LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20464, 2 April 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Defence of Norway.—The Norwegian Parliament has authorised the raising of a defence loan of £2,600,000.

Citizens’ Band. —An entertaining programme of selections was played by the Hamilton Citizens’ Band in Victoria Street last evening. A collection in aid of the band's contest fund was taken.

Cambridge Statistics.—The Cambridge statistics for March with the corresponding month of last year shown in parentheses are: Births 12 (7), deaths 1 (1), marriages 7 (8). The quarterly figures are: Births 27 (22), deaths 8 (5), marriages 19 (18).

Apathetlo Citizens.—Because it has been unable to get sufficient men or women from the town’s population of 900 to take an active interest in the management of the borough, the Oueenstown Borough Council has decided to reduce the number of councillors from nine to six.

Eye Pierced by Wire.—When he was struck by a piece of wire which his small grandson was swinging about Mr M. Bemrose, of Manawaru, had his eye pierced. He was taken to the Waikato Hospital where' his condition to-day is stated to be satisfactory, it is not yet known whether Mr Bemrose will lose the sight of the eye.

Site for Raglan School.—The Auckland Education Board has authorised the purchase of three acres at Joyes’ Point, Raglan, on which to build a new high school and probably later a consolidated school. At present the High School Is accomodated in temporary quarters in the Parish Hall but it is considered unsatisfactory for the purpose.

Acoldent Victim—There is no change in the condition of Mr William Cronk (26), of Sandringham Road, Auckland, who was admitted to the Waikato Hospital on March 20 with serious head injuries as a result of a fall from a motor-cycle. Inquiries from the hospital to-day reveal that Mr Cron£ is still dangerously ill.

Licensing of Hairdressers.—A plan for departmental regulation of the hairdressing Industry throughout the Dominion, submitted by the New Zealand Hairdressers and Tobacconists’ Federation, is being Investigated by the Bureau of Industry. It was stated In Auckland yesterday that a system of licensing and registration of saloons had been the main contention advanced to the bureau.

Easter Conventions.—Easter will see a large influx of visitors to Ngaruawahia, where two conventions have been arranged. In addition to the undenominational camp held every year, which was attended by over 1000 people last year, a Maori Mormon convention will take place, the centre of activities being the Ngaruawahia pa. Over 2000 Maori visitors are expected and comprehensive arrangements are being made for their accommodation.

Payment for Holidays.—Asked what he could do to see that miners, as with other trades, were paid during holidays, the Hon. P. G. Webb, Minister of Mines, speaking at Pukemiro yesterday, said that he considered the matter was outside his province and that it was a question that the Miners’ Union had to deal with when framing agreements with companies. “You would not expect me to Interfere with your own industrial affairs,” said the Minister.

N.Z. Railways Signalling System.— “That from a signalling point of view the New Zealand Government railways are exceptionally equipped was made clear in a paper by Mr G. W. Wyles, signal and electrical engineer of that undertaking, which was presented to the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers In London on January 26.” The quotation is from the weekly journal, "Modern Transport” (London), which published nearly a column digest of Mr Wyles’s paper.

Fined for Drunkenness.—A fine' of £l, in default three days’ imprisonment, was imposed on James Clark (59), a labourer of no fixed abode, who appeared before Mr G. K Sinclair, J.P., in the Hamilton Police Court this morning on a charge of drunkenness. Sergeant T. Kelly stated that aecuse'd had had previous convictions for similar offences. On a charge of committing a breach of his prohibition order, Clark was remanded until Monday.

A Railways Rello.—A brass plate of historic value is exhibited in a glass case In the private office of Mr G. H. Mackley, C.M.G., general manager of the New Zealand Railways. An Inscription on the plate, which was originally attached to New Zealand's first locomotive, reads: “James Davidson and Company, No. 1, Otago Foundry, Dunedin” —an eloquent reminder of the Infancy days of our great railways system and its growth from a.few miles In 1863 to more than 3400 miles in use to-day.

Railcars Development.—Speaking to a Press representative, the general manager of railways (Mr G. H. Mackley, C.M.G.) stated that the construction of railcars was 18 months behind schedule, owing to the difficulty* in obtaining materials. Mr Mackley further stated that it was intended to place one of these modern vehicles on the Whangarei line as soon as one was available, and that they would be eventually in commission on every important section throughout both islands. The new type of car will have a capacity of nearly 100 passengers.

Easter only a fortnight away and as that is the recognised lime to don your new season's clothes, your mind should be turning in that direction now.—To assist you Hooker and Kingstons are holding a coat- and costume week commencing on Monday at 9 a.m. Special keen prices are offered throughout these sections as you will see by turning to page nine. This will mean savings for you and you are urged to take this opportunity fur buying your new winter outfit.**

Capital Value of Te Aroha.—The rateable capital value of properties in the borough of Te Aroha is now £728,238. Currency in London.—Fine gold in London yesterday was quoted at £7 0s OJd an ounce the same as on Thursday), the dollar at 4.961 (4.9-6|) and the franc at 162£ (161$).

Boundaries Altered.—A proclamation in the Gazette effects an alteration in the boundaries of the Waitomo and Ohura counties, by transferring an area from the latter to the Aria riding of the Waitomo county.

Serious Charge.—Appearing before Mr G. K. Sinclair, J.P., in the Hamilton Police Court this morning on a charge of incest, George Stephen Xlcholls (21), farm labourer, of Arapuni, was remanded until Monday.

Timber Demand Slack.—A report' from Greymouth states that owing to Jack of trees for rimu timber, several mills in Westland will either have to shorten hands or close down for a term.

Steamer Withdrawn.—Owing to uneconomic working conditions the Richardson Company has decided to withdraw the steamer Mako from the East Coast trade, and to pay off the officers and crews.

West Coast Rain.—Greymouth in March experienced its heaviest rainfall s|nce September, 1912, when 19.07 inches fell on 25 days. This month's rainfall was 17.92in., which fell on only 18 days.

Interim Dividend Declared.—Advice has been received from the Bartholomew Land and Timber Company, Limited, that at a meeting of directors yesterday an interim dividend of 2$ per cent., payable on April 7, was declared.

Backward Children.—The establishment of a hostel in Auckland to provide for the care and education of backward children, especially from rural areas, was urged at a meeting of the' Northern Walroa sub-provlncUl executive of the Farmers’ Union at Ruawai.

New Post Office.—-A new post office building to replace that serving Wellesley Street East is shortly to be erected on property which has been acquired under the Public Works Act from the Auckland City Council on the corner of Wellesley Street West and Fergusson Street.

“Blessing In Disguise”.—Mr. W. A. Morgan, president of the Northern Walroa sub-provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, in his annual report, expresses the opinion that the “guaranteed price has proved a blessing in disguise,” as it has resulted in greater cohesion among the primary producers.

Banana Control.—The first shipment of bananas to be handled under Government control will arrive in Auckland from Fiji on Monday by the Niagara, the regulations in regard to their importation having come Into force yesterday. There is to be no Interference with quantities, the Government merely supervising distribution.

£IO,OOO Power Loan.—Arrangements have been made between the Franklin Power Board and the State Advances Corporation for a loan of £IO,OOO for power extension. The corporation is to advance the amount for 10 years, at 3* per cent interest, debentures to be based on a 20-yiar amortisation table.

Cruise Liners Due—lt is estimated that the' four-day stay at Auckland of the cruise liner Empress of Britain, from April 12 to April 15, will result in £1298 revenue from general port charges. It Is expected that tourists from the liner and also the line'r Reliance, due on April 11, will spend several thousands of pounds while in the Dominion.

Second Arbitration Court.—The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, stated in an interview' at Wellington yesterday that it is probable that the second Arbitration Court, which was originally established with a tenure of 12 months, will probably become a permanent institution in order to overtake arrears of work and deal with compensation cases.

Petrol from Coal.—Renewed activity is reported regarding the proposal which has been envisaged for some years to produce petrol from coal at Kaitangata. The proposed scheme, which is a comprehensive one, is understood also to embrace the possible development of Kaitangata as a port, with the construction of a harbour at the mouth of the Molyneux River.

Large Sheep Station.—A denial that Moles Worth, New Zealand’s largest sheep run, would be set aside as a reserve, closely subdivided and leased, or sold, was made by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, speaking in Christchurch yesterday. It Is proposed to give the run a spell to allow it to be rehabilitated and to allow the Agricultural Department to undertake extensive rabbiting and to offer the property for re-leasing.

Telegraph Lines.—The heavy and awkward operation of erecting the lofty poles for New Zealand's telegraph and telephone lines is to be made easier and much more speedy through the more extensive use of mechanical power. Six winch trucks under construction in the Wellington workshops of the Post and Telegraph Department will shortly go into service and greatly reduce the amount of heavy manual labour needed in line construction and maintenance.

State Housing.—Chiefly because the fine weather has enabled it to get ahead of schedule, the Fletcher Construction Company, Limited, has put off about 50 men who were engaged on Government housing work at Orakei and Mount Roskill, Auckland. Most of these men are labourers who had been preparing foundations. A fillup will be given to construction shortly, as tenders close on Tuesday for 93 houses, 77 single-unit and eight two-unit dwellings, on the Harp of Erin Estate. Tenders will also close shortly for 25 houses at Orakei. Tenders 1 are called for the erection of 103 more houses under the Government's housing scheme as follows: Auckland. 16 houses: Patea. 9: Waikari, Dunedin. 15; Lower Hutt, 24; Karori. Wellington, 44.