LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16198, 14 January 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to bad weather yesterday the Wairoa races had to be postponed until to-day and Friday, and the Wairoa show until Thursday. The annual conference of the New Zealand Dental Association will be held in Auckland in April, when approximately 100 delegates will attend from all parts of tho Dominion. At the swimming carnival at Cambridge last evening the race for the Waikato relay banner resulted in a win for the Hamilton Old Boys’ team, after a spirited finish with tho Cambridge quartette. McGcarty, C. McKnight, E. Smith, and Stowart were the members of the successful team. Work at the military camp at Ngaruawahla was resumed on tho Monday after New Year, about 50 men being engaged. During February and March military training will be carried on at the camp, the men being under canvas. It is said that the rumour that sharks arc increasing in the vicinity of Raglan to such an extent as to form a serious menace to bathers has no foundation in fact. On the contrary several keen swimmers and frequenters of the Raglan beach state that there appears to be rather a .diminishing tendency in the numbers of sharks. A young Native of Tc Rapa, named Wilson Noble, was charged before Messrs C. J. W. Barton and R. C.'D. Lightbournc, J.’sP., at Hamilton today, with commuting an assault on a young Maori girl! When the girl was pul into the box, however,, she refused to give evidence, and the case was therefore dismissed for want evidence. In the Police Court at Cambridge, before Mr 11. A. Bell, J.P., Kenneth Lionel Garmonsway was charged with having been drunk while in charge of a horse. Constable O’Sullivan said that accused had ridden a horse on the footpath, arid had made himself a nuisance to the publlo. Mr Bell said the offence was a sorious one, and tho public must bcvprotected. A fine of £2, with costs 7s, was inflicted. A Hamilton resident had a vexatious experience at the Frankton railway station on Monday evening. He was endeavouring to secure a passage by the south-bound limited express as far as Marlon. A vacant unreserved seat was secured, and the Hamilton resident went to obtain a ticket lie was asked to produce his reserve ticket. It was explained that a seat had not Lecn reserved, but that a vacant seat hc.a been ‘e-mre-d. The clerk refused to issue a ticket, and the visitor proceeded on his journey without one, and was probably mulcted in a sixpenny fine for doing so. The extensive damage done to Hooker and Kingston's drapery stock by Sunday night’s rain, caused by the workmen on the new Wesley Buildings blocking the storm-water drains, will be offered at the opening of the linn's colossal sale to-morrow at give-away prices. Hundreds of pounds’ wortii of dress goods, bedding, ■ sheetings, towels, flannelettes, etc., damaged by rain water will be cleared. It is a great opportunity for boarding-house and hotelkeepers and private individuals to fill up their requirements. Be early, for the prices these damaged goods will be marked at will, no doubt, clear the lot in a few hours.*

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A rather fine feat was performed by a lad named James Page at Raglan, lie swam from Cox’s Bay across the Raglan Harbour to the opposite shore, a distance of about 11 miles. He was followed by a boat, but he did not require assistance. On Sunday the same lad swam more than half way across the harbour alone, and then turned and swam with the tide to the Wharf, the total distance approaching two miles. As the result of representations made by various local institutions, and supported by Mr .1. A. Young, M.P., a goods shed, 30ft by 20ft, is now in course of erection at the Claudelands railway station. It will be a great convenience to settlers living at Ruakura, Gordonton, Orini and Puketaha. It will not only relieve the congestion at the Hamilton shed, but will save settlers living on the east side of the Waikato River over a mile of haulage.

An instance of how a trifling accident may cause a serious dislocation of the electric service of,any district was furnished a few days ago, when information was received by the Cambridge Power Board that the service had failed in the Bruntwood district, (says the Independent). An electrician who was sent to investigate at about 4 a.m., after considerable trouble located the trouble due to a wild duck, which, during its flight, had touched two wires and caused a contact, dislocating the whole service. The dead bird was removed, and the service at once re-established. As a sequel to the accident, the electrician had duck for dinner.

“The Labour Party Is determined to secure a majority of seats in the next Parliament, if it is at all possible,” declared Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., at Christchurch yesterday. The present intention of the party, saicl Mr Armstrong, was to contest about 70 of the 80 seats, and between now and the opening of the next session the Labour members of Parliament were going to conduct the most intensive campaign in the history of the party. The four Christchurch members had agreed to undertake organisation work in different parts of the Dominion, and he w’as expecting to receive his instructions from headquarters within a few days. Mr Armstrong made it clear that the Labour Party had no intention of entering into an alliance or agreement with any other party. Labour intended to conduct its ,own fight, he said, and to aim at an independent majority in the House. From various causes. In some instances the heavy expense involved, it does not seem likely that very many South Island band's will compete at the Auokland band contest in February. Some idea of the expense involved is given in the statement that it would cost about £7OO for a band to go from Invercargill, and that for a Christchurch band the cost would be about £450. The Christchurch Municipal Band, at a meeting on Monday evening, decided after a long discussion to withdraw its band entry in the A grade at the contest. From present indications it appears likely that only three or four bands from the South Island will, take part in tho Auokland contest. Neither the Invercargill Garrison nor the Hibernian (Invercargill) is expected to go. It is likely that St. Kilda or Kalkorai will compete from Dunedin, but it is said to be uncertain whether the Timaru band will go north. The Woolston band will compete, but the Ashburton band has withdrawn its entry. The Dunedin Artillery Band will take part in the B grade competition. After some IS months of work in Te Aroha Captain Rotherham saw the fruits of his efforts, for on Saturday and Sunday the new Salvation Army barraoks was consecrated, in the presence of Brigadier Toomer and many influential officials connected with the Salvation Army. The Mayoress (Cr. Ada Gordon) presided. After her opening address, and at the invitation of Colonel Henry, the Mayoress loosed tho cord and liberated the Army flag at tho head of the building, a symbol that the Army had made a practical start in To Aroha. Amongst those present were Major Scotney, Brigadier Toomer, Major Baird, Captain Rotherham and tho Rev. J. A. Ryburn. The total cost of the land and building was £I3OO, and of this £7OO had been raised by local effort, £SO by the division, and £SO by headquarters, making the total subscription £9oo—a balance of £4OO to be collected. In response to an appeal to pay cost of furnishing Brigadier Toomer gave £5, Mr Coulter £5, Colonel Henry £5, Dr. and Mrs Gordon £5.