if the rabbits were all destroyed, would amount to £10,260.

Two parties of local fishermen took advantage of the holiday yesterday to visit the Waikato River, up the stream from Arapuni, .where fair sport among the trout was experienced. The number of motor cars from tihe Otorohanga and further districts that passed through Te Awamutu yesterday morning bound northward must have constituted a record. No doubt a majority of them were later parked for a few hours on or near to the Claudelands racecourse. The Te Awamutu Municipal Band, despite the rain showers, was not deterred from carrying out its promise to visit Paterangi last Saturday afternoon to participate in tihe formal opening of the Paterangi Tennis Club season. The hearty welcome accorded the members of the Band by the Paterangi folk amply compensated for the inconvenience and depression of a wet afternoon. The Leamington Town Board has decided to circularise all local bodies in the Waikato hospital district soliciting support for a project for a hospital levy on all wage-earners instead of the present method of levying a ' portion of rates collected by local bodies. It is to be hoped the Tow nßoard will detail the scheme, otherwise it will be wasted effort for a certainty.

Te Awamutu sportsmen who attended tihe Waikato Hunt Club races at Claudelands yesterday did not experience a very profitable time, for the majority of them appear to have loyally backed the local horses. Only one locally-trained equine returned a dividend, and, as one Kihikihi sport remarked, "that was in the last race —when we were all broke!" However the unsuccessful ones will probably recoup their outlay before the racing season is much further advanced. The Argentine -a, country many times larger than New Zealand—with less than half the number of freezing works existing in this Dominion, handles 14,000,000 head ,of stock annually as against 7,000,000 handled in New Zealand. This statement was made at t>he annual meeting of the Feilding Partners' Freezing Company by Mr J. G. Cobbe, in support of his argument that there is need for amalgamation of some of the concerns operating here: A meeting of those interested in the formation of a rabbit board for the district was held at Kihikihi on Friday night, when there was a good attendance of surrounding farmers. Mr C. R. Davies was in the chair, and the meeting was addressed by Mr G. B. Melrose, stock inspector, Mr G. S. Clarke, chairman of the Mangapiko Rabbit Board, and Mr J. G. Wynvard, who dealt with the financial aspect of rabbit boards. On the conclusion of the addresses a number of those present signed a petition praying that a board be established, and it is anticipated that the necessary number of signatures will shortly be obtained.

Mr Temple White, musical judge, was in jocular mood at the Wanganui competitions. In illustrating a point in regard to choral work (relates the Herald) he referred to the story of the Yorkshire basso who dreamed that he died and went to heaven. Of course, he naturally joined the celestial choir, which '" found comprised millions of sopranos, millions of contraltos, thousands of tenors, but no bassos. Gabriel was there conducting, and had got nicely started, when all of a sudden 'he tapped his stand sharply and exclaimed: "Not so much bass there!" Very many singers in choirs are like this Yorkshire basso, concluded Mr White.

The Main Trunk express drew up at one of the swampy localities on the way from Wellington, and during the stoppage two lady passengers expressed views of an interesting nature on natural history, of which they had not previously heard (reports the New Zealand Times). A flock of duck was disporting itself in the water near the train, when one of them was seen to dive and bring up in its beak an egg, which was carried away, apparently to the nest. Presumably the egg had been accidentally laid in the water, where, of course, it could not be hatched. It is quite a common occurrence for domestic ducks to lay eggs in the water, but to reclaim them in this manner is a new experience.

The Minister for Health is expected to announce this week the appointment of a member of the Waikato Hospital Board in succession to the late Mr G. Dickinson, of Cambrdige. The four boroughs—Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Morrinsville, and Te Aroha —comprise the ward, and for the extraordinary vacancy each borough council could nominate a candidate. Cambridge nominated Mr H. Alan Bell deputy-mayor of tin at town; Morrinsville nominated Mr J. B. Thomas, deputy-mayor of that borough; while Te Aroha supported Mr Thomas's nomination. The Te Awamutu Borough Council intimated that it considered both gentlemen named very suitable for the appointment; and as there was an absence of unanimity the Minister is asked 'to decide. Both men have excellent qualifications, and both are friends of the Minister. Who envies Mr Parr?

A youthful Territorial who wished to be rid of the necessity of having to attend "beastly drill" applied to the Magistrate at Timaru for exemption, having a legal luminary to press the point. However, one of the conditions of the exemption was that the lad was to forego all dances and such social flutters. This was too much self-sacrifice for the popular "young Mood," and the question of exemption was dropped with the rapidity of the proverbial hot potato. A few days ago (relates the Herald) the youth was again charged with failing to attend drill, but he did not appear. His record and his previous convictions did not bear testimony to a zealous patriotism. The Magistrate remarked that there was not the slightest 'excuse for "this fellow," who ought to have known better, and put the slight consideration of £4 and costs against the defendant.

The totalisator turnover at the Waikato Hunt Club races yesterday was £40,361, which represents an increase of £4393 on last year's figures. The steamer Dorset, which arrived at Auckland from Southampton on Saturday, brought 357 third-class passengers, of whom 254 were assisted immigrants who came out under the nominated system. A short stay was made at Pitcairn Island; all the inhabitants there were found to be in good 'health. During the running of the race for the Ladies' Bracelet at the Waikato Hunt race meetnig yesterday the aged gelding Uncle Sam (Lucullus — Energy) stumbled and broke a fetlock; tbe horse had to be destroyed. In the Hunt Cup Steeples the Hamil-ton-owned Larkhall fell, and ite rider (E. Warner) sustained a broken collarbone. The Pirongia team —winners of the Waipa Rugby Union's senior competition for the past season—journeyed to Hamilton on Saturday afternoon to play the City team for the Binnie Cup, but were unsuccessful, City scoring 15 points to Pirongia's 4 (a goal from the field by Bell). The game was very keenly contested.

Fleas on the Main Trunk express are one of the latest causes of complaint against the Railway Department. A passenger who was returning north by that train on Saturday, told a reporter that she had had not a wink of sleep in her expensive sleeper on the dpwn trip because of these vermin. She found an ordinary second-class carriage far more comfortable. A speaker at a meeting held recently put a volume of thought in a nutshell when he said: "The reason why business enterprise in the hands of the Government, a local body, or a committee, or a board of managers so often fails is simply explained. It is because there is no continuity; for the policy and the methods are altered at every election. A wise man's policy generally lasts a life-time—-longer, if he teaches his eons to succeed him."

The local Bowling Club held a progressive pairs tourney yesterday, the holiday enabling a large number of enthusiasts to take part. The best tally among the skips was that of Mr R, Xoonan, while of the leads Mr C. Bridge had the best score. The greens were in excellent order, occasioning much favourable comment on their condition. Several of the club's competitions are about to commence, anil the secretary reports that he has had had splendid nominations. "One big Farmers' Union" was heartily supported by Mr E. A. Ransom. M.P. for Pahiatua, at a meeting of the Ha wake's Bay farmers recently. He was of opinion that they should go further, and once they got a federation of the exporting interests they should endeavour to link up the importers and merchants. Once they had achieved this they would be able to secure complete control of their exports and imports, and so be in a position to "talk" to the shippers. He thought that such an organisation could still retain its individual identity but federate for the purpose of control.

It does not seem to be known that every two years there is a Far East Olympiad held on the lines of the games at Paris, Stockholm, and other European centres. The first meeting was held as far back as 1913. The tihree countries concerned are China, Japan, and the Philippine Islands, and each enters a team for the competitions. The events open for the aggregate points amongst the teams are track and field, swimming, lawn tennis, football, volleyball, basketball and baseball; and at Osaka, the largest manufacturing city in Japan, visitors are astonished at the enthusiasm shown by all. For the whole of the season the city is on 'holiday. The Government of Japan is behind the whole athletic campaign, for it recognises the significance of recent statistics, which show that the Japanese as a race have increased their height over one inch since their entry into the sphere of Western athletics. In accepting custody of the deeds of the Memorial Hall at the opening ceremony on Friday afternoon last. Mr E. J. Edwards, chairman of the Ohoupa Town Board, spoke of the excellent work of the committee in collecting £3OO towards the cost of the building during the slump period. That, he said, spoke volumes for the entbusiastic way they had worked. The structure had cost £2700 to erect, and while this seemed a good deal for a place like Ohaupo,, he yet thought the burden would be easily carried by the community if they all pulled together and worked in the right spirit. Mr Edwards mentioned that two prizes would be offered to the school children of Ohaupo for the best and second best essays on that day's function. It was further added that difficulty had been experienced in compiling an accurate roll of honour, but the work was now well in hand and the roll would be placed in a suitable position in the hall at no distant date.

Speaking at the opening of the memorial hall at Ohaupo on Friday afternoon, the chairman of the Waipa County Council (Mr D. S. Reid) said it was a great pleasure to be present on that auspicious occasion, for he felt that only too soon were the brave deeds of the sons of the Empire forgotten. By the erection of the hall the people of Ohaupo proved that the memory of the brave men had not passed out of mind. Some time ago he was of the impression that the hall was a little too ambitious, but of late he had changed that opinion after reviewing the progress that the district had made. Ohaupo was in a splendid central position, and in ten years' time it would probably be found necessary to enlarge the building. He hoped that whenever the people entered the building they would remove their hats in honour and respect to the memory of the men to whom it was erected to commemorate, and that they would give a thought to those who had laid down their lives for the Empire. He hoped tihe hall would prove of great usefulness to the community. (Applause.)

A correspondent from Sheffield, England, writing to a relative imNew Zealand, states that German cutlery is on sale in large quantities in Sheffield, which place is, of course, the stronghold of English cutlery. The latest schoolboy " howler" is from Taihape. When asked the meaning of " tomahawk," one bright youngster wrote: "Tomahawk is male hawk, not the one that lays the eggs." A Maori was staying at an Oamaru hotel, and appeared to be very agitated (relates the North Otago Times). Asked the reason for his excited demeanour, he replied: "By gorry, I tink you excited too. My wife, he at te eternity home." "Ive been amongst cows since before I could hold a bucket between my knees," said a member of the Nelson aFrmers' Union. "No farmer can be sure which cows are paying him and which are not unless he has them scientifically tested."