LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Christmas and Kew Year Holidays. —The Waikato Times will not be published on Tuesday next, 25th inst. (Christmas Day), or on Tuesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day).

Fire at Netherton. —A five-roomed farm dwelling, owned and occupied by Mr A. J. Andrews, jnr., and situated on the Awiti Road, Netherton, was destroyed by fire yesterday.

Health Stamp Sales. —The Wellington Children’s Health Camp Association has received advice that the sales of health stamps to date in the various centres have been:—Auckland, 22,379; Christchurch, 13,248; Wellington, 28,493; giving Wellington a lead of over 6000.

School Break-up. The Hamilton Private School held its annual breakup at the Lake. Swimming, sports, making sand castles, etc., were enjoyed. The pupils presented Mrs Tomlinson with some beautiful and useful presents.

Successful More-Work Campaign.— Dunedin’s more-work campaign, which was inaugurated in September with the object of securing work pledges totalling £50,000 before the end of the year, has closed with the. total at £86,000.

Christmas Street Appeal.—The Christchurch Rotary Club’s street appeal to provide Christmas hampers for needy families realised £770, which, with other donations and subscriptions, brings the total available to £llOs. The total last year was £1375, of which £985 was collected on the streets.

Actress’ Home Ransacked. —On returning to her hpme at Vaucluse, Sydney, after her farewell performance at the Tivoli Theatre recently, Madame Delysia found her room in a state of disorder. Thieves had -entered the premises and ransacked the house in her absence in a vain search for valuables. The greater part of the actress’ possessions had been packed some days before and sent down to the wharf for shipment to France. Goods and money amounting to about £6 were stolen.

Increase In Wages. —Under the agreements which have been negotiated between the Tramways Union and the Tramway Board, at Christchurch, employees will receive increases in wages ranging from 5 per cent for the traffic staff to -7£ per cent for the permanent way men. Men on the inquiry staff will also benefit.

Shoplifting Rife In Auckland.— “Shoplifting was rife to-day, and this afternoon I was called upon to deal with five culprits in rapid succession,” the manager of a Queen Street (Auckland) store said last evening. “Although a close supervision was maintained by the staff, and many people were caught-in the act of taking goods, there must have been pounds’ worth of merchandise stolen during the day, which was the worst 1 have ever experienced in Auckland."

Unemployed Social. —Arranged by the women’s Auxiliary, of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, a successful social was held in Toorak Hall last evening. A feature was the Christmas' tree for the children, who enjoyed themselves greatly. There was a good attendance at the function, and the organisers had good reason to be pround of the results of their effort. The. proceeds are to be devoted to the Relief Workers’ 'Camp Fund.

Limited Express to be Delayed.— The limited express, which reaches Auokland from Wellington at 9.40 a.m. each day, will be late in arriving on Monday owing to the arrangements for the rurtning of the Royal train. It has been decided to delay the limited at Franktdn for about half an hour, and to bring it in to Auckland after the Royal train. The extra time spent by the limited at Frankton will enable the Royal train to have a clear run into the Auckland station.

Record Railway Business. —A record exodus of holiday-makers from Wellington is anticipated during the Christmas holidays. The exceptionally line summer, the visit of the Duke of Gloucester, and a general air of “better business" have combined to induce -more people than usual to take their annual holidays. The increase in train travel is so noticeable that the Railways Department anticipates 'the best passenger returns it has had for almost ten. years.

Royal Train at Frankton. —An opportunity to see the Royal itirain, and possibly nbtain a glimpse of the -Royal visitor 'to New Zealand, will be afforded Hamiltonians, on Monday morning, when the train will pass through from Rotorua en route to Auckland. The pitot train will leave Rotorua at 3-5 a.m., the Royal train at 3.45, and the emergency train at 4 p.m. The first train Is •scheduled to arrive at Frankton at C. 33 a.m., while the Duke’s train will reach here at G. 52 a.m. and the third train at. 7.14.

Hamilton Post Office Beflagged.— Outside Hamilton’s chief, post oillce this afternoon long strings of hunting had been hung in preparation for the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Hamilton on December 28. Two national flags curtain the main entrance io the building, while below the Union Jack and the New Zealand flag, which occupy the proud place at the mastheads, string after string of bunting are flying. Not since the last royal visit’lias Hamilton, with ils Christmas bedecked shops, its colourful display of variegated lights, and its brave show of bunting, radiated such a carnival atmosphere.

Maoris Come To Town.—ln a strange eonflicllon of costume, embodying the old and the new, Maoris in their hundreds are finding Hamilton the venue for their Christmas merriment. Aged wahlnes and grey-haired warriors are relies of a day gone by, and beyond making their occasional purchases of “ baccy," they seem content to lounge and smoke in silence. Not so the younger set. They have been born into modernity, and so, with flashing smiles and prodigal disposition, they do the rounds of every shop in Harm.ion. There is much band-shaking and many greetings as lliey meet in their happy groups.

Monday, Christinas Eve, will he a great day among the toys at Hooker and Kingston’s. Toyland is only once a year at tills big store,, and on the final day all stocks must he cleared; hundreds of lines of new toys will he marked down to bargain prices on .Monday. Give the children a real day in Fairyland and a Might in the bigmonoplane at. Hooker and Kingston's cave. Sixpence only admission for this great treat and mothers and fathers will enjoy it—for every one entering the cave receives a lovely preseat from