LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1779, 6 July 1926, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At the Plunket Society meeting yesterday afternoon a resolution of deep sympathy with Mrs 'Douglas Hunter in her bereavement, by the death last week of her husband, was recorded.

A test was made during the weekend of one of the petrol bowsers recently installed in Alexandra Street for a local garage. We understand the tests proved quite satisfactory. The Rev. J. A. Ryburn, of St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Te Aroha, has .had a unanimous call from the (Eltharn Presbyterian Church. It is understood that Mr Ryburn is giving the call favourable consideration. T,e Awamutu District 'High School Committee meets this evening. One of the matters requiring attention is the appointment of a school cleaner, the present contract having .to be terminated owing to the ill-health of the contractor.

Great preparations are being made for the children’s fancy dress ball at Hairini next Friday evening. Patrons from Te Awamutu are to be conveyed by car, arrangements having been made by the promoters for free carriage of dancers. The funeral of the late Dr Douglas Hunten on Sunday afternoon was largely attended, some fifteen cars conveying mourners and sympathisers to the Te Awamutu cemetery, where the interment tok place. Mr Lehndorf conducted an impressive service at the graveside.

Captain Roald Amundsen, the Arctic explorer, intends shortly to pay a flying visit to New Zealand (says the Poverty Bay Herald). While in the Dominion Captain Amundsen will also visit his many relatives, among whom are Mr Carl August Amundsen. Invercargill; Mr Oscar O. Amundsen, Kawa Kawa, Bay of Islands; Mr Albert Amundsen. Gisborne; and Mr A. Amundsen, Lower Hutt.

Following upon the disastrous fire at Cambridge last Friday evening, by which the extensive business premises of the Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. were totally destroyed, the 'Central Hotel adjoining was discovered! to be ablaze on Saturday night. Before the outbreak could be quelled, the front portion of the hotel was badly damaged, and it is understood that so extensive was 'the damage that the hotel will have to be rebuilt. Te Awamntu. district has not been the only place where several frosts have been experienced during the past few days, but the visitation of “Jack Frost” on Sunday morning was probably the most severe experienced this winter. In sheltered places ithe frost did not disappear during the day, though Lie afternoon was bright with a warm sun. Yesterday morning there was also a frost, but it was by no means as severe as on Sunday. Arrangements are well in hand for the provision of a grandstand at Albert Park’for the convenience of patrons at football matches. The Rugby Union has undertaken the building of the structure, which will be practically identical with the one at Victoria Square, Cambridge. It is expected that the grandstand will be available for next Saturday, when the challenge match for the Finlay Cup, between Morrinsville (challengers) and Waipa (holders) will be played. ;

Gretta, a Friesian cross, is said to hold the record of the best butte r fat producing cow under test in the Dominion for the 1925-26 season. Five years ago Gretta was sold to a butcher, but, owing to being in calf, she was bought by Mr Robert Pr-yde, of Mataura.' She proved a. winner, her record for the season being: Milkingdays 294, milk 15.1261 b, butter fat 760.531 b. The daily average of milk was 511 b, and the average test for the season 5.00.

An urgent message to the County Engineer to remove his typewriter from the Kawhia wharf, had the effect of bringing that official post haste to take delivery of the machine, which he had been expecting for some .time to arrive by steamer. On arrival at the wharf shed, however, a huge case was gravely pointed out to him. which on examination proved to contain a road grader, and it rapidly dawned upon the victim ithat he had been hoaxed. (His will scarcely admit of repetition.—Kawhia Settler.

Economics and history are 'to become separate chairs at the Auckland University College. It is understood that the time is not far distant when little will‘remain ito indicate that a military camp ever existed at Featherston. A settler from the .Mangaorongo district who was in Te Awaihutu yesterday remarked that the road through the Pukemapou soldiers’ settlement beyond Ngahape, is at present in a very rough condition. (Mr D. S. Reid, member for Waikato, was on a visit home from his parliamentary duties during the week-end. After attending to several public mat-

ters in Te Awamutu and Hamilton yesterday and to-day, Mr. Reid returns to Wellington to-night. At a meeting ’of ladies yesterday afternoon it was'decided to hold a monster garden fete in the school grounds at an .early date for the purpose of augmenting the fund being raised to purchase a piano for use at the school.

An idea of the trials of the postal officials is given by .the address printed on a newspaper posted from India, and recently received; by- a resident at Te Hapara. Although addressed to “Mr , Little road, Se Lbaumara, Gisborne, New Queensland.” the paper somehow managed to reach its right destination.

“I dont’ know what they are, going to do about the cattle in the Hawke’s Bay district this year,” said Mr J. W. Harding, of Waipukurau, at the general meeting of the Red Poll Cattle Breeders’ Association. He stated that the position was most serious, and breeders were having a very bad time. The Mayor of Te Awamutu (Mr L. G. Armstrong) went south by the Main Trunk express train on Sund,ay evening. He is visiting Wellington on public business, principally in connection with the borrowing of £15,’000, the balance of the streets improvement loan authorisation of £40,000. It has become more the rule than the exception for ratepayers to attach humorous —or sarcastic —footnotes to their power board accounts when forwarding them to the county clerk (reports the Southland Times). The latest perpetration comesi from a ratepavei in the eastern district, who states: “I hereby lend this money (£23 16s 3d) for five years at 5 per cent, to the 'Southland Electric (Power Board.” Arrangements' lijave been made by the Railway Department to make a Charge of one shilling for the reservation of seats on trains (says an exchange). Under the present system a passenger from a terminus can reserve a seat on payment of 9d, while those who wish to have a reserved seat from intermediate stations are required to pay Is 6d —9d for a telegram and 9d as reservation fee.

“I must express admiration for the sportsmanship of the crowds in New Zfeaiand/’ stated .Captain Cowanf; of the Indian Army hockey team, when replying to the welcome of the Palmersto.i North Luncheon Club 1 ! on Tuesday. “In New Zealand the crowd seems more pleased when the army team scores a goal than when their own team does.”

An action for £SOO damages for alleged libel in the publication of two election circulars is coming on for hearing in the Auckland (Supreme Court before a special jury summoned for Wednesday of this week. 'Sir John Findlay and Mr Eric Inder'wil! appear ;fo r Hall Skelton, and Mr George P. Finlay appears for the defendants, H. IL Seabrook and Farrell, printers, Albert Street.

“I have learned recently that the location and, introduction into New Zealand of the natural enemy of the woolly aphis has saved the Nelson district alone £IO,OOO for the year. Other parts of the Dominion where fruit is grown extensively will benefit accordingly.” This statement was made in the House by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. J. Hawken), while stressing the value ito New Zealand of agricultural research. The members of the Waipa/Hockey Association’s representative team that last Aveek Avon the White Horse 'Cup for the third ytear in succession —a featunparalleled in the history of the contest for this coveted trophy—have returned home. Last Saturday three of the Waipa playters took part in the match, country versus city B representatives. Avhicb Avas played as a cur-tain-raiser to the Indian army versus Auckland match. The country team Ava s defeated by four goals to three, after an exciting contest.

In response to a request that the north bound limited express should stop at Te Kuiti, a reply has been received by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce from the RaiLvay Department. The Department asks the opinion of the local bodies upon' a suggestion that the train leaving Te Kuiti at 5.15 for Frankton and arriving at 7.50 should be run to leave at 6 p.m. and connect Avith the train leaving Frankton for Auckland at 8.30 and ar riving in the city at 11 p.m. Eighteen 'thousand people* Avere treated to a splendid exhibition of hockey Avhen the Indian Army team met the Auckland representatives on Saturday last. The visitors won by 11 goals to 1. It Avas a triumph for the Indians. Their great mastery over the ball Avas in evidence in the forwards on the attack, and almost to the same extent amongst the’ backs, although the latter Avere subject on fairly numerous occasions to the assaults of the speedy Auckland fonvanl line. This quickness afoot Avas, however, entirely nullified by lack of combination and very indifferent circle play, the visitors benefiting several times by the inability of the Aucklanders to shoot Avith any sort of decision. It may not be generally knoAvn that the Waipa Hockey Association’s representative team, since its revival three years ago, has played tAventy-two matches, winning fourteen, losing three, and draAving five. One loss Avas to the Indian army touring team; and other losses Avere to Whangarei and Waikato tAvo years ago. The drawn games Avere Avith Franklin last Aveek, and the same a year ago. two against Waikato tAvo years ago and, one against Piako at Morrinsville this season. Truly a very fine record. Rodney, the runners-up this year and last year, in the White Horse Cup tournament, have been defeated the last three years by Waipa.

•The Waiuku News fired a shot at random the (other day, and made a bull’s eye. Just one week before the extensive fire took place in Waiuku the News, speaking of the inquiry by the Te Awamutu Borough Council of the local,Town Board as to its opinions regarding fire boards, said that what a town like Waiuku required was not a fire board but fire bricks., “ We have an engineer, and we must support him. What he 'says is law to us. We must support him in every shape and form. That is my opinion, and I will support him tooth and nail.” —Cr Montefiore at Monday’s, meeting of the Borough Council when a discussion was in progress over the location of, a petrol bowser in .Alexandra Street.

A fortunate discovery was made when boring for water on the site of the new Kerepeehi Hotel, which comes into being as a result of the' restoration of licenses in the Ohinemuri district. It was found that the hotel had been built over a mineral hot* spring, and it will now be possible to utilise the waterskin the bathrooms throughout the building. The water is said to possess certain curative properties. It is expected that the meeting of the Borough Council’s works committee, next Monday morning, will be called upon to recommend the course to be taken by the Borough 'Council over the vexed question of whether the alignment of the footpath in front of the premises of Messrs 'H. T. Salter and Company and the T,e Awamutu Electric Power Board shall be altered to reduce the width to that obtaining in that part of Alexandra Street in the business area. In the last Parliament the official Opposition appeared to be less strongly opposed to the Government than the Labour Party was. The Labour Party seemed to make a point of voting consistently against the Government, and no doubt it will be just as uncompromising in its hostility now that it is the official Opposition. It is to be hoped, however, that Labour will not merely oppose for the sake of opposing, but will rather attempt to facilitate the business of Parliament,, adopting a critical attitude, but not one of implacable hostility. As the Prime Minister will be obliged three months hence to leave for London, it is desirable that rapid progress should be made with the work of the session. —Wanganui Chronicle. A report, disquieting in thg painful evidence collected and valuable in the remedial suggestions made, was presented to the Minister of Health by a committee of inquiry appointed by him in 1924 to consider the care and treatment, of mental defectives and sexual offenders. As far as we know, nothing has been done, and the report has found a grave in a Government pigeon hole, leaving a problem . that vitally affects the Dominion no nearer solution than it was before the committee completed its task. From a political point of view the setting up of a committee and the presentation of a report may have served their purpose, for the perturbation of those deeply concerned with a grave menace to our national life has been effectually stifled, leaving the Government free to give its attention to other matters that bring more immediate and more striking results. —Lyttelton Times.