LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19659, 20 August 1935, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Clipper Aeroplane Flight. —’The PanAmerican Clipper aeroplane, which left Midway Island for Wake Island on August 16, reached her destination at 12.25 p.m. yesterday.

Currency in London. —Gold was tpioted in London yesterday at £7 0« 2|d, the dollar at 4.973, and the franc at 75, compared with £7 0s 2 id. 4.97 11-16 and 75 respectively on Friday.

Culture of Kapok. —An excellent sample of kapok has been grown on Mr T. S. Ferguson’s farm at Pyes Pa, near Tauranga. The plant was grown in a sheltered position facing north, and it, has a total of 78 ripe pods. The pods are Sin. long, hut in their green state they were about 9in. in length. The silky fibre is a splendid sample. The plant came from Australia.

Bus Shelter Wanted. —The erection of a bus shelter at the Norton Road Extension bus terminus was suggested by Mrs E. Reece, on behalf of the Nawton-Rotokauri Women’s Institute in a letter received at a meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday. “It is out of our province,” commented the chairman, Mr S. C. Macky. It was decided to refer the request to the bus company operating on the route.

Snow on Plrongla. —For the llrsl time this winter, snow was seen on Mount Pirongia tills morning. The peak was clothed in a glistening mantle while at daybreak farmers of the dis- • trict commencing milking operations noticed that several of the lower spurs were covered. However, allot several hours of warm sunshine the isnow on the lower levels had disappeared. A frost of one degree was recorded in Hamilton over-night and perfect spring weather followed today. It was a welcome contrast to the boisterous conditions which prevailed over the weclc-end and yesterday.

Waipa County Grants. —Advice was received at a meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday from Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., that the following Government grants had been recommended for inclusion in the current year’s estimates: —Earle’s Road as requested; Kakepuku 'Road as requested; Maru Road as requested; Wharepapa Road, £9O, £i for £1; Wyatt’s Road, £6O, £1 for £1; Waimanu Road as requested; Aotearoa Road, £250 from Public Works Department and £l5O from council; Ellicott’s Road —Small Farms, £3781. It was decided to thank Mr Broadfoot for his work In securing the grants.'

Scientific Teaching. —“l believe that Germany is the most progressive nation in the world in educational matters,” says Mr B. J. McKenna, the Queensland Director of Education, who will visit -Germany next month. “I understand," be says, “that they are using films and broadcasting and arc even experimenting with television. I am convinced that such scientific methods ultimately will be generally adopted in Australia. They would revolutionise the educational system and help to solve the problem of giving outback children opportunities at present unavailable to them."

Candors’ Indifference. —“ Many carriers and mail contractors are utterly indifferent to the damage they cause to water-tables through drawing in to the side of the road to save themselves from walking a yard or two to the mail box outside the farmer’s gate,” commented the engineer, Air J. W. Civil, at a meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday. “A by-law, similar to the regulation framed by the Otorohanga 'County Council would, if applied with discretion, meet the position.” Discussion lapsed with the chairman, Mr S. C. Macky. intimating that the framing of a by-law to meet tho position would be considered when the building regulations were drawn up.

Sodium Chlorate Quality. —“ The Department has examined samples of sodium chlorate from lime to time and there is nothing in ils experience to show that sodium chlorate of inferior quality is coming to New Zealand, Hie samples analysed having always been fairly pure," stated a communication from tiie Minister of Agriculture, Hon. C. E. Macmillan, received at a meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday. The Minister stated that if importers were asked -he felt sure they would guarantee the quality of the chemical and as the merchants handling it were all well-known firms it was highly improbable that it was being diluted in- New Zealand with either diluent or adulterant.

Cream Carrying Overloads. — The Extent to which, during the peak dairying season cream and milk carriers should be permitted to overload was discussed at a meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday. It was considered that it was not until the carriers reached the better roads near the factory centres, towards the end of the run, that the loads exceeded the license maximum, and it was decided to allow a maximum overload of half a ton. An application from Hodgson’s Motors. Limited, to exceed the road classification on their service between Hamilton and Te Awamutu was approved by tlic council subject lo tho payment of a guarantee fee and of the approval of die contractor engaged on the sealing of the highways, it was staled that one of the vehicles at present used by the company had io lie replaced before March, 1 936, and It was hoped that a new 5J lon vehicle, which would be in agreement with the sealed road classification could bo brought into use before tho sealing scheme was completed.

For the last week of a Great Sale. Hooker and Kingston's offer necessities for the home at substantial savings. Just a few items; Finlay’? Famous Sheetings, SO inches wide. Twill Linen Finish, -is fid for 3s 3d vard. Horroekses Sheets, 54 x 2J yards. I’2s fid for Os ltd pair; SO x "2if yards. IPs fid for 15s fid pair. Cream Linen Damask cloths, fast coloured borders, 53 x 53, tor os fid; 54 x 70, for 7s ltd. Large Coloured Towels, -is fid for 3s fid pair. White Damask Serviettes, 18 x 18, for 2s ltd half-dozen. Have another look around before Hie Sale ends on Saturday, August, 2 ' Hooker and Kingston, _ Limited, noted mr Quality.*

British Trades Unions. —The annual report of the British Trades Union Congress -shows that the membership increased by 100,000 over last year. This is the first increase in five years.

Profits from Beet Sugar. —The British beet sugar factories showed profits totalling £851,000 for the year ended March 31, states an official return. Only one ■company showed a small loss.

Slip on Main Road —A large slip, which has brought down several trees, has blocked the main highway between Te Kuiti and Now Plymouth and no detour is available. The slip has occurred in the Awakino Valley but it is anticipated that the road will be cleared to-day providing no further rpaterial comes down.

Community Singing. —There was a good attendance of the public at the community singing in tiie Theatre Royal to-day, when £2 8s Od was raised towards the Children’s Footwear Fund. The song leaders were Mrs 111. Cl. Ross, Messrs Owen Jones and A. C. Stevens, and Mrs >F. Kear was the pianist.

Music Standard Higher.— " Judging by the test pieces set in the pianoforte basses at competitions In New Zealand the standard here must be higher than in England,” said Mr W. E, Fowler, who arrived from Sydney by the Marama to adjudicate at the Wellington Competitions- “We shouldn’t dare to put on such difficult pieces for candidates of fifteen, for instance," he declared. “I am prepared to find a high standard and I hope I shall.”

Address to Music Teachers.— Last night Mr Lloyd Powell, examiner to the Associated Board, London, addressed the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Teachers’ Association. Mr Powell deplored the general lack of appreciation of music, and stressed the need for teachers to organise, and to give more information concerning events in „be lives of composers, which of course had an important bearing on their compositions- At the close of the talk a pleasant social hour was spent, and Mr Powell, who is a brilliant pianist, played several items.

A Lethal Weapon. —A banana is not usually regarded as a lethal weapon (says tlie Southland Times), but a Gladstone resident made use of one to protect his household goods from robbery tiie other evening. Hearing a noise in his pantry he opened the door and saw r an intruder. lie -was unarmed, but bis brain worked quickly. Seizing a ripe banana he dealt the thief such a blow behind the ear that it fell dead. 110 has come to the conclusion that mousetraps are not nearly as effeclive as bananas.

Use it With Discretion. —ln his address to the music teachers of Hamilton last night, -Mr Lloyd Powell, examiner to the Associated Board, London, while admitting the benefits and enjoyment to be derived from wireless, thought that it should be used with discretion. People should know when to tune in and when to turn off. To have it turned on the whole time led to a blunting of the listener's sense of appreciation, and people should have the wireless on only when they wanted to listen. “To use the wireless as a background to conversation is an insult to art," said Mr Howell.

Cold Storage Company. —The ac--'ounts of the Union Cold Storage Company, Limited, England, show a net profit for 193-i of £822,506, against £820,059 earned in the previous year. After paying preference dividends an.d ordinary dividend unchanged of 10 per cent, the carry forward is £206,103, compared with £203,597 brought forward. Union Cold Storage, with a capital of £12,000,000 owns the share capital in the Blue Star Line, Limited, and W. YVeddel and Company, Limited, both wcll-knowu in the New Zealand trade. It also has interests in a number of meat export companies in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, including W. and R. Fletcher 1.N.Z.), Limited-

Dangerous Fallacies. —“It is a fortunate circumstance that ihe average New Zealander has a fair -share of common sense, and is unlikely to be led astray by wild Kite-flying schemes, however plausibly they may be put before him," commented the Minister of Defence and Justice (Mr J. G. Cobbc) when speaking at Aslihurst recently. “But, at the same' time, when any dangerous financial fallacy is put before the public,” lie added, “that fallacy 'Should be exposed, because there may be a small minority who may be inclined to think that, if no one shows up the utter absurdity of some of the financial bubbles which are intended to dazzle the unthinking, there may be something in addition to hot air —in them.

Barred as Examiner. —The disclosure was made at the meeting of the Auckland University College Council yesterday that the Senate of the New Zealand University had struck Professor Maxwell Walker, professor of modern languages at the college, off its list of examiners in French for 1936 and, until further notice, for the university entrance examination without notifying him, either before-hand or subsequently, or giving him an opportunity to be heard. The council decided to inform the senate that in its opinion the professor had a right to be heard, and if necessary a special meeting should be called to deal with the matter. It was stated that factors in the matter were Professor Walker’s condemnation of the examination standard as too low, and his method of marking candidates’ scripts.

Wanton Cruelty.—" This is nothing but wanton destruction and cruelly, and if we find the culprit that person will be taught a lesson," said the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterlinvaile) in calling attention' to the fact that the curator had reported that apparently on Friday night some person stole a dutch of eggs from a sitting swan lately presented to Hie Tlmaru Borough Council by.the Acclimatisation Society, and broke the swan’s wing. “It seems incredible to me that in Timaru there should be people who are so wanton In their destruction and who entirely overlook the fact Mint our reserves and ail that is in them are their property as well as that of other citizens. The slogan ‘Citizens, protect your own property’ does not seem to'he understood in Timaru,” said the Mavor.

Half-Price Days at House and Making's!—Tuesday and Wednesday—--1 wo mighty clearance days when a big collection of Remnants constituting Hie residue of Piece Goods cut up during Hie Sale will be assembled on Special Tables and cleared at HalfPrice! Also to clear at Half-Price, or less Ilian Half-Price, all oddments of former regular lines that are not being replaced. Following our usual custom all such items must go without regard to cost! Quantities are limited. House and Daking’s Half-Price Days—a great money-saving opportunity!**

Counties’ Conference. —The Counlies’ Conference is to be held in Wellington on August 28, 29 and 30. On August 28 and 29 the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union will also meet.

Mules Popular In Abyssinia Abyssinia is famous for its mules, which seldom sicken, and the people prefer them to horses. The Emperor took a fancy to the State-coach of the exKaiser and, becoming the purchaser, now uses it on State occasions harnessed to six-cream -coloured horses.

Main Trunk Service Normal. —-With the Main Trunk line again clear the Limited express from Wellington to Auckland arrived at Frank ton Junction right to time this morning- The two slips north of Taihape have been cleared and it will not now be necessary to divert main line trains through Taranaki.

Inquest on Youth. —An inquest was held at Te Awamutu yesterday into the death of -Howard Berwick Walsh, aged 17 years, who was.found fatally shot on the farm of his employer, Mr Olsen, at Pukeatua, on Sunday morning. After evidence had been given, the coroner, Mr G. A. Empson, returned a verdict of accidental death.

Prisoners Challenge Jury —ln the case of breaking, entering and theft preferred against Ernest Edwin Newton and Graham Wilfred Morton in the Supreme Court at Hamilton to-day. the prisoners -challenged the jury themselves as their counsel were only assigned to-day. When Morton challenged a juryman he was told by His Honour, Mr Justice Callan that he had already challenged six times- The Crown Prosecutor, Mr H. T. Gillies, however, stated that he would have tiie man stood down to relieve the prisoner’s anxiety.