LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19458, 24 December 1934, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Christmas and Row Year Holidays. -—Tiie Waikato Times will not be published to-morrow (Christmas Day), or on Tuesday, January 1 (New Year's Day).

Hamilton Fire Board. —A notice regarding the conversion of a Hamilton Fire Board loan appears in the .New Zealand Gazette.

Duke’s Christmas Day. —The Duke of Gloucester will spend a quiet Christmas Day in Auckland. His only engagement is attendance at divine service in St. Mary’s Cathedral at 10.45 a.m.

Christmas Greetings. —We acknowledge, and reciprocate seasonal greetings from Government Departments, public organisations, contemporaries, and contributors.

The Longest Day. —The longest day of the year occurred yesterday, when the sun reached the most southern portion of its path and remained above the horizon for a longer period than on any other day.

Fractured Leg Sustained. —A fractured leg was sustained toy Mrs Emma Ruth McGuire, of Raglan, when she slipped and fell ait Raglan this morning. She was admitted to the Waikato Hospital, .where her condition is reported to toe satisfactory.

Workers’ Education School. —The summer school of the Workers’ Educational Association will be conducted at Wesley College, Paerata. The enrolments total 87. Of this number 47 are men and R 5 women, the remainder being children. The camp will commence on Boxing Day.

Wellington Investment.— -The Wellington Investment, Trustee and Agency Company, Limited, has declared an interim dividend of 2 per cent for the half-year ended December 31. No interim dividend was Paid last year, the distribution for the full year being 41 per cent.

Navy Celebrates Christmas.— ln accordance with tradition, evergreens will be tied to the mastheads and yardarms on the warships at the naval base at Devonport, Auckland, to-night and in every way possible the established customs of the Navy’s Christmas will be retained. Bunches of pohutukawa will be used, however, instead of the traditional holly.

A Grateful Tribute? —Whether it. was a graceful tribute to the Duke of Gloucester or an appreciation of the capabilities of a well-known make of motor-ear the people of Rotorua are still wondering. An old van, laden with Maoris, was frequently seen careering about the streets of the thermal town on Saturday and the side of the van bore the legend: “Faith in Henry.”

Telephone for Holiday-makers. —A Post Office Innovation which is likely to prove popular with tourists and holiday-makers is the extension of half-rates for toll services on Sundays and holidays. Much worry, discomfort and inconvenience can often be avoided by prompt communication when on vacation and, by placing the facilities for distance call? within the reach of everybody, the department has taken a step which should be rewarded by increased traffic.

Commonscrjce. —His Excellency (Lord Bledisloe) speaking at the break-up ceremony of Scots College, Wellington, made reference to broad-minded-ness. He said there was one thing he would like t.o leave on the minds of the boys of the school. That was, that they might gain the whole world and not only lose their soul but all their happiness and prosperity in 24 hours, unless they realised that they were social beings and acted accordingly. “ From tiie point of view of common sense, it is up to all of us- to study the welfare of our neighbours at least as much as of ourselves,” Lord Bledisloe said. “ Be spiritual and not wholly worldly. Have you ever applied common sense to this advice? Let me ask who are the most obviously happy people in the world? The rich? Certainly not by virtue of their, riches. The socially great? Not by virtue of their social

position. . . . It has been our experience in New. Zealand to go into a large number of old people’s homes, and the tiling that strikes us is that where there is work and religion they are always supremely happy, although death may be calling for them in the next few weeks. Is it not common sense, then, when you are told in school to believe in God? ”