LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19460, 27 December 1934, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

No Diamonds. —The importation _of diamonds into Italy has been forbidden.

Empire Air Mail.— Two mail aeroplanes are bringing the second Empire air mail weighing 6001 b. to the eastern States of Australia. One Imperial Airways machine, the Aurora, landed at Darwin last evening.

Highest Paid Footballer —Monti, the centre half of the Italian football team that recently visited England, is the highest paid footballer in the world. He was once an Argentine player, and receives £l5O a month for a playing year |of ten months.

Danger from Grass Fires. —As a result of the present unusually hot, dry spell, grass on the roadsides in the Manawatu district is presenting a source of danger to householders and others through fire. Several outbreaks have occurred. The length of the dry spell is unprecedented, and only once in the past seven weeks has there been a fairly heavy downpour.

Distinction With Difference? —‘■‘What is the distinction?" asked Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., In the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, this morning, when a motorist, asked to plead to a charge of intoxication while in 'charge of a car, replied: “ I was under the Influence of liquor but was not intoxicated, Your .Worship.”

Italy’s Unemployed. ■ — Signor Cianetti, head of the Fascist Workers’ Federation, says the 44 hours week is so successful that it is likely to be permanently adopted. Already it has given employment to 106,000 people who were out of work and he thinks that ultimately it will provide \Vork for Italy’s 1,000,000 unemployed.

Temperature of 114 Degrees. —The man at Broken Hill (said a Sydney paper last week) would gladly change places with any man in Sydney. For Broken Hill sweltered in a shade temperature of 109 degrees—and in the sun it was least 150 degrees! In Sydney at lunch time it was only a trifle over 82 degrees. White Cliffs, out in the Far West, recorded 114 degrees, and at Tibooburra it was 112 degrees.

A Surprise Dip. • An unexpected drenching was experienced by PilotOfficer “Scotty” Fraser, while giving parachute jumping exhibitions at Waihi Beach yesterday. The parachutist had made a Jump and aimed to land on the beach, but could not reach his objective, and came down in the surf about 50 yards from the shore. The silken parachute retained a considerable quantity of air, and Mr Fraser reached the shore without any difficulty, floating with the parachute.

Tasman Yaoht Race. —The Auckland sloop Ngataki, one of the two competitors in the trans-Tasman yacht race, which started from Auckland on December 8, was sighted and signalled by the Kalingo at four o’clock yesterday morning in latitude 38 degrees 44 minutes south; longitude 148 degrees 43 minutes east. This position is inj the entrance to Bass Straits, between’ the north-eastern point of Tasmania and Gabo Island, about 240 miles from the finishing line.

Sober Hamilton. —Off!dally Hamilton experienced a sober Christmas. Whatever influence Bacchus may have exerted in private houses over the festive season there was., little flagrant insobriety about the streets and. only two “ drunks " appeared in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court this morning, both statutory first offenders. As they had spent some time in the cells they were convicted and discharged. One of the defendants was minus a shirt brt >plus a black eye and cuts about the face.

First Air Mall Arrives.—The first Empire air mail to arrive in New Zealand was delivered at Auckland yesterday, when four mail hags, con I aiding nearly 7(500 letters, and a special bag with mail l'or the Duke of Gloucester, were landed from the Orient liner Oronsay. The consignment, which weighed 1681 b- was despatched from Croyden on December 8. Included in the Royal Mall are letters from the King and Queen and the Prince of Wales addressed to the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and other letters from British Ministers to members of the New Zealand Cabinet.

A Clean-up.—As the result of a round-up by the Christchurch police just prior to Christmas they believe they will sheet home the majority of unsolved crimes in that city. In the immediate future charges will be preferred against accused persons in connection with 12 crimes in districts ranging from Woodend to Methven, Leeston, Akaroa and Christchurch. There will be a charge of shooting with intent to do bodily harm in the Woodend incident of November 27 last, when Mr C. B. Bourne,,who owns the Woodend store, about four miles north of Kaiapoi, was shot in the hand by one or two men whom he disturbed after they had broken into his shop.

Japanese Enterprise. — t An indication of Japanese, business' enterprise is' given by a leaflet received in Christchurch recently from Iho Chiyoda Trading Company, the head office of which is situated in Ihe Japan industrial Bank Building, Martmouchi, T’okio, Japan. This concern, a manufacturing and exporting company, advertises a long list of articles, among which appear:—“Motor car purls and accessories; all sorts for Chevrolet, Ford, and all ofher American and European. ears. ; Top arid hood cloths of all kinds, imitation leather and canvas cloth.’’ 'Die receiver of Ilie leallel remarked that Ihe enforcement of patent rights apparently had ils limitations as 'applied lo japan.

Witty Solicitor.—Much amusement was caused in the tipper Ilutl Court when a witty remark by the police prosecutor was neatly capped by a solicitor (says Ihe Wellington Posl). The defendant in a negligent driving case, when asked how lie knew Ilia! he was travelling at only HO miles per hour, replied lliat he did not look at Ihe speedometer, hut knew the speed from Ihe sound of Ihe engine.

“And when it sings ’God Save tin*. King’ I suppose you slop." said Constable C. Joss, amid laughter, which was Increased when Mr A. ,1. Mazeiigarh Instantly ad'lod, “Perhaps ’Nearer. My God lo Thee,’ would lie more appropriate.’’ II was a little lime liefore, the business of the court could bo resumed.

This delightful Summertime. The real swimming lime. For the briny we have all the latest shapes in Bulbing Suils, featuring such reliable makes as Speeilo. Roslyn and Canterbury. etc. Priced from 0/11 lo 22/6 and in all sizes. Thou accessories stieJi as bathing caps in Pull-on and Helmet shapes from 6d to i/1 I. and a full range of Shoes and Rells, e|r. In fad. everything you may require Ibis swimming season is nl Hooker and Kingston, Ltd, “Always Noted for Quality."*

Shopping In Cambridge. —White business the previous fortnight had been rather quiet the Cambridge business people - experienced a record Christmas shopping period. Christmas Eve was a record one for business for the individual day.

Exodus from Wellington. —Official transport reports show’ that about onefourth of Wellington's population went out of town for holidays and picnic trips during Christmastide. Altogether 20,000 people travelled by train, nearly 4000 by steamer, and over 10,000 by motor vehicle. These numbers do not include the exceptionally heavy suburban railway traffic since Saturday.

Record Christmas Shopping. Te Kuiti business people had a record Christmas. The streets were crowded, and all shops were thronged till 11.30 on Christmas Eve. The leading houses say that shoppers showed a desire to purchase better class goods. Everybody experienced an increase 7 in takings over previous years. A feeling of optimism and gaiety prevailed everywhere. The town was brilliantly illuminated, and country people with families made it a gala night.