LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15321, 23 August 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In tho Washing-up Bill now before tho House of Representatives" an area at Hamilton West, temporarily reserved in J 879 as a site for municipal buildings, is vested In the Hamilton Borough Council as an endowment for municipal buildings, and tho closed portion of Clyde Street is added to tho Hamilton Dornalo.

A motor fire engine, while hurrying to a fire at Island Bay, struck a motor car head on, and was overturned, throwing the crew on to the road. One fireman, Geo. Baker, received concussion, and was removed to tho hospital. The engine had u wheel crumpled up. The car driver escaped, but the vehicle was damaged.

By a olause in the Washing-up Bill the Taupirl Coal Mines, Ltd., is empowered to acquire certain land and mines of coal in Popete parish which It is at present precluded by law from aoquiring. Tho Native Land Act applies to part of the land and it is' provided that nothing In section 74 of the 1913 Act shall apply to the acquisition.

By the Finance Bill a travelling concession to all members of tho General Assembly is proposed. Tho chauaa states that every member shall be entitled during each year to receive for his own uso exclusively tickets for not more than 12 passages between Wellington and Lyttelton, Ploton, or Nelson. Every such ticket shall be paid for out of moneys to be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, '

The annual report of the Police Force states:—Seventy-five men were permanently appointed to tho force during tho yoar, their birthplaces, religions', and occupations being as follows: —Birth-places New Zealand, 50; England, 13; Scotland, 7; Ireland, 3; Australia, 1; India, 1. Religions— Church of England, 40; Presbyterian, 27; Roman Catholic, 7; Salvation Army, 1.

When a well-known Matamata resident was addressing suppliers at yesterday's meeting of dairy farmers in Hamilton there was an insistant call from the baok of the hall to pitch his voice higher so that it would 'be audible in that direction. The response was instant, but after a few seconds', trial the speaker retorted, "It's rather out of my tune, I'm not a tenor," and the gallery of butterfat representativse laughed goodnaturedly. An enthusiastic and • appreciative audience assembled in the Methodist school-room last evening to hear the Shakespearean Club gave a reading of J. M. Barrie's entertaining comedy, "Alice Sit by the Fire." The play is' an old favourite, and many of the situations are intensely amusing, with the whimsical Barrio touch. The wholehearted enjoyment which the audience obtained from the production was the outcome of practice and diligence on the part of the performers appearing in the various roles. Tho cast was as follows:—Amy Grey, Miss Norris Reeves; Ginevra Dunbar, Miss Jean Wohimann; Cosmo Grey, Master Arthur Peterson; Nurse, Mrs M Bell? Colonel Grey, Mr E. Wilson; Alice Grey, Mrs Kaber Harrison; Stephen Rollo, Mr W. J. King; Richardson, Miss Madeleine Dowd.

A concert of unusual excellence was presented at the Hospital last evening, under the auspices of ■ the Sunshine League, by Mr. Gladstone Hill and members of the Choral Society's competition choir. Over fifty members of the choir took part, and altogether the concert was one of the best given at the Hospital. At the conclusion Dr. Gower thanked all for their enjoyable evening. The choir items consisted of "Then round about the Starry Throne," "How Lovely are the Messengers," "0 Gladsome Light," and Elgar's "Spanish Serenade," an item that captivated the listeners'. The Choral Male Choir, which is also competing at Wellington, sang in excellent manner the well-known "Soldiers' Chorus" and "In Absence," while the Harmonic Four and Waiata Quartette parties sang respectively "The Soldier's' Farewell" and "Dreaming Alone in the Twilight." Little Thelma PembeTthy sang splendidly "Ma Curley Headed Babby" and "Dainty Little Maiden," while Laurie Evans delighted the audience with his soprano singing of "Bonny Mary of Argyll." Mr Norman Pryoe sang "The Trumpeter" in fine style, while Mr G. F. Saunders sang the Wellington Test solo, "If Juno Were Mine," pleasingly. Mr Fred E. Mason was in fine form with the operatic bass solo, "She Alone Gharmeth My Sadness." Mr Gladstone Hill conducted the choir, while the accompaniments were played by Miss Mary McKenzic and Miss Gladys Hill.

A Wanganui firm of solicitors on Monday placed a bailiff on the American schooner Forest Homo, which has been lying in port for some time. In -addition to a claim by the crew, harbour dues now amount to well over £IOO. The captain of the vessel has been left stranded without money, and the schooner is on his hands. He has a share in the schooner, but the other owners are in San Francisco. The crew's claim will come before the present session of the Supreme Court. There is reason to believe that some vendors of honey are not over particular what class of article they put on the market; that is, as far as adding some other substance to make the honey spin out. A sample of this class of blended honey, sold to a Wanganui storekeeper, has been brought under notice. The storekeeper stales that he is returning the consignment with an intimation that next time he receives honey of that quality ho will institute a prosecution. The price of honey is dear enough without being mixed with glucose, lard, or other substances, which, when too liberally applied, gives a flavour very much like candle grease.

Dr. S. K. Datta, who is on a tour of Australasia and who will visit Hamilton on Saturday next, speaking in Adelaide on the objects of his visit, stated, that these were two-fold. He had special duties to perform on behalf of tlie Young Men's Christian Association which was interested in India. And (•i) his own personal interest particularly in the matter of education. Speaking of Y.M.C.A. work in his own country, the visitor said that people did not seem lo realise how closely that work was associated with other movements. For example, they had opportunities for co-operating with men like the Hon. S. Sastri, the distinguished Indian statesman who was a personal friend of the Doctor's. Sastri was interested in reconstruction movements and whlla that was not altogether along Christian lines, it was felt that people with ideas for the promotion of the common good should co-operate in giving the people llie benefit of that knowledge. The Moplah rising in India was fundamentally an agrarian trouble as these people were tenants of'the Hindus. Mr. Sastri with his reconstructive programme asked for The assistance of the Young Men's Christian Association, with the result that they went in together and helped the Government to maintain law and order by opening up relief work, and looking after the Moplall women and children during the time that many of their men were ira.prisoned,