LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Nonagenarian Injured. —Mrs M. C. Roxby (95), of Mount Albert, tripped over the doorstep at her home and broke her right ankle.

Operatic Soolety’s Profit of £loo. The Masterton Operatic Society made a profit of £IOO on its recent production of “Florodora.”

Lower Petrol Price. —The price of motor-spirit was reduced yesterday by Ad to Is 7d a gallon, says a message from London.

Competitions at Palmerston North.— (Over 1100 entries have been received for the music, elocution and dancing competitions to be held at Palmerston North next month.

Currency In London. —Fine gold In London was quoted yesterday at £6 19s B£d an ounce (£6 19s 9sd on Thursday), the dollar at 4.97 J (4.97 5-16) and the frano at 132 13-16 (132 7-8).

Fitter Britain. —The National Advisory Council for Physical Training and Recreation, in furtherance of its campaign for a fitter Britain, is establishing 22 area committees in England and Wales.

Cables for Peking. —The chief postmaster at Hamilton, Mr W. P. Aldridge, states that cable traffic for Peking will be accepted only at the sender’s risk and will be subject to Indefinite delay.

A Good Type of Play. —“ The type of play presented at the festival has been very good on the whole. I have been pleased to see the teams tackling something worth while,” said the adjudicator at the drama festival In Hamilton last night.

Town and Country Co-operation.— “The co-pperatlon between town and country has been wonderful, and has been a gratifying feature of the festival,” said the adjudicator, Mr E. Campbell Laurie, at the drama festival in Hamilton last night.

House Burned Down. —Fire totally destroyed the residence of Mr W. R. B. Mitchell, of Purirl, near Thames, early yesterday morning. Mr Mitchell was roused by something falling. He found the kitchen in flames and awakened his son. The two had jiust time to escape with a few possessions. Mrs Mitchell was in hospital. The building was insured for £350 and the furniture and effects for £225, but the loss will be over that amount.

Moose and Wapiti. —Speaking at a meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, Mr C. Lane said there was a definite possibility of a culling campaign against moose and wapiti being sanctioned by the Department of Internal Affairs In the country where these animals are established behind Lake Te Anau. “If this Is a fact,” he added, “ I think we should at once make strong, representations to the department to leave these animals unmolested.” The chairman undertook to go into the matter and to bring it to the notice of the next council meeting of the society in Wellington.

Government Returns. —The secretary of the Northern Walroa Co-opera-tive Dairy Company at the annual meeting yesterday referred to the. number of retiurns demanded by the Government and stated that it took a senior member of his staff two months to prepare them. He added that the latest demand was from the Commissioner of Taxes who asked for returns of the gross earnings of every supplier. “At the conference in Hamilton we expressed the view that information we held In this connection was confidential, but the solicitor to the National Dairy Federation informed us that the commissioner had legislative right to demand this,” he said. “We have no alternative now but to supply annual returns of suppliers’ production.”

Rugby Fields Criticised. —“ The grasses on the fields which I have seen so far come straight up out of the ground,” said Mr P. J. Nel, captain of the Springboks, at New Plymouth in mentioning that he did not consider the most suitable grasses were used on New Zealand (Rugby fields. “ They do not provide a surface that will stand up to play in wet weathe'r. I feel that the grasses that we use In South Africa would effect a big improvement. These grasses, the main one of which is klkuyu, spread over the' ground by means of stolens, or runners, and these runners form a dense mat, which, while it allows the water to pass through freely, prevents the ground from churning up Into mud.”

And now some of the goods purchased In England by Mr N. H. Hooker have arrived —Hooker and Kingston, Limited, are pleased to offer absolutely unbeatable values in all household linens. Look at these ‘for example—Pure linen serviettes assorted sizes wor'h 2'5 each, because they arc bought at the mill we can sell these for 1/5 each. Pure linen damask cloths in plain white with some delightful designs, size 70 x 70, usually 19/6, Sale price 11/6, 70 x 2j yards, usually 25/0; Sale price li/6. 70 x 3yds, usually 35/-; Sale Price 19/11. These cloths are manufacturers’ clearances and in some cases are slightly imperfect. but really are wonderful value. At Ilooker and Kingston, Ltd., the Store for better \alue.‘*

Police Foroe Augmented. —Tn about 10 days’ time 125 recruits to the police force will have completed their training in Wellington and will be distributed throughout the Dominion. The 48-hour week will then come into operation and widespread changes in staff are expected. University Extension Leoturee. —A lecture, in continuance of the Auckland University series, will be given by Mr W. T. G. Airey, lecturer in history at Auckland University College, on Monday evening. The meeting will be held in the Wattle Tea Rooms and Mr Airey’s subject will be “The Problem of Peace.” Blew Up a House.—At Chrlstohurch yesterday Maurice Moore, a bricklayer, after two abortive trials on the West Coast, was found guilty of blowing up a house at Stillwater and doing damage computed at £SOO. The jury added a strong recommendation to mercy. Sentence was deferred. Access to Urewera. —As the outcome of representations made by Mr A. F. Moncur, M.P. for Rotonua, surveys have been carried out to provide access to Maungapohatu, one of the remotest districts In the Urewera country, and Cabinet Is to be asked for a grant of £BSO for the formation of tracks. Lived In Hamilton’s First House. — Mrs E. M. Williamson one of the pioneers of Hamilton who died to-day, lived on her arrival in 1864, in the first house erected In the town. This was situated In what is now Nixon Street. She also had the distinction of bringing the first rose tree to the little settlement with her. Extra Autographs. —Owners of autograph albums who left them at the Hamilton Hotel for signature by the Springboks, and who have not yet collected them, liave received two extra signatures. Messrs “King Kong” Cox and Ilatros Kirilinko, professional wrestlers, believing that the albums had been left for their endorsement, signed the lot.

City Block Sold. —lt Is reported that Messrs E. Le Roy, Ltd., have purchased a property In Albert Street, Auckland, from Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., part of the old Hayrnarket, for approximately £II,OOO. For the adjoining premises, also bought from Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, the firm Is said to have paid £11,500.

Black Frost Again. —Another black frost was experienced In Hamilton this morning when the recording was 2 degrees. There was no frost registered at Ruakura. (Overcast skies and a chill in the atmosphere resulted in unpleasant conditions. There are Indications of an Improvement in the weather, however, and the barometer has reached 30.30in., the highest level for some time.

Island Fruitgrowers.—Meetings of fruitgrowers were recently held In every district of Rarotonga, writes the correspondent of the United Press Association. At these meetings the Resident Commissioner urged the people to save their fruit trade and do everything possible to restore It to Its former oondltlon. A systematic pruning scheme was explained and met with the enthusiastic support of all growers.

Late Scout Chief. —A tribute to the late Mr W. J. Holdsworth’s work for the Boy Scout movement was paid at Wanganui by the Dominion Chief Commissioner, Mr Hector Christie. “Mr Holdsworth played a very important part in the counsels of scouting in New Zealand when times were difficult,” said Mr Christie. “He rendered distinguished service as Auckland Metropolitan Commissioner In the past nine years, and his death Is a severe blow to the movement in this country.” There was a very large and representative attendance at Mr Holdswortli’s funeral in Auckland yesterday.

Wool Publlolty Committee.—Nominations for the election of four woolgrowers’ representatives on the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee, are called for by advertisement in this Issue. The present representatives, whose period of office will expire on September 30 and who were in the first Instance appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture, are Messrs B. E. H. Tripp, (Timaru), H. D. Acland (Christchurch) and A. Douglas (Waikouaiti), and Sir William Perry (Masterton). The electoral committee for the purpose" of the election Is that appointed under the regulations of the Meat Export Control Act. This committee will assemble In Wellington on August 26 and 27. A copy of the regulations is available for perusal at the Times Office.