LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20387, 30 December 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Year’s Day.—Saturday being New Year's Day, the Waikato Times • will not be published. The weekly supplement will appear to-morrow j (Friday), on which night the office j will be open for the convenience of ; advertisers between 7 and 8.30 j o'clock. Income Tax In Germany.—A cable message' from London states that i Guernsey Is stated to have raised the income tax by 4d to 10Ad. Snake Gland Cure. —Two living cobras were rushed by air from the Berlin Zoo to Brussels to aid a patient who was dying from a rare disease. He was given injections from the snakes’ glands In time to prolong his life.

Ptomaine Poisoning.—After partaking of an ox tongue, which was cooked on Friday, six members of a Taradale household were affected by ptomaine poisoning on Monday afternoon. They became violently ill but later recovered.

Fall From Balcony.—When he fell

20 feet from a balcony at the Grand Hotel, Frankton, last evening, Mr Leslie Meagher (22) received injuries to the back. He was taken to the Waikato Hospital in a St. John ambulance. His condition to-day was satisfactory.

Patient Transferred.—A farm-hand, Mr Rangi Roberts (29), who was admitted to the Te Ivuiti Hospital with a fractured jaw as the result of a motorcycle accident, was transferred to the Waikato Hospital to-day. His condition is satisfactory.

Bowling Tournament.—Section play in the annual rinks tournament of the Auckland Bowling Tournament was concluded yesterday. Yearman, Barton, Qualtrough, Hawken, of Hamilton, finished with 5 wins and 4 losses, but failed to qualify for post section play. Angus, Harvey, Bowden, McInnes, of Te Awamutu, who also failed to qualify, were credited with 4 wins and 5 losses.

Mineral Water Bora.—The contractor for the second mineral water bore at the Te Aroha Tourist Domain is making steady progress with the work, which has now reached a depth of 160 feet. A sand layer of considerable depth has been pierced, and the rock arch which covers the main reservoir feeding the majority of the springs, has been reached, lt is confidently expected that water may be reached at a further depth of 50 to 60 feet.

Unappreciated Help. —The intrusion of two visiting firemen was responsible for upsetting the efficiency of the Hastings fire brigade during its attendance at a fire in the town. When the alarm was sounded these men, quite unknown to the regular firemen, rushed into the fire station, seized the nearest available uniforms and helmets and went to the fire where they proved more of a hindrance than a help. “ I pulled the uniform off one man and ordered him out of the vicinity,” said the superintendent, when commenting upon the intrusion.

Farmers’ Trying Ordeal.—Mr Nelson Ernest IRenall, a middle-aged farmer of Porangahau, Hawke’s Bay, had a trying ordeal. He was breaking in a young horse and left home early yesterday morning. He was discovered in the afternoon with a broken thigh and other injuries as the result of being dragged and trampled upon. Mr Renall said that the reins of the unbroken horse lie was leading be-

came entangled with his fool as he was passing through a gateway. He was dragged from the horse he was riding after which the other animal trampled upon him. Then he cut the reins with his packet knife and freed the animal.

Celebration of Christmas.—A too liberal indulgence in liquor over the festive period led to the appearance in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court today of Vivian Henry Wirk, described by Senior-Sergeant G. H. Lambert as beipg of the vagrant class, and who was arrested in Victoria Street at an early hour this morning while in a state of intoxication. Wirk, whom the Senior-Sergeant stated had a formidable list, was convicted and discharged by Mr G. K. Sinclair, J.P. Another alcoholic celebrant of Christmas, who was found on premises in London Street without lawful excuse, was also discharged. It was his first offence and the Senior-Sergeant attributed his lapse to excessive drinking. Taupo Fatality.—At the in-quest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Frederick Wilson (47) who was drowned whilst attempting to rescue his wife from drowning in the Waikato River near Wairakei on Tuesday, Mrs Wilson stated that with live other campers she ami her husband went bathing in the warm Wairakei Stream near where it joins Die Waikato lliver. After about 15 minutes it was decided to move into Die river. Almost immediately all seemed to be in difficulties and the deceased secured her hand and held oil for some little time, endeavouring to assist her to the bank. lie could nul make any headway and had to let go. lie iheu disappeared and she did not see him Other witnesses deposed as lu efforts made to effect a rescue. The body when recovered was in 25 l'eet of water. The jury found that deceased was accidentally drowned, adding that every effort to save him had been made by all present. How Accidents Happen.—Just after mid-day yesterday two incidents occurred in Victoria Street which demonstrated how accidents happen. A train was approaching the Victoria Street crossing from the cast: the crossing keeper was nut and a line of cars approaching the crossing from the north was hold up. When the engine was a few yards from the crossing a car driven by a younsr man approached from the south and dashed over the line. The act was so audacious and unexpected that the crossing keeper was taken by surprise but it is to be hoped he took (tie number. A few minutes later at the Garden Place pedestrian crossing three women and a man were negotiating the street when a motorist approached at a brisk pace and loudly sounded his horn as a lvnt to pedestrians to make wav. They lost no time in doing so. Had they endeavoured to assert their newly-acquired rights if is probable that mishap would have had to be

Air-mails at Home. —Air-mails despatched from Wellington on December 7 and from Auckland on December 11, by the Sydney-Singapore service, arrived in London on December 23 and 27 respectively. Deep-Sea Fishing.—A black marlin (6541 b.) was caught by Mr T. Brett, of Auckland, off Piercey Island on Tuesday. Mr Hugh Wright, jun., of Auckland, landed a striped marlin of 3061 b. Currency In London.—Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £6 19s G£d an ounce (£6 19s 7d on Tuesday), the dollar at 4.99 11-16 (4.99|) and the franc at 147 9-32 (147 5-16). Northern Hay Crops.—As a result of the beautiful weather experienced in North Auckland during December the quality of hay gathered in is excellent. Although the crops have not been as heavy as in previous years, the quality has been much better. Scrub Fire.—A flax plantation at Lake Ohia, North Auckland, owned by a Wellington syndicate, was swept by fire yesterday, and practically the whole of the growing flax was destroyed. The area burned was about 1000 acres, but this was chiefly scrub country, there being only about 200 acres of flax.

Sharks at New Plymouth.—Three sharks in a shallow corner of the New Plymouth Harbour, at the foot of the Newton King Wharf, provided exciting entertainment for a large number of spectators for over four hours yesterday. One shark, measuring Bft. 6in., was caught in the evening after a terrific struggle. It was large enough to kill a man. Sharks and kingfish have been plentiful in the New Plymouth harbour in the last few days. The largest kingfish landed weighed 501 b. Another large one was being hauled ashore’ when it was snapped in halves by a shark, leaving a disappointed angler to wind in only the head of the fish.