LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19639, 27 July 1935, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Kaipara-Walkato Railway. The taking of additional land at Huntly for the purposes of the Kaipara-Waikato railway is gazetted.

Brass Bands’ Contest. —targe entries are expected ’for a contest for B, C and D grade (brass bands, which is to be held at Auckland on November 23.

The Karamu Mystery. —No further developments are reported in connection with the Karamu murder mystery, although rumours of various kinds continue to be heard.

The World's Shortest Street. —Sydney has the world’s shortest street. It links Pitt and George Streets at the western end, measures 22ft'. ljin., fits one building, and has but one side. >Correot name, St. Laurence Street.

Population of Sydney. —With a population of 1,241,000, Sydney is the Empire’s second city, and eighteenth largest on earth. Other figures: Glasgow, 1,112,000; Birmingham, 1,012,000; Rome, 1,093,000; and Liverpool, 860,000.

Charge of Theft;.— Charged with the theft nf £1 at Palmerston North ,on May 8, Philip South appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, to-day before Mr G. W. Hyde, J.P. On the application of Sergeant T. Kelly accused was remanded to appear in Hamilton on Tuesday,

Bonus for Butterfat. —At the close of the annual meeting of the Canibridge Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., yesterday, a bonus of 1.256 d to butter suppliers Avas paid,' the total amount involved exceeding £7000.. A final payment to cheese suppliers has been deferred.

Government “Spoon-feeding.” “There is far too great a tendency to regard the Government'as al sort of wet-nurse and to go to it for everything we want,’’, declared Mr C. M. Alexander, 'chairman of 'directors, speaking at the annual meeting of the Te Awamutu Co-operative Djilry Company yesterday, Mr Alexander made a plea for a more independent attitude among dairy farmers.

Otorohanga Post Offloo^—The'Post-master-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, advises that extensive .-alterations and additions will he made at an early, date, to the Otorohanga Post Office. The future needs of the district have been considered 4ri the planning of the alterations. For some time past the; staff have been working under congested ■conditions;

Annual Testing of cars. —Traffic inspectors throughout the jDomlnlon Will be testing the brakes and headlights of motor vehicles asffrom August 1, and as many motorists will doubtless be overhauling their cars during the next week or so it is as well to refer again to the regulations. The stopping ability * or footbrakes on a level surface at 20 miles per hour must be 40 feet and for handbrakes 75 feet. No portion of the main beam of a headlamp shall be more than 3ft Gins above the road surface .At a. distance of 75 feet ahead 'of the vehicle. Dazzling headlights -are not permitted.

‘Turned Inside Out. —Why Is a mailbag turned inside' out every time it is used? Postal officials follow.a strict rule in this respect when they empty a bag of its contents. They have no need to search for small artloles which may possibly Into a corner, because as a matter of routine the bag must be revefsod. It has arrived with an address “North to South,” ■but- when turned inside out another address appears, “ South to North,” which enables it to be used for the return journey without further labelling. Mail-bags once placed on a route travel backwards arid forwards until their life is ended, the. only variation in- the proceeding bhing occasional washing and ropair.

Willows In the' Mangaorongo.—Advice has been received Ini Otoroh&nga from the Minister. Of Public Works, that providing a suitable controlling authority is set up by'the interested settlers of the ' Mangaorongo district, the Government is prepared fo, assist them in the eradication of -willow growth, which .retards the flow of water and thus causes frequent flooding of the dairying lands. 'When’the' authority required is set Up by , the settlers, Hie Crown will favourably consider a grant of £IOSO (£1 for £.l), -towards the material requiredand supervision of the works.; A suhl of,£oooo will bo found by tile Unemployment Board, 'to be spent directly on wages.

Rainfall In Auokltntd.— The present month lias been the wettest July ever recorded in Auckland. Up to, 9 a.m. yesterday a total of 9.58 in. had been recorded for the month. Further rain fell yesterday bringing the figure' well in excess of the highest previous record of 9.sDin. established in 1917'. The average fall for July In Auckland is 1.95 in. The figures for Hamilton, which is generally assumed., to have a higher rainfall than Auckland, afford an Interesting comparison. The total .fall for July to date was 4.59 in. up to 9 o’clock this morning. The average’ for July is 4.831 n. The l fall’in Auckland for the year to date Is 41.731 n. compared with the yearly average of 44.39 in. 'Hamilton has received 31.1 Sin. of rain, while Its yearly average Is 4G.321n.

A Now Buttor Flavour.—\Vllat Is ‘‘metallic flavour?” This is what a supplier wanted to know at the annual meeting of the To Awnrnutu Cooperative Dairy Company yealerday. lie averred that when he had seen a yellow streak at the bottom of a milk can ho had scrubbed the receptacle thoroughly for some time but obtained a factory report that the cream contained metallic flavour.” " I have heard of all sorts of flavours but tills Is a’hevv one on me,” he added. The secretary-manager, Mr A. J. Sinclair, said the company placed nil cans through the mechanical can-washer but could not guarantee them to be scrupulously clean. It was often found that verdigris adhered to old cans and caused metallic flavour. 11 Mlne : were new cans.” Interposed the supplier, “ I must think up another,‘explanation, .then,” replied Mr Sinclair amid laughlor. ! \ With stocktaking ndw in progress, House and baking's Sale alTords you exceptional opportunities to secure fashion goods, oddments, etc., at give* n'way prices. The new goods will be shortly arriving and It Is determined that this season's stocks should he cleared! Original costs are ignored—all seasonal merchandise must go l Unprecedented bargains await you at this Big. Sale and an-early visit of Inspection is advised, when the incomparable quality and value of House and Daking’s merchandise will be i’uily apprecialed. See the windows. Buy now at H. & D.’s Winter Sale at genuine price reductions:***

Theatre Revenue. The Civic Theatre bookings at Invercargill from April 1 to June 30 amounted to £350 3/10, compared with £384 9/7 for •the similar period last year.

Currency in London. —Gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 0s 6 l-Bd, the dollar at 4.96, and the franc at 75 1-16, compared with £7 0s 9d, 4.95 5-S and 75 respectively the previous day.

French Warship for Auckland. —The French sloop Amiral Charner Is expeoted to arrive at Auckland from the Islands on Tuesday. The sloop, which is a sister-ship to the Savorgnan do Brazza, which visited Auckland last year, is to sail on Monday, August 5.

Legislative Council.* —The appointments of two members of the Legislative Council,-Jhe Hon. J. MacGregor (Otago) and the Hon. R. Moore (Canterbury), expired on July 14, and those of two others, the Hon. W. W. Snodgrass and the Hon. W. H. McIntyre will end on September 3. It is considered unlikely that any steps will be taken to fill the two seats just vacated, by reappointment or otherwise, until after the return from Britain of the Prime Minister, Air Forbes, and Mr Coates. The present strength of the Legislative Council is 28, compared with 41 ten years, ago, Air MacGregor and Mr Moora are in their 85th. .and 86th. years ta* spectively.