LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The New Zealand and Australian Land Company has declared a Anal dividend of 2 per cent. The cruiser Diomede has been refitted, and left Sheerness on Wednesday for Auckland. The Commissioner of Taxes notifies that the date of payment of land-tax is Friday, November 7, and demands will be posted about the 31st inst. Instances of golfers being attacked by magpies on the Heretaunga Club’s course at Wellington have recently been reported. It seems that the birds have a strong aversion to being approached during the mating season and fly down to peck at the heads of the golfers. Anxiety is felt for the safety of a Swedish fisherman, Mr Andrew Andersen, a single man, 50 years of age, who went out yesterday In a lift, open boat from the Waihi beach to attend to his crayfish pots, and has not returned. The Te Awamutu Literary, Debating and Dramatic Society brought its second session to a close with a debate on “ Is Modern Youth Decadent?" The leader for the affirmative was Mr N. F. Oram, with support from Mrs J. B. Wilson and Messrs E. Bryant and T. Grant. In opposition was Mr J. Oliphant, and associated with him were Mrs M. Otway and Messrs M. Barnett and A. F. Brewer. The subject evoked a very keen debate. At the close the president, Mr F. W. Bevin, invited the audience to vote, and the result proved solidly against the contention ol' those supporting the affirmative.

I Since the end of March the Christchurch Council has issued permits for 489 buildings valued at £262,899. For the same period last year 576 permits were issued for buildings valued at £384,694. There is no change to-day in the condition of Mr W. Craigen, of Walton, who was admitted to the- Waikato Hospital on Wednesday night suffering from fractures to both legs and a broken nose. . His condition Is still serious. A decision to raise an unemployment relief loan of £29,250 to expend on the waterfront road at' Auckland was made by the City Council at a special meeting last evening. The loan will enable the road to be completed between Mission Bay and St. Heliers. The conference of engineers from the principal cities and towns Of New Zealand will be held at Wellington; on Tuesday. The Municipal Association recommended that the officers concerned inquire into the matter of the supply of' bulk materials for municipal works. Charged with false pretences at Auckland on October 8, James Hurley, aged 32 years, appeared before Mr, Wyvern Wilson, S.M. in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court this morning and was remanded to appear at Auckland on Tuesday. Bail was fixed at £SO in one surety. Writing from London on September 16th, Mr G. A. Empson, of Te AWamutu, mentions that he went to New Zealand House and “ joined in a tangi over the loss of our mail. Evidently a Waikato bag was one of those lost in the S.s. Tahiti, as no one from the Waikato has received any letters—a great disappointment.” Mr Empson reports that he and, Miss Empson are thoroughly enjoying their stay in England. The Hamilton Shakespeare Club will give a public reading of “ Hay Fever,” by Noel Coward, on Friday, October 31st. The cast will be: — Judith Bliss, Mrs. Kaber-Harrison; David Bliss, Mr. E. A. Cox ; Sorel Bliss, Miss K. M. Gordon; SimOn Bliss, Mr W. L, Ranst'ead; Myra Arundel, Miss L. Nicholls; Richard Greatham, Mr H. Morton; Jackie Coryton, Miss E. Shadbolt; Sandy Tyrell, Mr R. Griffiths; Clara, Miss E. Barrowclough. Objections to the prosecution of confectioners for trading on Sundays were freely voiced at a meeting of confectioners' called at Auckland to form a Confectionery Retailers’ Association. “ The first activity of the association would be an attempt to remove the restrictions on Sunday trading," said Mr J. H. Naylor, who presided. “If the public did not wish to buy sweets and similar goods on Sundays, shops would not remain open. It is not fair that comectioners should he victimised under an iniquitous and puritanical form of legislation.” The misconception existing to a large extent in the public mind through the nomenclature of the Workers’ Educational Association was commented upon at the annual meeting of the Hamilton advisory committee of that body this week. One speaker said many people believed that the term “worker” had a political application, and that the association was connected with the Labour Party, whereas, in effect, it was non-political and non-sectarian. The president, Mr F. A. de la Mare, said the name of the association had long been the subject of dispute. No objection was offered to a request that the letters “W.E.A,” be dropped from the title of the Hamilton Debating on the understanding that the club would continue to remain under the auspices of the association.