LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17077, 14 April 1927, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Walkato Times will not be published to-morrow (Good Friday).

A special passenger train will leave Frankton for Thames on Good Friday night after connecting with the express from Auckland, and will return the following morning. At the meeting of householders at Whitiora last night a speaker staled 'that, wanting to send his boy to the best school, lie had looked around and had chosen Whitiora.

"Oh, an officer of the police force can be served on a Sunday," staled a hotel barman during evidence at Hamilton yesterday. Witness hastened to add that that applied in cases of sickness ' where a constable had authority to procure liquor. Advice has been received by the Waikato Hospital Board that the Director-General will interview the Minister of Public Works as promised in connection with treatment of Ara,puni patients. The Hamilton Rugby Union, at last night's meeting passed a vote of thanks to Mr V. St. George who had acted as secretary last season. Mr St. George did not seek reelection to ,the office this year.

A message from Onekaka states that after having been in operation for seven months the Onekaka Iron and Steel Company's blast furnace will be blown out for the Easter holidays and will be relighted when the last stocks of pig-iron on hand are reduced. The. falling-off in the numbers of wild ducks caused the Auckland Acclimatisation Society some concern last evening. The annual meeting decided to recommend the council to make arrangements for the importing and breeding or the English wild duck or mallard.

The Waikato Hospital Board has decided to notify the district health officer at Auckland that until its claim for special relief on account of the large native population in its area is received, it can undertake no further responsibility for the of Maoris in the Taupo district. The headmaster of Whitiora school, Mr Hare, at last night's meeting of householders advocated the formation in Hamilton of a Parents' and Teachers' Association. He thought that such a body would do good work by giving parents and teachers an opportunity of getting together and discussing matters of mutual interest.

A party of 200 Maoris from Hawke's Bay passed through Frankton to-day en route to Ngaruawahia, where they will attend the triennial gathering of the Mormon Church during Easter. About 3000 Maoris are expected and great preparations are being made at the pa for their reception. Tents and marques arc being erected and great stores of provisions have been laid in. j A visit will be made to Pio Pio by the chairman and secretary of the Waikato Hospital shortly to repitrt o.i the advisability of extending the maternity hospital there, a resolution being passed to that effect to-day. Mr J. J. Ityburn remarked that the request from Pio Pio seemed extraordinary in view of the fine facilities available at Tc Kuiti, within one hour's motor run.

"The habit developed last winter, when the footpaths were in an impassable condition," said the headmaster, Mr Hare, at the annual meeting of householders at Whitiora last night, when referring to the children's growing practice of walking along the roads. It was decided ',o urge parents to impress -.ipon their children the danger of the practice, also the need for care in crossing street intersections.

Expressions towards a successful meeting and a prosperous season were read at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Rugby Union last, evening, from Rev. Bro. Calixtus. The writer, who is on tour abroad, penned his lines from Italy. The "glad tidings" from one who has taken a great interest in rugby not only in Hamilton but in many other parts of the Dominion were received with a round of applause.

Prior to the commencement of business at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Rugby Union last evening", those present stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the late P. ("Toby") Hall, who as a member of the Hamilton High School ♦and Old Boys' Clubs was prominent in rugby circles in Hamilton. The deceased met his death as the result of,injuries received while engaged in bushfalling in the King Country a few months ago.

In advocating the provision of an assembly hall in every school, at last night's meeting of householders at Whiliora, Mr P. A. de la Marc said that in such a hall the musical life of the school could find expression. He paid a warm tribute to the excellent • work being done at the Hamilton High School, under the direction of Mr E. H. Apthorp, in fostering i love of good music. "An assembly hall is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity," said Mr de la Marc.

To be ready for the wedding ceremony and find that the minister had left town with the marriage certificate, forgetting that lie was to officiate, was the unenviable experience of a Hamilton couple this week. At the hour Cxed for the ceremony they were frantically searching, for the registrar in order to secure another certificate. It goes unrecorded whether or not they were successful, but they evidently found it was harder lo obtain another marriage certificate than another minister.

A recommendation that in addition to the reduction of Ad per unit for lighting alrcadj made, meter rents be reduced from :10s per annum lo (is, was made at the Central Electric Power Board meeting to-day by a special committee appointed to go into the charges for electricity. It was stated that this would mean a total reduction on the basis of figures or 192 G-27, of £1260, made up as follows: id per unit for lighting, £500; reduction in meter rents £760. After discussion it was decided to reduce the meter rents to 5s per annum. A further recommendation that out of the profits of the 1926-27 season (about £1400) £SOO be appropriated to write down the preliminary expenses account and that the amount iie used for reticulation purposes was also approved.

i For* "Easter Travelling" you should sec all the requisites at Hooker and Kingstons. Smart suit and dress cases in new tonings of brown—well , made with bound corners, fitted with I double locks, and extremely light in weight—all sizes from 6/6 to 13/G. See the new hat boxes, round shapes with strap, in .either plain patent or fancy leathers —ideal for hats or general purposes, 24/6, 27/6, 29/6. A wonderful range of N.Z. Travelling Rugs are also showing for Easter at Hooker and Kingstons, the big busy i x drapers.*

The Wellington Hospital Board, yes" terday fixed levies totalling £68,326, against £-19,306 last year. The Wellington City Council's contribution is £53,150, against £38,683 the previous year.

At the meeting of householders in a district where there is usually a fair sprinkling of ladies present, only one put in an appearance last evening, and she occupied a seat in a corner of the room. The chairman at first did not see her, and he addressed the assemblage as "Gentlemen." A little later on he noticed the occupant of the corner scat, made a profund apology, and throughout the remainder of the meeting adhered religiously to "Lady and Gentleman."

One speaker at the Fairfield meeting of householders last evening was not very enthusiastic on the matter of children's banks. He discounted their utility in the inculcation of thrift, contending that the majority of the deposits were not made from the children's savings from their pocket money, but were grants made by the parents for the specific purpose of banking. Further, he argued, it was conducive to class distinction and jealousy as between the children of comparatively well-to-do and struggling parents, thus fostering a spirit which it was not desirable to quench. Another contended that nothing but good could result from the adoption of the scheme. He stated that £350 was already to the credit of the children attending the schools in Hamilton which'had adopted it.