LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20126, 23 February 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Air Mail In London. —Air mail despatched from Wellington on February 2, arrived in London on February 18, states a Wellington message.

Technical School students. —One hundred and thirteen students were enrolled for the evening classes at the Palmerston North Technical School on Thursday evening.

Repair of the Roads.—An assurance that the Waikato County Council will endeavour to keep the roads in its area in a good state of repair was received by the Hamilton Advisory Committee of the Automobile Association (Auckland), at a meeting last evening.

Britain’s Air Force.—Britain, by having deliberately delayed the Royal Air Force building programme, enjoys considerable advantage over other Powers. Her efforts will now be concentrated on new types and largely on new methods of aircraft construction, says the aviation correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph.

Lawyer’s Young Bride.—A telegram from St. Augustine, Florida, states that Mr Owen D. Young, a well-known lawyer and corporation official, and Mrs Louise Clark are to be married there to-morrow. Friends state that Mr Young is 63 years old and that Mrs Clark is young and attractive and the mother of a son aged four.

Extensive Touring.—" The Automobile Association, Auckland, issued itineraries for 5,000,000 miles of travel during the Christmas holiday," remarked the Hamilton area officer, Mr V. Edwards, at a meeting of the Hamilton Advisory Committee last evening. He added that the membership of the Association is now 20,629.

Maori’s Death.—The adjourned inquest into the death of Te Poria Mahetahitika, of Parawera, who died at his home on Sunday, February 14, was concluded yesterday at Te Awamutu courthouse, before Mr G. A. Empson, Coroner. The medical evidence showed that Te Poria had had some teeth extracted a week before his death, and apparently had neglected personal hygiene, resulting in blood poisoning. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was recorded.

Walpa Roading Loan.—Successful meetings have been held in the southern parts of Waipa County in connection with the proposal to raise a big roading loan to seal about 70 miles of the principal thoroughfares In the county, the work to be spread over about four years. The county chairman, Mr S. C. B. Macky, ha's detailed the plan, and at the close resolutions expressing full accord have been carried unanimously.

Conduot of Cyollsts.—"l am repeatedly receiving complaints from motorists regarding the conduct of cyclists in Hamilton,” stated the road patrol officer, Mr E. R. Green, at a meeting of the Hamilton Advisory Committee of the Automobile Association last evening. Members agreed that the control was better and It was decided to compliment the Borough Council on its efforts and suggest that the body continue its work of exercising closer supervision over cyclists.

111-Equipped Vehicle. —When the hearing of the charges of failing to give way and also with operating an ill-equipped motor van alleged against Joseph Hill, of Rotokauri, were resumed in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, yesterday, the magistrate, Mr S. L. Paterson, dismissed the first charge but imposed a fine of £2 and 13s costs on defendant for not having the van equipped with proper brakes, and £1 and £1 costs for not having a horn and rear number-plate. The case was adjourned last week. Turning In Main Street.—‘‘There is a notable improvement in the traffic control in Hamilton,” remarked Mr F. Best, at a meeting of the Hamilton Advisory Committee of the Automobile Association (Auckland), last evening. He added that the institution of a bylaw to enforce turning at an intersection in Victoria Street would be difficult as Ward Street, Collingwood Street and Hood Street were not complete intersections. In his opinion, however, these corners would have to be recognised as intersections. Insubordination. Two inmates from thq, Roto Roa Inebriates’ Island, John Joseph McCarthy (26), and Charles William Russell, labourer (42), who were charged with using insubordinate conduct toward the superintendent, Major Phillip Norman and who both told the court that they would refuse to do any work if they were returned to the institution, were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court yesterday.

Currenoy In London.—Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 2s lid an ounce (£7 2s Id on Friday), the dollar at 4.8 9 i (4.89 3-8), and the franc at 105 1-8 (105 1-8).

Yacht Club Honoured.—The Akarana Yacht Club, Auckland, has received word from the official secretary to the Governor-General that the King has approved the club’s application to use the prefix “Royal” with its name.

Bookmaker Fined.—Pleading guilty, Frederick John Basham, salesman, was fined £25 on a charge of bookmaking at the Auckland Police Court yesterday. It was stated that accused accepted bets from a constable at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Epsom last Wednesday.

Hairdressers’ Dispute.—Agreement on all points except women assistant’s wages was reached in conciliation council at Auckland yesterday when hairdressers and employees discussed a northern industrial district award. The outstanding point will be referred to the Arbitration Court.

Intoxicated Tongan.—Martin Glendale Hansen (24), a Tongan truck driver, was fined £2O in default one month's imprisonment and had his license cancelled for six months at Auckland yesterday for intoxication in charge of a car. It was stated that accused’s car struck a verandah post and ran on to the footpath.

Mr Savage In Dunedin.—The Prime’ Minister, Mr Savage, and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, were accorded a civic reception in the Dunedin Town Hall last evening. They were enthusiastically received by about 2000 people. Mr Savage was led through the main body of the hall by 'two pipers to the cheers of the audience and the singing' of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

Draper’s Thefts.—“ Eighteen months seems to be your limit without getting into trouble,” said Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., at Auckland yesterday in sentencing James Doyle (33), draper and salesman, to six months’ imprisonment on two charges, the terms to be cumulative, and three monllis on the other charges, the terms to be concurrent with the others. Doyle admitted four charges of theft involving over £6O.

Bread Quality.—That good bread can be made only from a combination of wheats was the opinion expressed by Mr J. F. Morton, managing director of an English firm of millers, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney yesterday. He strongly criticised the restrictions imposed by the New Zealand Government, on imported wheat. “The restrictions are absolutely wrong,” Mr Morton said. “You will get some of the worst bread in the world in consequence. England gets the best because she imports from all over the world.”

Friendship with Japan.—The friendly relationship existing between New Zealand and Japan and the great regard the Japanese authorities have for the Dominion were referred to by Mr Yozo Nomura, of Yokohama, who arrived at Wellington from Sydney yesterdav by the Awatea to attend the Rotary Conference at Wellington next month. Mr Nomura will represent 70 districts in Japan, Korea and Manchuria. From a geographical point of view there are no other two countries so much alike as Japan and New Zealand, he said. At no time had there been a dispute between the two countries.

Minister and Railwaymen. —An assurance that there was' no barrier between him as Minister and the men working under him in the railways service was given by the Minister of (Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when speaking to a mass meeting of workmen at the Addington railway . workshops yesterday. Mr Sullivan paid a surprise visit to the shops to learn at first hand the conditions under which the men are working and to reassure them that it was his desire as Minister to establish personal contact with every workman in the service, from the top rung of the ladder to the bottom. Motorists and Crossings. —“ln my opinion the average motorist does not approach dangerous railway crossings with sufficient caution,” said Mr G. H. Morrish, district coroner, at an inquest at Whangarei yesterday. “Ten days only have elapsed since this tragedy,” said the coroner, “and yet when I spent half-an-hour this morning at this crossing before and after the OpuaAuckland express had passed I observed 15 vehicles pass over the crossing and only one made reasonable - compliance with the requirements of the compulsory stop signs. Even after the train had whistled several cars passed over the crossing at more than 25 miles an hour and they made not the slightest effort to slow down.” Italians’ Resolve. —‘ The Italian troops maintained a magnificent morale —a spirit different in quality from anything I saw in the Great War —somethink like what I Imagine inspired the armies of the French Revolution or Cromwell's Covenanters,” said Mr J. S. Barnes, a war correspondent, describing his experiences in Abyssinia recently when interviewed in Auckland. “ They were absolutely convinced that their case was morally right, and. when the British Fleet was centred in the Mediterranean they were even prepared to go to Avar with Britain in the certain knowledge of defeat rather than turn hack from their enterprise. This fact I do not think was sufficiently realised in England.”

Sport and Profit—" It is not our object to make money out of the sport,” said Mr C. A. Barrell, M.P. president of the Hamilton Boxing Association, in commenting on a deficit shown in the association's balancesheet presented at the annual meeting last evening. Mr Barrell said he was not very concerned at the financial position; money-making was not the object of any sport. Confirmation of Mr Barren’s statement was given when it was announced that three members of the executive. Messrs M. Mclntyre, E. R. Vernall and G. L. Ramsay, had generously offered to make up the deficiency on the year’s working. Hearty applause greeted the announcement.

Girl Awarded £soo.—Facial injuries to a girl aged 11 years, who was previously outstandingly pretty, and for whom a successful stage career was predicted, resulted in a Supreme Court action before a jury at Christchurch yesterday. Plaintiff, Marie Meldon Hall, daughter of Dr. Robinson E. Hall, claimed £69 Is 6d special damages and £IOOO general damages. The defendant, Peter Daysh Davey, admitted liability lor special damages and the jury awarded plaintiff £SOO general damages. The accident from Which the claim arose took place on November 13, 1935, when defendant, on a motorcycle, collided with a bicycle ridden by the girl.

Many odd sizes, incomplete colour ranges, of hosiery, gloves, tennis sox, etc. have accumulated during Hooker and Kingston’s Summer Sale. These have now been further reduced to make a complete clearance. Cortecelii pure silk hose, usually 6/11 to clear. 3/11 pr. Luxite Silk and art silk hose to clear 2s 9d pr. Fabric gloves usually 4 /6. To clear 1/0 pr. Lace Gauntlet gloves usually 4/6 to clear I/ll pr. Good quality skin gloves usually 12/11 to clear 5/11 pr. Art silk gloves with fancy gauntlets, usually 7/11. To clear 3/11. Children’s Tennis Sox White and Fancy tops. To clear 7*d pr. Ladies are silk tennis sox. Usually 1/0. To clear 9id- This is a splendid opportunity to secure a real bargain, at Hooker and Kingston's. "The store for better value always." *'

Papakura Decorations.—A decision to take no action regarding coronation decorations was made by the Papakura Town Board last evening. The chairman, Mr 11. E. McEntee, said all classes in Papakura were as loyal as anywhere else but being 10,000 miles away from the scene of festivities he did not think the members of the board would be stigmatised as unloyal if they decided not to waste ratepayers’ money on such decorations. Mr D. Weir: The flying of banners and coloured electric lighting schemes do not make people loyal. Decorations in the large centres are quite another thing. Later the chairman suggested that the coronation celebrations could be fittingly commemorated by providing and equipping a children’s playground. Prisoners’ Escapade.—Two prisoners from the Whakapapnnui prison camp, Lindsey E. Garner and Albert Harris, who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering McKee’s store at Owliango and stealing cash and goods of a total value of £lO4. appeared in the Supreme cnee. They were each sentenced to is months’ hard labour in addition to the terms they were already serving, nn a charge of converting to their own use a motor-car belonging to the manager of the Chateau, National Park, they were sentenced to six months’ hard labour, to be’ served in addition to the sentences they were already serving. but concurrent with the 18 months’ sentence ordered on the previous charge.

Mail Burned.—A house of four rooms at Ohinepanea, 17 miles from Te Puke, owned and occupied by Mr A. Duckworth, was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning. Mr Duckworth was in charge of the local post office, which was part of the house. A small amount of mail was destroyed, mostly dairy factory cheques, which were due for delivery. The house was insured for £2OO in the State Office.

Cowshed Burned. —A modern cowshed and six-cow milking plant on the farm of Mr S. Holmes Bruntwood was almost totally destroyed by lire. A bucket brigade of 14 hands fought the fire for an hour and a-half and as soon as it was extinguished Mr Holmes communicated with a building firm and the shed was re-built on Saturday by a large gang of men. The building xvas insured for £l5O and the plant and contents for £IOO, but Mr Holmes will be a heavy loser.

The “Cuddly” Koala Bears.—At a Hamilton theatre this week a film was shown of koala bears in their natural state. "The koala bears are surely the most cuddly things in existence,’ says a Hamiltonian who has just returned from Australia, "and it is good to know that an effort is being made to save them from extinction. At the Taronga Zoo there are ten bears, and at the sanctuary sixty or seventy miles from Sydney there are about eighty of the quaint little animals. The bears, which when resting squat in the fork of a tree, apparently without support of any kind, eat only the tips of a certain kind of gum tree, and do not drink. When you hold them in your arms they cling very tightly.”