LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17485, 20 August 1928, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The number of unemployed on the Labour Department’s register in Auckland on Saturday was 82S, compared with 829 a week earlier.

A party of HO boys from the Marist Brothers’ Primary School, Auckland, in charge of Bro. Calixtus, paid a visit to Hamilton to-day. The boys will return to 'Auckland this evening.

It is probable ■ that, as a result of negotiations conducted by Mr Amos, the manager of-the Dominion Olympic team, that a team of Canadian athletes will tour this Dominion at the end of the year.

Deaths from motor accidents in New Zealand have doubled in the past few years. For the three years, 1921-23, Hie average was 64; for the three years, 1925-27, the average was 132.

The Challenge Shield presented by Henry A. Lane and Go., of London, for competition among the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs of New Zealand, has been won by the Tikorangi School, which . scored 504 points.

Amongst the private companies registered in Auckland is George Boyes and Company, Limited, land, estate and general agents, Hamilton. Capital, £2OOO in £1 shares. Subscribers: G. S. Boyes, 1324 shares; J. A. Burson, 338 shares; P. T. Snell, 333 shares.

The recently-formed access path to the river walk on the Hamilton East side of the traffic bridge will prove a great convenience to residents on that side of the river during the summer months. In fine weather this path is one of the prettiest to be found around the borough.

It is reported that Maurice Brownlie, the well-known footballer, captain of the All Black team now in Africa, has purchased the property in the Frasertown district, near Wairoa, owned by the estate of the late Mr W. Goldstonc. The property is a sheep-run of somewhere in the region of 3000 acres.

An extraordinary freak of nature was displayed by Mr G. V. Dayus, M.R.C.V.S., at the cattle demonstration held at Leamington, in the shape of what is recognised as a bull-dog calf. Taken from a cow at death at Ilorotiu the calf has a perfect bulldog head, while the remaining portion of the body is normal. Mr Dayus stated that the freak head was due to a degeneration of the thyroid gland of the mother.

A work which, well merits the attention of the Beautifying Society is tile improvement of the River Bank at London Street. Recently the dense growth of noxious weeds was cleared with relief labour, but the grass lias started growing rapidly again. As the London Street path is the nearest approach to the river from Frankton and Whitiora, lawns, rockeries, and neat paths would be a great improvement at this spot.

An old man bad a narrow escape from a fatal accident to-day, when, on approaching the railway line, he disregarded the caution to “Stop I Look-out for the Engine!” The Rotorua express was aprroaching the Victoria Street crossing, the warningbells were ringing, and cars and pedestrians were waiting for the train to go through,, when the old man approached the crossing, walking slowly. The line-keeper, and several pedestrians "shouted warnings, hut the old fellow kept on, and managed Lo cross just in time.

On the casting vote of the Mayor, the Pahiatua Borough Council the other night rejected a proposal by Cr 11. T. Dawson that the council should consider a local daylight saving scheme (states a northern paper). “I think we ought to be directed by our legislators,” said Cr F. G. Bourke. “Thov have seen fit to rule it out. We should abide by that.” “We cannot dictate to the inhabitants of Pahiatua what they arc to have," remarked the Mayor after a brisk debate. "If they want daylight saving they can make the first move.” Gr P. Tullock regarded the scheme as impracticable. The farmers, being “the backbone of the country,” should bo considered.

The indications at present arc that the opossum season in Canterbury this year will be much'better than last year. At the end of July last year 1158 skins had been stamped in Christchurch, as compared with i 486 on the same date this year (remarks the Press). Since July 31 last the Lolal up to last Wednesday had increased to over 4000. Better prices are being given this year, the better class of skins bringing Is Gd more than they did last year. The season closes in North Canterbury on the IGlh of the month, but trappers are given till September 1G to bring llieir skins in to be stamped. The numbers of trappers’ licenses issued I his year was 49, the same number having been issued last year. ’There were 51 permits issued last year, as compared with 53 this year.

Five thousand cases of bananas ruined by overheating in the holds of the Government motor-ship Maui Pomarc, which arrived at Auckland from the Islands yesterday morning, were jettisoned when half the distance from Apia had boon covered. The vessel arrived with only about 200 cases of bananas fit for consumption. “The Maui Pomarc should be overhauled every time she comes to New Zealand,” declared Professor Macmillan Brown, who was a passenger, “otherwise, it would seem she will lie a failure all along the line. The engine equipment will have to be looked after more carefully. Too many defects for a new vessel had been revealed."