LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18406, 13 August 1931, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

At the Ruakura State Farm ,66in. of rain was recorded in the 24 hours up to 9 o’clock this morning.

The price of all tobaccos is to be increased by one penny an ounce in Auckland.

Owing to a slip at Mangaweka the Limited express from Wellington to Auckland was over half-an-hour late in arriving at Frankton Junction this morning.

A fire occurred on the Rangitira on the eve of her maiden voyage to New Zealand from Greenock. Two secondclass cabins were damaged, also some of the electric light cables. The damage done was not serious.

Satisfaction with the proposal to abolish the coupon system as from April 30 was expressed by the Auckland Tobacconists’ Association last evening, when the Trading Coupons Bill, recently introduced in Parliament, was discussed.

The late Mr Joseph Henry Hall, of Christchurch, who died in January, left a New Zealand estate valued at £160,000 and a New South Wales estate valued at £28,000. Subject to bequests to relatives, employees and friends, the residue is left to his widow and family.

The decision of the Government to appoint a Development of Industries Board is regarded as “ absurd,”

“ ridiculous " and “ farcical,” by one of Auckland’s prominent manufacturers. “If it were not for the fact that the board will cost money the taxpayers can ill afford I would call it amusing," he said.

The report of the directors of Messrs Grey and Menzies, Limited, Auckland, for the year ended June 30 states that the balance at credit of profit and loss account, amounted to £2617. The directors recommend that a dividend should be paid at the rate of 7 per cent, on the preference shares and 4. per cent, on the ordinary shares, which will absorb £1230, leaving £1387 to be carried forward.

A decision to request the contractors for the concreting of the approaches to the Westfield overhead bridge to hold up the work and consider making a filling on the northern side, in order to improve the visibility and lessen the danger to human life, was reached at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Automobile Association last evening.

Following on the proclamation of the Australian Debt Conversion Act, Sir Alfred Meeks, as chairman of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, has telegraphed to the Prime Minister the announcement that the society will convert the whole of its holding of Commonwealth and State loans, amounting to £21,750,000. The trustees of the Officers’ Provident Fund of the Society will also convert its holding of such stock, amounting to £318,000.

A strange fish was caught by an Opotiki resident at the Hukuwai Beach recently. It was 30in long, with eight arms 7in long and two 121 n long. The body was shaped not unlike that of a gurnard and the colouring was similar but much brighter. At the tail were two large fins 71n wide. It was identified as a squid of a species which is common on Hie New England coast of the United States, but, so far as is known, it had not been reported in New Zealand waters before. The fish was'sent to the Dominion Museum.

For some years a boar, well-known to pig hunters, has inflicted a great deal of damage on dogs belonging to hunters who went out on the hills at the back of Puru, on the Thames coast. Several parties have made attempts to get him and have lost all their dogs in the endeavour. However, the pig met his match last week-end. Messrs R. Dovell and tils brother, of Thames, and C. Jackson, of Hamilton, went out with three dogs, and on Sunday they got on his track. The boar put up a tremendous fight, gashing the three dogs, one six times, and even then he kept on fighting until dispatched with a knife by one of the parly. Il is stated that the boar was an outlaw, and that instead of the usual grunt made by a b'oar he squealed like a sow. He weighed 17OIb. and had particularly good and sharp tusks.

Prior to stock-taking many lines must be cleared, therefore. Hooker and Kingston. Limited, tin 1 Big Busy Drapers, are making a great effort to reduce slocks to a minimum. At our Ten Days’ Stock Reduction Sale you will find nil ny items of interest that have been priced Io clear without any regard to cost. You should buy now needs for Hie home such as Curtain Nets. Shadow Tissue, Floor Rugs, Carpets, and Linoleums. Slock up the Linen Cupboard witli Towels, Sheetings, Pillow Slips. Tea Towels. Damasks, etc. Prices will never be lower, for Hie high Tariffs must mean Higher Prices. Noted for Duality.— Hooker and Kingston. Limited.' *

During the past month the daily average number of patients in the Waikato Hospital was 273. During the same period 178 operations were performed.

In consideration of the relief afforded the hospital funds and hospital officials by the operations of the Waikato Social Welfare League, the Hospital Board to-day decided to assist to contribute half the Welfare Officer's salary for the next three months.

European earthquake records indicate the occurrence of the greatest shock since the Japanese earthquake in September, 1923. It is believed that the centre of the trouble is in the sparsely-populated wastes of Central Asia.

The Prince of Wales had his first lessons in speed boating at Virginia Water, near London. He was soon expertly handling the craft, cornering deftly. Prince George piloted another speed-boat and the brothers dashed up and down the lake together. They took women passengers for trips. The Princes’ instructor is Captain Palethorpe.

The W. D. Hunt trophy, in connection with the Southland A. and P. Association's Winter Show, which is awarded annually to the dairy factory having the highest average grading in cheese exported through Bluff, has this year been won by the Oware Factory with an average grade of 93.582 during the period October 1, 1930, to May 31, 1931. Menzies' Ferry (93.433) came second and Morton Mains (93.290) third.

At a meeting of the council of the Auckland Automobile Association the president, Mr A. Grayson, said the latest reduction in the price of petrol was not sufficient, and consumers in New Zealand were entitled to a further reduction when the world prices were considered. The North and South Island Motor Unions had, prior to the recent reduction, sent a letter to the leading oil companies, requesting a reduction in prices. It was not considered that the reduction of Id a gallon had resulted from the letters, and it was hoped a further reduction would be made.