LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19223, 6 April 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Officially Denied. —The statement that France proposed to construct a submarine base at Calais is officially

denied in Paris.

English Mails.— -The Chief Postmaster, Hamilton advises that the English mails despatched from Auckland on March 6, via Vancouver, per Aorangi, were delivered in London on Wednesday, 4th. Inst.

Air Mall to Australia.— The point and time of departure of the TransTasman air mail to be carried on the return flight of the “ Faith In Australia ” has been altered to Ninety Mile Beach, at approximately 3 a.m. on the 3 4th Instant.

Mr Bernard Shaw to Broadcast. — The Broadcasting Board has arranged for Mr Bernard Shaw to speak from the Wellington radio station on the evening of Thursday, April 12. The address will he broadcast from all stations.

Direct Shipments of Fruit,— Direct shipments of fruit from Napier to England have been instituted this season and within a week of 40,000 oases will have been shipped In this manner, representing a considerable saving to Hawke’s Bay fruitgrowers.

Lord Blodlsloe Opons Park. —At Warkworth yesterday the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe formally declared open Kowhal Park, a bush reserve and camping ground recently acquired by the Government with the assistance’ of locally-raised funds.

young IVlen for Air Force.- —A party of 15 young men, selected from about 600 applicants from various parts of New Zealand, arrived yesterday at the iHobsonville Air Base, where they will bo trained as fitters. The recruits, whose average age is about 23, will be permanently attached to the Royal Air Force.

Contrary Rulings. ‘'When two referees go on the same ground in one afternoon and give different interpretations of the rules wo cannot expect to get decent football,” declared Mr A. J. Denz at the annual meeting of tile Hamilton Rugby Union last evening.

Mr. Lang to Appeal. —The Federal I-ligh Court granted Mr. J, T. Lang leave to appeal against the Full Court's decision in the WHIR case granting Mr. Willis leave to apply for a new trial. The case was heard last September, when the jury returned a verdict in favour of Mr. Lang, against whom £20,000 damages had been claimed.

Finlay Cup Games. —“ The present ■system of running Finlay Cup games Is an absolute farce, ’’ commented Brother Clemens at the annual meeting of the- Hamilton Rugby Union last evening. Brother Clemens pointed out the absurdity of a club’s senior players attempting to be represented in a Finlay Cup match, another representative fTxture and a senior competition game, all in one afternoon.

Rabbits Shot In Waikato. —A total of 700 rabbits was shot by a party of five New Plymouth men who journeyed to Kiwitahi, Waikato, and spent four days at the Easter holidays in shooting. Shotguns were used and 1075 cartridges were fired. The number of rabbits in the district amazed the members of tbe party. Last year at Easter the party’s >rg In the sarrte district was 400.

Depth of Icebergs. —Asked what proportion of an Iceberg was under the water, Sir Hubert Wilkins told members of the Hamilton Motor Cycle Club last evening that there was no set rule covering this aspect. Each iceberg had to he taken individually. Some might rise 40 feet out of the water, and extend only 5 feet below the surface, hut none of the natural-ly-formed icebergs would be found to he more than two-thirds of their depth under water.

An Earthquake. —A slight earthquake shock, the first recorded in the Warkworth district, occurred at 2.50 a.m. yesterday. A number of residents in Ihe ICaipara Hills district felt a distinct shake, which, although sharp enough to waken them, was not sufficiently severe to cause damage. The shock also was felt by residents of Warkworth and by settlers at Matalcana.

Conditions in Russia, —“ I saw in Russia only what the authorities wanted me to see, but must admit that to the visitor everything appears to be progressing smoothly," said Mr H. Hill, a Wellington business man who returned from England yesterday. Mr Hill, who used to visit Russia in the pre-revolution days, said the country had gone ahead, and there were signs of expansion of trade and industry in many respects. School Committees Elections. —The biennial election of school committees in the Auckland Education Board's district will take place on Monday, April 23, at 8 p.m. In the case of schools where the attendance does not exceed 240 nominations can be made at the election meeting, hut where ihe roll is above 240 nominations close willi the chairman of the existing committee on Monday, April 16.

Rugby Recollections. —Some reminiscences of Rugby football administration in Hamilton about 20 years ago were briefly indulged in by Mr W. Eraser, ihe president, at llic annual meeting of the Hamilton Rugby Union last evening. “Wc used to meet in an an old hack room," said Mr Fraser. There were Tom Olarkin, George Hamilton and Charlie Speight and llio tolal receipts for the year were about £l4. Wc did not worry much about gates in those days, if there was any work to lie done the committee just look their coats off and got to it. I remember our digging post holes over at Steele Park.”

More Building In Wellington.—Durum- the 12 months ended March 31 considerable improvement look place in the building trade in Wellington GHy, compared with the previous finaneiai year, for although there was little difference in Hie permit figures for the two years (£345,029 for 1932-33, and £37 1,97 1 for 1933-34), the trade lias linen given a lift by the commencement of Hie construction of the new railway station, which, being a Government building, does not require a permit from tiic City Council. Th .* contract, price for the station was £339,173.

For young ladies, 10-ni.arl 1 f al 7.30 sharp. Berlei’s new Mannequin Parade and sla.se fen I urns in l\vo glorious arts will he repeated by spoel.il request. Ladies a splendid entertainment Ibis Parade, but more Ilian that the way lo greater beauty for women of all ages and figure types. Don't miss it at Hooker A- Kingston’s tonight at 7.30 p.m. starp. All seats are free. * *

Less Milk Sold. —The public’s reaction to the increase in milk prices In Auckland has been to restrict consumption. While it is difficult to ascertain precisely the extent of the decline, inquiries yesterday indicated that it amounts to at least 10 per cent. Easter Weddings. —ln common with various other centres of the Dominion, there were many marriages in Wellington during Easter. For the period from March 26 to April 3, inclusive, 56 marriage licences were issued in Wellington. Of this total 14 marriages were performed by the registrar.

First Lamb of Season. —A Wanganui resident who has just returned from a motor trip to the Wairarapa reports that he saw a young lamb at Carterton. “It would be 'hard to say whether it was the first of a new season, or the last of an old one,” said, "but It was certainly a lamb."

(Huge Sea Denizens. —“l have seen whales 23 feet long at birth,” remarked Sir Hubert Wilkins in an address to the Hamilton Motor Cyole Club last evening. The speaker added that in the first year whales grew to about twice t'helr length at birth. The largest whale he had seen captured was 103 'feet In length, but he had been told that others up to 115 feet had been killed by the whalers.

Obsoene Language. —" William O'Brien, labourer, aged 52 years, appeared in the Morrinsville Magistrate's Court, before Mr C. Gummer, J.P., on two charges, one of drunkenness and one of using obscene language in Canada Street , yesterday. Aocused, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, and on the second charge w'as fined £5, or one month’s imprisonment. (No time was allowed jn which to pay.

Golf Ball In Rablt Trap. —A local player during the Easter Golf Tournament at St. Andrews had gread difficulty in finding his ball from a drive off the third tee, but eventually recovered it from an unusual position. The drive was pulled Into the rough, the ball falling in a rabbit burrow, which contained a spring rabbit trap. The ball apparently landed on the platform of the trap, and the steel jaws, snapping shut, caught the bouncing ball. The player had to release the spring to recover his property.

Brake and Four. —The brake remains but the team of four has gone, and a modern motor-car was deemed ■sufficient to draw the old “ drag ” to the polo grounds at Cambridge, yesterday, where it serves as the official grandstand. At one time the vehicle, which is the property of Mr A. Bell, was the pride of Cambridge and, drawn by four or more picked horses, provided a means of transport for dozens of residents many years ago. To-day it is but rarely called upon and even then relegated to the passive function of grandstand.

New Zealanders In Navy. —ln replying to an official welcome upon the arrival of H.M.S. Dunedin at New Plymouth yesterday, Rear-Admiral F. Bur-ges-Watson said the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy was becoming more and more manned by Now Zealanders, to the exclusion of Imperial men. “ Slowly but surely the Division is becoming New Zealand in personnel as well as in name,” he said. At present 50 per cent of the complement of the Dunedin and 75 per cent of the Diomede are New Zealanders.

Damage by Grasshoppers.— As a result, of the long spell of dry weather in the Kaikohe district swarms of ■grasshoppers are emerging from areas of dried-up swamp land and attacking gardens and plantations lying in their path, with devastating effect. During the Easter holidays tourists were surprised to see on many northern roads armies of moving grasshoppers. Caterpillers also have been causing great damage. A farmer in the Kaikohe district had six acres of corn nearly ready for picking eaten toy an army of caterpillers.

New Theatres in New Zealand.— Two new picture theatres will toe erected in Christchurch, one in Timaru, and one in New Plymouth, toy Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., (owners of the State Theatre now in course of erection in Hamilton). When these are completed the company will have 48 theatres in New Zealand. The new State Theatre In Dunedin will be opened on April 1.1, while the State in Hastings and the State In Napier are expected to be ready in three weeks. The finishing touches are being put on the State Theatre in Hamilton, and the opening will be toward the end of April. The State Theatre at T'e Kuitl will open on June 3.

Warning to Motorists. —Motorists who leave their ignition keys in their motor-cars are looking for trouble, not only from thieves but also from young children. The practice may indeed become a grave menace of other children followed the example of a four-year-old boy in Maeroa the. oilier day. The little hoy climbed into a car, pulled the. hand throttle well on, turned Hie key, and started the engine. The car was either left in gear or the child pushed the lever in, for the car ran backwards, crashing into the side of a house. The child jumped out while the car was in motion, but fortunately was not injured. Other children were playing on the drive-way. and It was very lucky that the vehicle did not strike them. The car was rattier extensively buckled.

Explorer of the Skies. —A glimpse of the romantic history of the famous monoplane, the Southern Cross, was given by Sir Hubert Wilkins when he addressed members of the Hamilton Motor-Cycle Club last evening. Sir Hubert said tho big machine was built in Holland, and was assembled at Fairbanks, Alaska. In Its first year it was down several thousand miles in polar exploration, and was later taken to San Francisco, where the speaker intended to dispose of the machine and obtain a smaller plane. It Was in San Francisco that he met three Australians, Kingsford Smith, Ulm, and Alien, who were looking for a machine to fly to Australia, and to this trio, Sir Hubert handed over the Southern Cross, which, shortly after, made its epic flight to Australia.

The many new models in Corsets at House and Daklng, Ltd., will meet every individual requirement. A special feature of Hie range is the marvellous Nu-back Modalre Corsets

'and Corscietlrs In quite a number of types —exclusive to House and Daking Lid., of course. “Nu-baek” Is the most sensational innovation in Gorsetry in years 1 Inspect the models in ibis and other popular makes in tiie corset section—each inexpensively priced. And remember—at House and Daklngs you have the 1 advantage of continuous expert advice ; —without obligation. Trained I Corsetieres always la attendance.

Antarctlo Coalfield. —The fact that the largest exposed seam of coal in the worjd had been discovered in the antarctic was mentioned by Sir Hubert Wilkins in replying to a question at the Hamilton .Motor Cycle Club's function last evening as to whether any minerals had been found in the polar region. Sir Hubert added that this seam of coal was 40 feet deep and extended over 100 miles.

Bernard Shaw Replies Brusquely.— When asked If there was any truth In the statement that he owned property in Wellington Mr. Bernard Shaw replied brusquely. “ There is no truth in any statement anybody makes about me." The statement probably arose from a remark Mr. Shaw made In Auckland that the only members of the Shaw family who had migrated came to New Zealand.

An Agricultural Country. —“ There have always been more workers employed In the primary industries in Britain than in any of the manufacturing industries, despite (the large numbers working In the collieries and mills," remarked Mr M. E. Marples, during disoussion of British dairying, at a meeting of the Waikato Subpovinoial executive of the Farmers’ Union to-day. Britain was an agricultural country and always had been, he added.

farming in Britain. —“ There is no doubt that everyone In England Is determined to make farming there prosperous and the result is that farmers growing wheat in Britain are increasing their production," said Mr S. N. Zlman at a meeting of the Waikato Sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union to-day. Mr Zlman, who returned recently from a trip to England, said that new methods were being adopted in dairying, and greater efficiency with consequent better returns, was being achieved.