LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15998, 29 May 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Waikato River was up over eight feet above summer level yesterday, 2 feet higher than it was during the last flood several weeks ago. During the night, however, the water fell two inches and is now receding rapidly.

A London cablegram states that Jones, the Byflcet publican, for whose alleged murder a Frenchman named Vaquier has been charged died intestate. The estate, which amounted to £1394, will go to the widow. In answer to a question !hc chairman of the Waipa County Council at yesterday's meeting said that he understood that Ihe road over the Rangiriri Hills would be declared a Government road. This brought forth the remark from a councillor —"God help them." The antiquated method of sweeping Victoria Street was commented upon by Cr J. Denz at the meeting of the 11a mil lon Council last night. The surface, he said, was very filthy and it was impossible for one man with a hand broom to keep the street clean. The chairman of the works committee said the committee had Ibis matter in hand.

"Those in favour of smoking at the Council table say aye," said the chairman (Mr Campbell Johnstone) at the annual meeting of.the Raglan County Council yesterday, it being an annual custom of this local body to put this point to the vote. Everyone said "aye" with much alacrity, and the motion was carried unanimously. "Semi-official and herd-testing is the only system in the world to And out which is the cow to breed from," said Mr E. H. Robertson at the Ayrshire breeders' meeting last night. "The show ring served a purpose in keeping type, but the time was coming when only a cow which had attained at least a minimum amount of butter-fat would have a chance of be, ing awarded a championship in a show ring."

The case in which Ernest Nuttall Willoughby, contractor, of Hamilton, was charged before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., with negligent driving in Ward Street, was concluded yesterday, when the police brought fresh evidence as to what side of the road Willoughby was driving on when the accident occurred. The magistrate' was satisfied on the evidence that Willoughby wis driving on the wrong side of the. road and lined him £lO, court costs 19s, and witness' expenses, £1 15s. Main highways and main country roads were discussed in committee at yesterday's meeting of the Waipa County Council. When business was resumed in open council the chairman announced that it had been decided to invite Mr A. .1. Baker, Public Works engineer and chairman of the -Main Highways Board, under the new Act to inspect the county roads together with the chairman and county engineer.

At, yesterdays meeting of the Waipa County Council a letter was received from Dr. Cower, medical superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, drawing attention to the had state of the footpath on the Ohaupo Road, adjoining the institution. It was mentioned that the path was used by convalescent patients, and he would be grateful if it was put in order. It was decided to instruct the engineer to see into the matter.

Between twenty and thirty Newstead settlers attended a meeting at the home of Mr S. Lye on Tuesday evening to hear a political address by Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P., for vVanganui, who spoke for two hours. His speech dealt with the advance to settlers, railway strike matters and superannuation. So impressed were those present that after supper Mr Veitch was requested to speak again and the meeting closed at 1 a.m.

"Bad debts" as far as arrears in rates are concerned are usually considered annually at meetings of County Councils. This custom was continued at yesterday's meeting of the Waipa County Council and it was decided to wipe them off the books. The course is adopted only when the rate collector has expended all his efforts to collect the arrears. It does not mean, however, that the matter will be allowed to rest at that and further endeavours to collect the rates are always made. A list was presented to councillors at the Waipa Council meeting giving the amounts in the several ridings, which were as follow. —Rukuhia, 14s 2d; Hamilton, £B3 lGs sd; Tuhikaramea, £lB 9s; Newcastle, £7O Is 7d; Pukekura, £25 8s -id; Mangipiko. £ll -is lOd; Rangi • aohia, £26 lis sd; Kakepukii, £lB 9s lid: and Orakau. £46 15s Id, making a total of £285 2s 9d.

A fur coat for half its usual value seems ton good to be true, but nevertheless that's the actual facts. Messrs Hooker and Kingston recently had the opportunity of purchasing 23 sample fur coats from a manufacturer at considerably less than the. cost of pro* duction, and are offering the whole of them during Show Week at practically half thei." value. They comprise Marmot, Coney, Kideon, Seal Coney, Natural Babbit, etc. All arc in this season's latest styles, and are verylittle more than the price of a good velour See the big window at Hooker and Kingston's this wetk. showing these fur coats. It's an opportunity the lady motorist should not miss.*

The following nominations Jiaye been received for the newly gazette:'! Waitomo Power Board: —District representatives, Messrs W. Irvine. E.. H. Oudaille, and H. A. Lurman; Otorohanga town area, Mr F. Philips, the only nomination. The poll will be held on June 5.

In connection with the forthcoming application by the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining Co. for six months' prod ction for its Waihi claims it is understood that the Miners' Union will oppose any undue locking up of these holdings, particularly the' west section of the property, which has not been worked for a considerable number of years.

The sale of this year's sires of the Waikato Calf Club, to take place at It a.m. on Saturday is naturally attracting considerable attention. The exceptional quality and splendid condition of many of the bulls was commented upon by the judges at the judging of the calves to-day. Usually the National Anthem is played in such a manner that all majesty and dignity are lost. At the opening of the winter show on Tuesday His Excellency the Governor-General remarked io the Mayor upon the excellent arrangement and plaWng of tilo Anthem by the Regimental band. It might be staled that the National Anthem was specially arranged for the occasion by Lieutenant Gladstone Hill. Accordig io Mr W. A. Veifch.. M.P. for Wanganui, wise men will change their minds, fools never. The remark was brought about in answer to a question at his meeting last night, at, the conclusion of his address in the Frankton Town Hall. Mr v'eitch was asked if it was not a fact that he had voted on the nc-confldence motio'i which had put the Massey Party in power, to which he replied that he had. The speaker added, "I'm very sorry I did and you can bet your life I'll never do it again." A sequel to the replacement of V. Badeley by K. Ifwerson in the Auckland trial match on May 10 was a letter from the New Zealand Union to the Auckland Rugby [jnion last night, which requested a report on the circumstances in which Ifwerson took the field in this match, in view of the fact that be was not in the original selection and an emergency player was available. The letter was referred to the selectors.

"It's an utter waste of money to continue the present policy of patching the Ohaupo Road between Hamilton and the hospital." remarked Cr J. McKinnon at a meeting of the Hamilton Council last night. The council, he said, had spent a lot of money in filling up the pot holes, but the road was now as bad as ever it was. It was far better to save the expense of patching than to continue the present policy. According to Mr Veitch, M.P. for Wanganui, the Waikato is a wonderful district. He stated, last evening that he had travelled all through it and had been particularly struck with its great progress, enterprise and the enormous amount of development work done by its settlers. He felt proud to be a New Zcalander when lie 3aw "Progressive Waikato." It was the aim of his party to see people on the land prosperous. He believed the settlers in the Waikato were experiencing difficulties in the matter of finance. Mr Veitch concluded this portion. of his remarks by.saying, "Put us into power and you will have a new system of banking and finance and you will get assistance and better homes and conditions."