LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19462, 29 December 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Year's Day. The Waikato Times will not be published on'Tuesdan next, January 1 (New Year’s Day).

The Duke and Children. —The Duke of Gloucester has a deep understanding of children. Of all.the Royal Princes he is the one perhaps who gets on hest with children.

Christmas Mails. —The Chief Post Office, Hamilton, advises that mails which left Wellington on November .27 by the Maunganui, via San Francisco, arrived in London on December 27.

Currency In London. —On Friday fine gold- in London was priced at £7 Os 10 id per ounce, the dollar at 4.93 7-16 and the franc at 74 11-16 d. Thursday’s figures respectively were: £7 Os IOAd, 4.93 13-16 and 74 13-16.

Rain in. Taranaki. —After a dry spell extending almost unbroken over two months Taranaki was well soaked by steady rain this week. Almost an inch and a-half fell, saturating _ pastures, replenishing tanks, and clearing weedfilled streams.'

Kawhia flcquatlo Sports. —The annual Kawhia acquatio sports were held in fine weather before a large crowd of visitors. Kenohaku won the whaleboat race and the Wanganui entrant, Moturoa, was first in the speed-boat event.

• Huntly Churoh. —The construction of the new Church of England at Huntly, to replace the building burned some time ago, is nearing completion. It Js hoped to the building in conjunction with the patronal festival of the parish at the end of January.

Mysterious Fires. —Two unoccupied summer cottages situated within 500 yards of each Other at Anzao Bay, near Ostend, Waiheke Island, have been destroyed by fire under mysterious circumstances 1 during the last few days. There is nothing to indicate the cause of the outbreak.

Drought In Wanganui District. —As a result of the prolonged spell of dry weather depleting the Wanganui city water supply, it is probable that the hosing of gardens will be prohibited. It was hoped that the closing of business remises for two days would allow the reserve saipply to improve, but this hope has been disappointed.

Books In Britain.— The books pub-' lished in 1934 reached the record total of 15,628. Fiction showed the greatest increase in publication. Works on travel, naval and military history, business and technology increased, biit books on sociology, literature, geography, music and religion declined in number.

Duke Dislikes Being Photographed. —The Duke of Gloucester dislikes being photographed, and shuns the camera on all save public occasions, when he cheerfully submits. He is an excellent “sitter," provided he is not snapped unawares, an event which annoys him very much. He has a confirmed dislike of autograph-hunters. With that quiet determination which characterises him he has made it a rule rarely to accede to such requests.

Theft of £l4O from Hotel.—Detectives are investigating the theft of about £l4O in notes and silver from the safe in the office of an Auckland hotel early yesterday morning. The safe also contained £BO in £5 notes and cheques, but this was not disturbed by the thief. All the money belonged to the proprietor of the hotel. The safe was locked as usual on Thursday night. When the proprietor returned to his office early yesterday morning, the door was,unlocked.

The Duke Very Generous. 1 — The Duke of Gloucester is generosity itself in aiding good causes, but. he insists that there shall be no waste in any of the institutions in which he interests himself, says an English paper. He likes things to be orderly and carried out in a “soldier-like” fashon, and though very far from being a martinet can gay very trenchant things when inefficiency comes under his notice.

A Cosmopolitan Array. —The Hamilton Magistrate’s Court presented a small but cosmopolitan array of defendants this morning. One, who had treated himself well If not wisely during the festive season, hailed from the Emerald Isle and was proud of it. Another bore noticeable traces of Scotch ancestry, a third enhanced the variety by professing himself a native of .England, wljile the fourth described'himself as a New Zealander.

St. Peter’s Cathedral. —The Waikato Diocesan Magazine states that the ladies’ guild of St. Peter’s Cathedral has set aside a contribution for the reredos and has offered £SO to the Chapter for renovations to the roof of the Cathedral. An anonymous donor recently gave a considerable sum fora crucifix in St. Anne’s Chapel, which has been made by the Cathedral treasurer. As there was a balance of the donation it was hoped to place another window on the opposite side of the •Cathedral to the children’s window, which is now being constructed.

King’s Silver Jubilee Medals. —The King has authorised a medal which is to bo known as the King’s Jubilee Medal, to commemorate the 25th. anniversary of his succession to the Throne, and has commissioned Sir iGoscombe John, R.A., to design it. The obverse of the medal has portraits of the King and'Queen, both wearing their Crowns and the King also wearing the Garter robes and collar. The inscription will be: "George V. and Queen Mary. May 6th.-, 1935.” The reverse side'of the medal will have the Royal cipher with the Imperial crown, and the two dates May 0, 1910, and May 6, 1935.

Workers’ Summer School.—Lectures delivered at the summer school of the Workers’ Educational Association, being conducted at Welsey College, Paerata, Include those on “The Theatre and Religion,” “The Theatre and Society” and .“The Theatre, and Sex,” by Professor W. A. Sewell, of Auckland University College, and on “Education in a Changing World,” by Professor J. Shelley, of Canterbury College. Other well-known lecturers who are f .tending the camp are Professor J. Rutherford, Mr W. T. G. Airey, Mr D. M. Rae, Mr A. M. Chisholm,, Mr J 0. Shearer, Mr J. L. J. Wilson. Mr P. M. Champ, Mr E. Varley •Hudson and Mr Douglas Robb.

Tills delightful Summertime. Thu real swimming time. For the briny we have all the latest shapes in Bathing Suits, featuring such reliable makes as Speedo, Roslyn and Canterbury. etc. Priced from 9/1 i |o 22/(> and in all sizes. Then accessories such as bathing caps In Pull-on and Helmet shapes from 6d to i/11, and a full range of Shoes and 'Belts, etc. In fact, everything you may require this swimming season is at Hooker and Kingston, Ltd, “ Always Noted for Quality.”- •*

Price of Butter Increased. —Retail prices for all grades of butter will be advanced id per lb. in. Christchurch a s from to-day. The increase is due to the improved London market.

Busy Time for Coroner —Over Christmas week 'Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., district ooroner at ■Hamilton, has experienced a busy time. At present seven Inquests are awaiting completion, most of which are the result of deaths occurlng in this period. In all cases preliminary evidence of identification has been taken, the Inquiries having been adjourned pending the production of further evidence.

Unique Fern.— A fernery established in Tauranga 10 years ago by Mr 'Charles Cameron now contains about 13Q0 varieties of native and foreign ferns. They inolude one unique species which was propagated from leaf mould found in a buried forest 15ft. below the surface, at the junction of the Omanawa Road, about eight miles from Tauranga. Thjs fern represents the one species of cystopteris, and before its propagation by Mr Cameron, was unknown.