LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16174, 27 December 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Te Kowhai sports, which were to be held yesterday, and were postponed on account of wet weather, are being held to-day. At the Empire Club, in the billiards match, 600 up level, McConachy, in the opening match of his tour, made 600 against Inman's 468. A notice apeparing in the current Gazette redefines the boundaries as between the Borough of Hamilton and the County of Waipa.

The Regimental Band will leave Hamilton on Thursday next for Rotorua, where they will spend four days. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the New Zealand Official Year Book for 1925. It contains a large amount of statistical information as well as a number of special articles on interesting themes. The Cily Band paid a visit to the Ruakura Farm of Instruction on Christmas Day, and gave a pleasing programme, which was greatly appreciated by the staff and visitors. The manager, Mr A. W. Green, warmly thanked the bandsmen for their thoughtfulness.

An over-exuberance of spirit at Christmas time is invariably responsible for a fair sized list at the Hamilton Police Court on the day after Boxing Day. This year, however, the police report a clean sheet, not even a drunkard having been caught in the town.

The Government has set up a Publicity Board for the purpose of advertising the resources of New Zealand abroad. It is intended that the Board shall amalgamate the advertising functions of the Publicity Office, Tourist, and Railway Departments in regard to overseas countries.

The dust nuisance was very pronounced in Victoria Street to-day, great clouds of mingled sand and dust causing considerable discomfort to the public. The origin of the trouble was the great quantity of aand strewn over the roadway by the Council's workmen to prevent the bitumen bleeding. The Irish Free. Staters' reply to the British Note regarding registration of the Anglo-Irish Treaty is published. It disavows any intention of entering into a controversy regarding the intentions of any individual signatory to the covenant, but the Free State is unable tjo accept the contention that the clear, unequivocal language of article eighteen is susceptible of any interpretation compatible.with the limitation which the British Government seeks to read into it.

Several occupants of an Oamaruj hair-dressing saloon were somewhat surprised when a man entered the saloon door and, addressing a patron who was in the course of being shaved, said " You -take a week's notice. I don't pay you to be shaved in the firm's time. The person to whom the remarks were addressed, although slightly surprised (relates the North Otago Times), consigned the intruder to a climate of a warmer reputation than that of Oamaru, and informed him that he could keep his job. The staff of the Waikato Hospital, with the commendable spirit that is always displayed at the institution at j this time of the year, spared no effort

in their desire to see the spirit >f Christmas firmly imbued into ll'ie minds of patients. The annual custom of carol singing by the nurses was the feature of the celebrations, a lengthy procession of members of the staff marching around the grounds with lighted candles, to the delight of the many inmates. The various wards were beautifully' decorated with flowers and fernery, and presented a striking yule-tide appearance. An anomaly in the laws of New Zealand as they affect the rights of women was referred to in humorous fashion by the Mayor (Mr F. E. Wilson) at the breaking-up ceremony of the New Plymouth Girls' High School, states the Daily News. " Women," said Mr Wilson, " can become barristers and solocitors of our Supreme Court and there seems to be nothing to prevent them becoming Judges of the Court, but our very wise Legislature has decreed that they cannot become Justices of the Peace." It was laid down that to become a Justice of the Peace one must be of good repute, but. laughter drowned the rest of Mr Wilson's remarks as those present grasped the obvious inference. Mr Wilson also mentioned that in civic life a woman could be something a man could never be. She "could be Mayor and Mayoress at one and the same time. *

A somewhat protracted voyage was made by the Auckland keel .yachts which left the Waitemata on Christmas Eve on the annual ocean race to Tauranga. The nine boats were sent away at 7.15 p.m. on Wednesday, and light winds, with periods of calm, were experienced for the greater part of the journey. The yachts reached Tauranga on Thursday evening in the following order, the handicaps being shown in parentheses: lorangi (scr.), Oh 41m 30s; Moana (45m), 9h 47m; Watangi (40m), lOh 13m 48s; Prize (40m), lOh 46m; Quecnic (235 m), lib. 36m 15s; Rawene (45m), 12h 8m 225; Rani (2h 35m), 13h sm. Wairiki did not reach Tauranga until Friday morning and Ida had not put in an appearance late this afternoon. On corrected times the race resulted:—

Queenie 1, Moana 2, Waitangi 3, lorangi 4. The results of the examinations for the Bachelor of Commerce degree and the accountancy professional examln-r ations held by the University of New Zealand have been announced. The following Hamilton candidates passed in the subjects specified by the subjoined indicators: —Book-keeping and accounts (stage 1) 1, mercantile law

(stage 1) 2, economics 3, mercantile law (stage 2) 4, auditing 5, bookkeeping and accounts (stage 2) 6, rights and duties 7, bankruptcy 8, ioint stock companies 9:—W. H. Allen, 4,7, 9; L. V. Bryant, 2,7, 8,9; J. A. Burson, 2; M. J. Clarke, 4,5, 7; J. L. Clegg, 1,8; G. T. Kellaway, 1,2, 3,8; D. E. D. Mallins, 4,5, 6,; R. D. Matthews, 2,3; J. Porteous, 2,3, 8,9; N. N. Rose, 1,2, 3,8, 9; W. A. Smith, 6; W. M. Valentine, 3,8; F. R. Watters, 6. J. Brown passed the examination for book-keepers.

The wise people are making a point of doing their Xmas Shopping early this year. This has been quite noticeable the last day or two at Hooker and Kingston's, this firm being exceptionally busy every morning recently. No doubt the morning shopping enables every customer to get better service and attention. On page 9 of this issue the firm's advertisement draws attenton to many useful and serviceable Xmas gifts for both the men and ladies. Buy useful Xmas gifts this Xmas, and buy them from Hooker and Kingston's, for no one appreciates anything more than something wearable and useful. Watch Hooker and Kingston's Star Specials daily for Xmas Gifts at lower .prices.*

The greatest spot-cash land sale in Ashburton County for many years has just been registered, properties aggregating 2000 acres having been sold for £16,700. The sale was made on instructions from the Supreme Court on behalf of mortgagees, the buyer being Pyne, Gould and Guinness, Ltd.

At a practice of St Paul's Methodist Choir Rev. W. Ready.presented to M.' T. S. Webster, th j choirmaster and organist, an enlarged photograph, beautifully framed, of those member* who took part in the last Cambridge choir competition, and won with such Hying colours. Mr Webster suitably responded and heartily thanked the members for their kindness.

Referring to level crossings, the Railway Commission, after reviewing the present precautions taken by the Department says: "At main roads in the large towns it is desirable to obviate crossings by bridges or subways, but it is not practicable to deal with the numerous county roads in the same way. Short of erecting gates and building gate houses we do not see that Inorc can be done to give warning at crossings." Thirty Y.M.C.A. lads to-day journeyed to Raglan in charge of the secretary (Mr McKenzie), where they will hold a three-weeks' camp on the upper reaches of the harbour. Some of the boys will remain under canvas for a fortnight, whle others have signified their intention of staying fov the three weeks. A programme has been arranged, and will consist of. excursions "up the harbour, fishing, games, and tramping, while the boys will also have the use of the Raglan Sea Scouts' boat.

By Orders-in-Council in a Gazette issued on Monday last, the prohibition of importation of wheat, flour, bran, pollard, wheatmeal and ground wheat made on June 17 last is revoked, and in regard to duty it is declared that in addition to the primage duty of one per centum ad valorem imposed by section 15 of the said Act, wheat flour, including wheatmeal and similar preparations of wheat, -sliall be liable to a Customs duty of 3s per cental under the British preferential, the intermediate, and the general Tariffs. The Orders-in-Council are to operate as from March 1 next. A case of interest to local bodies was heard at the last sitting of the Morrinsville Magistrate's Court, in which Messrs McCardle, contractors, Walton, sued the Thames Valley Electric Power Board for the value of a horse which died from the effects of licking washing soda left in a box on the side of the road by the defendant company's employees. Washing soda is used for putting in the ground at the base of the transformers for getting a good "earth." The plaintiffs were contractors on the road, and their horses were grazing there while the contract was in progress. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff for £54 and costs, holding that the company were negligent in not having the washing soda properly covered, and he also stated that he could not find that the plaintiffs had been guilty of contributory negligence by running their animals on, the road.

Those who attended the organ recital given by Mr T. S. Webster in St. Paul's Methodist Church on Christmas Day enjoyed a real feast of music and song. Rev. W. Ready .presided, and opened the meeting with the congregation singing the well-known hymn " Come all ye faithful," and by prayer. The following selections were pleasingly* and effectively played on the organ by Mr Webster: "Grand March," B Minor (F. Schubert), " Cavatina " (Raff), "Nocturne, "Adantina," No. 2 (Batista), and "Kuyaurak" H. Wieniowski). Madam Florrie Roscoe, who is always a real pleasure to listen to, seemed to.be extra arresting as she, with her splendid far-reaching and sweet voice, sang "O Divine Redeemer" (Gounod), "Abide With Me" (Liddell). She also sang at the demand of the congregation, " Nearer My God," " Light After Darkness." Her full, rich voice was greatly appreciated by one and all. Mr Outtrim, who came at the last hour to fill a gap, did good service with his wellbalanced tenor voice in nnging "My Hope is in the Everlasting " and " The Lost Chord," in good style. The most pleasing selection of the evening was a duet, ""O Love Divine," by Madam Florrie Roscoe and Mr Outtrim. Fow moved a very hearty vote of thanks to the performers. Mr Webster brought the helpful service to a close by playing " The Hallelujah Chorus." A good collection was taken up on behalf of Christmas good cheer.