LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19051, 15 September 1933, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Frost In Hamilton.— A light frost Avas experienced In Hamilton this morning, 6.4 -degrees (grass temperature) -being recorded -at the Ruakura Farm -of Instruction.

'Somme Anniversary. Seventeen years ago to-day the New Zealand Division entered the offensive on the Somme and over a period of 23 days successfully encountered the -best German troops in several battles.

Rongotal Aerodrome Improvements. —The Wellington City Council yesterday agreed to erect a workshop and club room at the Rongotal Aerodrome at an estimated cost of £1322. The amount will probably be subsidised by the Unemployment Board.

King Country Roadlng Work. —It is understood that several works of an important nature will be put in hand shortly In the King Country. Among these will be the metalling of approximately 14 miles of road, presumably to be undertaken by men recently put off the Public Works railway construction work in the Ohura district.

Auckland Harbour Bridge.— At a meeting -of directors of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Company, Limited, -the headway made In 'the negotiations with London was -considered by the directors to be distinctly encouraging, the latest news received from England indicating a decidedly forward movement.

Eradication of Ragwort. —ln continuance of previous action for the eradication of ragwort, the Otamatea County Council has decided to distribute the quantity of sodium chlorate on hand free through councillors in the various ridings. Further stocks to be procured are to be supplied at a 'little over cost price to ratepayers.

Old Auckland Station Site. —The utilisation of the old Auckland Rail\A’ay station site was the subject of a report made to the City Council last evening by the town clerk/ He stated that, in \ T iew of the progress of negotiations for the acquisition of properties on the site, it was advisable that the council should proceed to raise, by way of spe-cial order, £25,000 for the purposes of acquiring land for, and formation and completion of streets. The report was adopted.

Auckland’s Motor-Cars. —The number of motor registrations In 1932 In the counties of Eden, Wait-emata and Manukau, representing approximately the -area within a radius of 13 miles of the chief post office, Auckland, represents a decline of 3.7 per cent, on the 1931 -figures. The registrations totalled 20,090 (15,475 motor-cars and 41G5 commercial vehicles), compared with 20,866 in 1931, and 21,206, the peak figure, In 1930.

Auokland City Traffic. —" The outstanding feature is that, while there h-as been a -slight decline In the total traffic -counted at the various points, compared with the counts at those points -last year, -the total traffic entering and leaving the -city has remained constant, the only difference -being a small change in the distribution -oh, that traffic,” said the city engineer, Mr J. Tyler, Jn reporting to -the Auckland City Council last evening the result of the traffic census taken in February.

Dominion Funds In London. —Discussing recent financial returns at a -meeting ot the Auckland Chamber of -Commerce, Mr G. Jackson said they showed that the Government -had taken the whole of its exchange requirements for 12 months out of the first quarter’s 'accumulation of funds in London. The -correct position was that the accumulation -of funds in London -during the first quarter of the financial year bad been in excess -of. £7,000,000. He considered that New Zealand was heading for a very difficult position.

North Shore Water Supply.—Decisions of the Birkenhead and Northcote Borough Councils to proceed with arrangements to secure water supplies from the city -source were conveyed to the Auckland City Council last evening in a communication from -the town clerk of Birkenhead. The Takapuna Borough Council has decided that the Lake Pu-puke water supply -should -be abandoned as so-on as possible and that negotiations should be opened with the Auckland City Council to -arrange for a future water supply from the Waitakeres.

Beautifying Auckland “ During the past two years no fewer than 7650 trees have been planted In parks and reserves,” said the city engineer, Mr J. Tyler, In reporting to the Auckland City Council last evening on a suggestion that a policy should be formulated for beautifying the foreshore beaches' of the city. “ Every opportunity is taken to employ labour under the No. 5 scheme on this \Vork,” added the engineer. “ There are still several areas where trees could be planted with advantage, and these will receive attention as improvement work progresses.”

An Inventor’s Claim. —A startling claim that 'he had Invented an engine which would obviate the entire use of petrol -or steam was made to a ■representative of the Timaru Herald recently by a well-known Timaru citizen, who at present is endeavouring to secure the patent rights and adequate protection for the design, which lie stated would revolutionise the commercial and Industrial world. “ My invention,” he said, ‘‘is the outcome ■of an offer made by the Scientific American 30 years ago of a prize of £IOOO for a design of an engine which would take the place of steam. That was before the advent of petrol and now I claim that, after all these years of study, I have produced something which will replace petrol and steam." It was explained that the Railway Department was -at present-interested in the device and was a wading further particulars which should he furnished to the Inventions Commit 100 at a” early date. The redeeming feature of the engine, It was claimed, was that there were two speeds, one forward and one reverse. There would he no carburettor, commutator, or self-starter, and the machine itself could develop electricity. Twenty years ago, the inventor staled, a sVnilai* engine was in operation, hut from a utilitarian point of view w'.s no I suilahle lo any degree. “ The patent I have worked out was at the start quite suitable up to a point, but with the advancement of the years and the changes Mint have been effected, hard work has rewarded me with something which should now prove equal lo the most stringent test.’’

Auckland Bus Stand. —A temporary aland for cast-bound buses is to be established on the new roadway on the old Auckland railway station site, connecting Gore Street extension and Britomart Place.

5.9, lonio Due on Wednesday. —A wireless message received from the s.s. lonic by Messrs Dalgety and Co.. Ltd., states that the ship is due in at Wellington on Wednesday evening, September 20.

lytt. Eden Loan Conversion. —A proposal for the conversion of loans amounting to £790,120 has been adopted by the Mount Eden BoroughCouncil. It is reported that the conversion will result In an annual saving of about £6OO after the first year.

Rhodes Scholarship Nominees. —■ The professorial board of Otago University has nominated the following three students as candidates for Rhodes Scholarships:—Messrs U. Davis, W. F. Dunne and L. F. Moller. There were nine applications.

Rugby Union and Unemployed.— Appreciation of the action of the Hamilton Rugby Union In granting free admission to Rugby Park 'to relief workers during the football season was the -subject of a resolution adopted at a meeting of the Hamilton Unemployed Workers’ Movement last night.

Gold Find at Komata. —Mining men who have inspected the new find in the Golden Crown workings at Komata, express the opinion that it is the best made in the, district for 20 years or so, and that if it turns out to be anything like as good -as it appears, it will prove very valuable. Those Interested In the mine are said to be very reticent.

Influenza In the North. —Owing to the prevalence of influenza in the Whangarei district, the Otaika School was closed on Wednesday as both the teachers had contracted influenza. At Hikurangl 60 children were absent owing to influenza and measles. The Portland School and Whangarei High Schools are also affected for simiiar reasons.

Cygnets at Zoo. —For the first time on -record the black swans on the pond at the Auckland zoo have been nesting in numbers this season, and three broods totalling nine cygnets make a most attractive sight. The old birds are exceedingly pugnacious, making it impossible for anyone to approach the chicks.

Company Dividends. —The annual report of Westland Breweries, Limited, shows a net profit of £1024, compared with £7Ol In the previous year. No dividend Is recommended. None has been paid In the past two years. The directors of Montelth’s Phoenix Brewery, Limited, recommend a dividend of 6 per cent, the same as in the previous year.

Drover’a Long Trek. —A herd of cattle numbering 4000 head arrived at Moree, New South Wales, from the Northern Territory. They were sent from Vestey’s station properties and have travelled upwards of 2000 -miles. They have been two years on the road. When the cattle have been fattened they will be forwarded to Sydney.

Unemployment Taxation. The statement -of Mr J. S. Jessep, deputychairman of the Unemployment Board, 'that the country could not stand any more taxation for the relief -of unemployment was discussed at a meeting of the Hamilton Unemployed Workers’ Movement last night. It was decided to write to the Minister of Employment pointing out that tiie relief workers of Hamilton did not want further taxation on the public as they realised that credits, in relation to . the real wealth -and potential production of the -country, if made available, would render additional taxation unnecessary.

Matakl Gold Dredging, Limited. — The dredge superintendent reports for the week ending 9th instant: —‘‘During the week the dredge had to be turned round to dredge out tailings to give sufficient clearance under the ship to lower the water another 4 feet. A small dam was made at the cost of £35, and with the assistance of this water the dredge has been lowered to the level of the old river bed. This operation necessitated a considerable amount of material being shifted three times. The return for the past week was 27 ounces Bdwt., for 114 hours’ work, Including a portion of the time spent in dredging tailings."