LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19456, 21 December 1934, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Shortage of Fruit. —A shortage of bananas and oranges is being experienced among Auckland fruit retailers. In contrast, a glut exists in the apple market.

Bequest to Hospital.* —Under the will of Miss Jessie Dobbs, of Helensville, who died on November 20, provision is made for a bequest to the Auckland Hospital Board of £2OO to be used for research work in tuberculosis diseases.

Oity of Pohutukawas. — Probably never before has Auckland been so gaily decked with the crimson of pohutulcawa blooms as it is this summer. In parks,' streets, and private gardens and at the beaches the trees are covered with colour.

Outbreak of Typhoid Fever. —Four definite cases of typhoid fever, and three suspected cases, have been discovered among Maoris at the Opape native settlement, near Opotiki. Mr M. Fogarty, of Whakatane, an inspector of the Department of Health; is investigating the cases.

~ The Tuakau Mystery. —Although the party.of detectives inquiring into the death last Sunday of Mr Charles Raymond Finch, at Tuakau, has returned to Auckland, the investigation is proceeding. Mr Finch was found dead in a paddock, near the railway line, with three bullet wounds in his body.

Work For Boys. —“ The demand for boys for positions this year is phenomenal,” said Sir Joseph Smith, chairman of the Auckland Boys’ Employment Committee, at a meeting of the oommlttee yesterday. Headmasters had stated that many boys leaving school were finding positions, even in the city. It was a very gratifying state of affairs. i

Shop Assistants’ Award. —A request .for an award governing wages and working conditions of shop assistants of Wellington was made in the Arbitration Court yesterday. The request was opposed by several hardware firms carrying on business mainly confined to the wholesale trade. After hearing argument by the assessors the Court reserved decision.

Dorset Horn Sheep Imported.Looking remarkably well after a voyage of over three weeks, a consignment of Dorset Horn sheep, from Adelaide, arrived at Napier by the Kamiro yesterday. The consignment is the first large importation of the breed into New Zealand and has attracted considerable interest. It comprises 38 ewes and one ram, two ewes having died during the voyage.

Victims of Train Smash. —There has been very little improvement in the condition of Mr A. J. Meade, who was severely injured when a train collided with the jigger on which he was being transported near Taupiri on Tuesday. He has not yet'recovered consciousness. His companion, Mr H. W. Beasley, who was not seriously injured, will be discharged from the Waikato Hospital shortly.

Fireworks Display. Aucklanders will witness in 'the harbour on the night of Boxing Day one of the largest •displays of fireworks that has been held here for a number of years. The display will be -provided by the Auckland, Harbour Board as part of the celebrations in connection with the Royal visitShortago of Water. —The three principal reservoirs at Ddnedin have a storage capacity of approximately 149,000,000 gallons, but to-day they contain only 105,000,000 gallons. Since Thursday ’of last week the reservoirs ‘have been losing 2,000,000 gallons a day, so that they have gone back in storage some 14,000,000 gallons. The reservoirs are at a lower level to-day than for six or seven years.

National Anthem — a Discord An amusing incident occurred at the Mayoral ball in the Wellington Town Hall. When the Duke of Gloucester entered the hall Mr M. Temple White, at the grand organ, began to play the National Anthem. Hoping to improve the effect, the orchestra joined in with comical results as discords rent the air. It seems that the orchestra was tuned to high pitch, while the organ is low (or continental) pitch, a difference of nearly half a tone.

Conoert Party at Tokanul. —A concert party from. Hamilton travelled to the Tokanui Hospital last evening, their programme being much appreciated by the patients. At the conclusion of the entertainment the superintendent, Dr. Prins, expressed thanks to the performers who had entertained the patients throughout the year. The programme was as follows:—Pianoforte solos, Mrs H. Absolum; songs, Mr J. C. McCready; tap dancing, Miss R. Stewart; humorous songs,- Mr 11. Absolum; elocution,. Mr W. Moore. Mrs Absolum was the accompanist.

Keeping in Touch winth the Duke.— The telegraphic and telephonic work incident upon the Duke of Gloucester’s tour of New Zealand, which will include most of the famous tourist and scenic resorts, will naturally throw much extra work upon the Post and Telegraph Department. Very complete arrangements have been made for handling the press messages and other communications, and even the Royal train, whenever it is sidetracked, will be immediately connected up with the telephone system. Battery transmitting radio sets will be available at many places for use in emergency in case the. ordinary communication system should fail from any cause. The cost of making these arrangements has not been very great. The department had the necessary equipment in stock, and it has been simply a matter of adapting it for uso during the Royal tour.

A remarkable purchase of summer time frocks. Ladies this is an opportunity not to he missed for these frock's we purchased at a big discount. They are in Fleurila and Floral Crepe, Spun Silks, etc. —everyone correct in style, featuring long sleeves in a variety of* styles —just look at prices—one group usual value 29/(1 for ID/G and the other group 159/G for 29/o—a real Xmas box. Have you visited Toylaml and Santa in his Gave? Fly in 1 lie big monoplane to meet him, 0d a ride and young and old receive a beautiful present at Hooker and Kingston, Ltd. —the real Xmas Store.**

Irish Citizenship Bill —The Dail has passed the Citizenship Bill by 5i votes to 36.

Fighting Planes for Chlna.-r-Italy’s first shipment of 50 bombers, scouters and fighting aeroplanes is due for delivery to China early in 1935.

Dunedin Rates'. —Yesterday was the final day for the reception of rates by the Dunedin City Council. Tim rate assessment this year was £255,825, compared with £249,436 for the previous year, and the amount paid totals £2261874, as against £219,113 in 1933-34. • .' ,

Voyage In Rubber Canoe.* —The Karachi 'Correspondent of the Times states that Oscar Speck, a German sea ■scout, arrived there in a 64-lb rubber canoe, in which he had left Hamburg 2i years ago. He expects to take as long to reach Australia, hi-s destination.

Rapid Travelling. —The youthful airman, Mr C. J. Melrose, who won the second prize in the handicap section of the Centenary air race, flew from Launceston to Sydney yesterday. The distance is 670 miles and Mr Melrose averaged 130 miles an hour.

Gift of £660 for Hospital.— The trustees of the Hokitika Savings Bank yesterday decided to grant the Westland Hospital trustees £650 for a new X-ray plant. The gift is to mark the jubilee in connection with the work of old pioneers who established the first hospital in Hokitika.

Mobile Dental Cl In to.—A mobile dental clinic, the first of the kind in the Dominion, has been operating on a circuit of Wanganui schools since September. It has rendered excellent service, which Is greatly appreciated by parents. A total of 190 children were enrolled and treated, the work including 492 fillings and 130 extractions.

Rain at Te Aroha. —Rain set in at Te Aroha at three o’clock yesterday afternoon and continued until the evening. Water supplies have been replenished and pastures, which were assuming a dried-up appearance, will he greatly benefited.

Late Lord Riddell’s Estate. —The late Lord Riddell, after making generous provision tor his wife, -bequeathed the remainder of his fortune to the employees of News -of the World and other newspapers in which he was interested, and -to newspaper’ ahai’ities and hospitals. The estate is believed to be worth between £1,000,000 and £2,000,000.

An Editor’s Kidnappers. —Three kidnappers of Dr. Claret, editor of a Miami newspaper, have been sentenced to imprisonment for life. Dr. ■Claret’s chauffeur and 'two other men seized him’ and forced him to sign ■cheques. They tortured him until they •obtained the cash.

New Shearing Record. A new world’s shearing record was accomplished this week by Sonny White, who put through 433 Romney breeding ewes in nine hours at the Sherbrook station, Pehiri. A gang of six with which the new record-holder was associated shore 1561 sheep in a day. White’s gang comes from Urewera. :

Borough Leases. —Although there were no sales 'recorded at the time, there was a keen inquiry for the leases of five borough sections which were offered for sale by Messrs Fow, Cobbe and Co., Ltd., this morning. , Three of the sections were in Victoria Street, and two in Lake Road. Although none was sold to-day, those interested have the right to lake the sections up, at the upset rental, without the leases being re-offered.