LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 18764, 20 December 1935, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

New Theatre at Kaiapol.—A new theatre, named the Rialto, was opened at Kaiapoi this week.

Learn tp Swim. —The citizens of Wanganui are organising a “ Learn to Swim Week ” to be held early . next year.

Meeting Christmas Rush. The Christmas mail rush has resulted in the employment of 289 extra men in the sorting room of the Wellington Post Office.

Gold Shares In London. New Guinea gold shares sold in London yesterday at 4s 9d, same as the previous day.

Twin Dux. —The twin sisters Joyce and Grace Caradus figured with equal marks as joint dux of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School at the prizegiving ceremony.

Stock Exohange Vacation. —Stock Exchanges in New Zealand will close for the Christmas-New Y'ear vacation this afternoon and will re-open on the morning of Tuesday, January 7.

Currency In London. —Gold in London was quoted yesterday at £7 Is* Id per oz., the dollar at 4.92, and the franc at 74J, compared with £7 Is 3d, 4.92£ and 74 7-8 respectively the previous day.

Scott’s Flying Display. —A message from London states that Mr T. Campbell Black says he is not connected with C. W. A. Scott’s 'Flying Display, Limited, and that Miss Jean Batten is not a director as was announced previously.

Airman Divorced. —ln the Divorce Court in London yesterday the wife of the airman C. W. A. Scot was granted a decree nisi against her husband, on the ground of his misconduct with a girl from Australia. The action was not defended.

Concert at Tokanul.— Christmas carols were a popular feature of the programme presented by a quartette of Hamilton vocalists at the Tokanui Mental Hospital last evening. The party comprised Miss M. Forster, Miss L. Lopdell, Mr D. Dania and Mr H. Arthur, Mrs R. Arthur playing the accompaniments.

Labour and Mining. —“ Under the direction of the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, there are going to be considerable Improvements brought about in the Huntly mining fields,” commented the Minister of Agriculture,, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, speaking at Huntly last evening. “As soon as possible after the New Year Mr Webb will investigate the conditions under which the miners are working.”

Air Foroa Dlsoovery.— --The British Secretary of State for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon, announced in the House of Commons that a chemical method of preventing the formation of ice on the wings of aircraft has been discovered at the Royal Air Force Establishment at Farnborough, and is being developed. Britain had 1180 first line aircraft in the Royal Air Force, compared with 1015 in May, 1935.

Minister Supports Colleague.— “ Some people are saying that Bob Eemple is rocking the boat,” the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin observed at Te Uku on Wednesday evening, referring to the statements made by the Minister of Public Works at Napier, concerning the East 'Coast railway. “ I do not think he is," added Mr Lee Martin. “Mr Semple is a good chap and a brainy man, as the settlers of Raglan will find when he tours their district as he ■will before long.”

Radio Station Jam. —Shortly after taking office the Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, called for a report on the recent alleged jamming of the Friendly Road broadcasting station IZB. The Minister stated yesterday that owing to the fact that he and his colleagues had been so busily engaged with important matters relative to their departments that lie had not had an opportunity of discussing the report with them, but this and the general question of broadcasting would engage Cabinet attention as early as possible in the new year.

Shortage of Farm Labourers. —The formation of an association of farm labourers was advocated by Mr R. C. Clark, principal of Wesley College, Paerata, at the college prize-giving, as a means of combating the difficulty of obtaining farm hands. However distasteful it might be to a large number of farmers, the formation of an association of farm labourers to safeguard the interests and Improve the status and social position of those who win their livelihood as employees on the land would ultimately strengthen the position, not only of the worker, but of the farmer also.

In a New Role. —Two Journalists accompanying Santa Claus on his rounds to the Sunshine Ward of the Waikato Hospital and the children’s home of the .Salvation Army in Melville found themselves forced into a pleasant, but altogether new vale yesterday afternoon. Finding a child struggling to blow up a balloon at “The Nest” one of the pressmen volunteered bis assistance, but no sooner was the balloon inflated than he, with his associate, was besieged ■by a host of youngsters in search of the same treatment. Willingly the pair set to work, delayed Snfala Claus’ departure for a full ton minutes and emerged to the car sadly in need of a deep breath of fresh air.

Santa Claus An Enigma For the very young Santa Claus, despite all his bluff goodwill, is something of an enigma. But even the least of the patients in the Sunshine Ward of the Waikalo Hospital was piqued by an insatiable curiosity lo see tlie redcoated figure as lie paid his annual visit lo the Ward yesterday afternoon. To one or two of tiie younger ones he was, perhaps, a fearsome figure, but tho protection of a nurse’s arms were not long needed after his production of a host of gaily coloured balloons, a bevy of dolls for the girls and a host, of trumpets, drums and mechanical toys for the boys. They parted firm friends. -

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Mataki Gold Dredging. —Under date the 17th instant, the dredgemaster reports as follows: —“'For the week ended December 15 the dredge worked for 134 hours, on a face of SGO feet, an average depth of d 64 feet, pulling ahead 2G feet for a return of GOozs. 2dwts. of retorted gold.

Accident In Bakery. —As the result of a fall while he was engaged in making yeast in Mr F. Findlay’s bakehouse in Hamilton last evening, a baker, Mr Leonard Owen Harris, aged 40, received a fractured right leg. He was taken to the Waikato Hospital by St. John Ambulance.

Duke of Kent’s Birthday. —The 33rd birthday of the Duke of Kent occurs to-day. His Royal Highness is the youngest son of the Royal Family, and was ‘born on December 20, 1902. He married Princess Marina of Greece on November 20, 1934, and there is one son. Prince George, born on October 9 last.

IVloa Bones Found. —The remains of several species of moa have been uncovered on the east coast at Doubtless Bay, North Auckland, as a result of recent heavy gales which have been instrumental in displacing some large sand dunes. I*n some cases the skeleton is almost complete, the head and beak being in an excellent state of preservation, while in one instance the delicate rings of the windpipe were found intact. As many as six heads were found within a space of a few square yards, indicating that a number of birds were probably overwhelmed when incubating. This theory is borne out by the fact that the remains of the broken eggs were found scattered over the area where the bones were uncovered.

Surprise for Rail Passenger.— A young woman who boarded the north express without realising that she had left her handbag in a telephone booth on the station was no less surprised than delighted to have her property returned to her at Waitati, says the Otago Daily Times. The train had already left Dunedin when the bag was found, and it was promptly handed to the station master, who, on investigation, discovered that it contained rail and steamer tickets. He immediately took steps to have the express stopped at Waitati, and no less hastily despatched one of his staff in a taxi in pursuit of the owner. Train and taxi met according to plan at Waitati, and a worried young woman, now aware of the lengths to which the Railways Department is prepared to go in the service of its passengers, gratefully accepted her bag. The department has assumed responsibility for the payment of the taxi until the young woman can return and meet the expense incurred.