LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17465, 27 July 1928, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Is it officially announced that the gross British migration to Australia has shown a serious decline since 1913, from 50,779 to 40,991 in 1927.

A motion expressing regret at the illness of Mr Dynes Fulton and appreciation of his services during the year as chairman was passed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Herd Testing Association this morning.

The English team of League footballers left Sydney by the Aorangi yesterday for Auckland. They will play their first match in New Zealand at Taupiri on Wednesday next.

A motor lorry, owmed and driven by Air 11. C. Dickens, of Auckland, capsized on the Rangiriri deviation. The driver luckily managed to crawl from the cab of the lorry, and escaped injury.

Two Auckland charitable institutions and Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, London, benefit to the extent of £SOO each under the will of the late Mr Thomas Kirkup, 'Of Mount Albert. There are contingent legacies providing, in the event of certain happenings, for the payment to these institutions of a further sum of £SOO each.

For some weeks prior to last Saturday residents of Uie district surrounding Burnt Hill, West Oxford, had noticed a strange bird, which caused consternation among the magpies and other native birds. During the weekend a boy, Richard Bassett, shot the unwelcome stranger, and so unusual was the colouring of the bird that it was forwarded to the Christchurch Museum for identification. As' far as can be ascertained at present the bird is a species of hawk. It is about the size of a pigeon, the head being similar to a falcon’s, but the colouration is .different from that bird, and resembles that of a copper coin.

“We desire to thank Your Honour for the courtesy and consideration you have extended to us during this lengthy trial,” said the foreman of the jury in the Ngatea land case, when announcing the verdict at the Hamilton Supreme Court. The jury, he said, had much appreciated the little breaks His Honour had afforded them during the course of the trial. Mr Justice Blair said he realised that long sittings were wearisome and lie always ordered a brief adjournment. He was pleased Lo know that the jury had appreciated it. <8

This is the twelfth anniversary of the death of Captain Charles Fryatt, of the steamer Brussels, for an alleged infringement of the German rules of war, hut which was regarded in other countries as a judicial murder- This gallant British seaman was guilty ol' no crime but, refused to submit to the attack of a submarine, which would have exposed several hundreds of his countrymen to death or imprisonment. He refused to stop when ordered to do so, and steered straight for the submarine, which was compelled to dive, and when it again came to the surface the Brussels was out of range. Captain Fryatt was subsequently captured and charged with having attempted to cause injury to the forces of Germany, tie was tried on July 27, 1916, found guilty at 4 p.m„ and executed about two hours later. The execution was universally condemned as absolutely unjustified.

The accounts of Ward and Company, Limited, Christchurch, for the year ended June 30, show that the receipts from interest, rent and other sources were £15,480. as against £14,345 in the previous year. The net profit was £11,051, as against £9283. An interim dividend of £SOOO was paid in January and Ihe directors recommend a further dividend of Is a share for the half-year ended June 30, absorbing £SOOO and leaving £l3lO to he carried forward as against £2OO brought into the account. The company’s capital is £50,000 in 10s shares and it has reserve funds amounting to £181,328. Its investments total £213,317 and freehold properties £13,402. Aftei the annual general meeting a special meeting will he held, when a resolution will be proposed “That the company be wound up voluntarily.”