LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 19 April 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Belgian Bank Rate The Belgian bank rate has been raised from 2£ to 4 per cent.

Currency In London Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 8s 6d an ounce (£7 8s 6sd on Monday), the dollar at 4.68 1-16 (4.68 1-8) and the franc at 1762 (1762).

Bombers Expected The shipment of bombing aeroplanes from Royal Air Force depots in Egypt for the New Zealand Government will be brought to Auckland by the Port Line steamer Port Sydney, due on May 16. Fires Near Lake In a report received at the meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board last evening the foreman, Mr H. Darrall, stated that the fires over the Hamilton Lake were still burning, but had not spread outside the trenches w-hich had been dug around them. Deer-Stalkers’ Bag Deer stalking in the Wharetoto district of the Ahimaniwa Ranges, near Rangitafki, recently, Mr E. J. Schofield, of Remuera, and Mr H. Lovell White, of Morrinsville, during a fortnight, secured seven well-timbered beads, one being an eleven-pointer and the others ten-pointers. Elderly Man’s Fall A fractured femur was suffered by Mr Arthur Bernard O’Connor (78), retired 'farmer, of Grey Street, Hamilton East, w'hen he tripped and fell on a concrete path at his home yesterday. Mr O’Connor was removed to the Waikato Hospital in a St. John Ambulance. His condition to-day was stated to he satisfactory.

Poppy Day Appeal With several amounts yet to come in, the proceeds in hand from the annual Poppy Day appeal in Hamilton yesterday amount to £232. It is anticipated the final amount will probably reach last year's total of £251 and the amount is considered to be very gratifying.

Fall of Earth The first fall of earth at the Garden Place Hill excavation took place yesterday afternoon, when a few yards of soil from the top of a bank caved in. With the special precautions being taken when work is proceeding on a high wall of earth there was no danger to anyone.

Testing of Cows “ There is a system in Australia of compulsory testing for tuberculosis in every dairy cow connected with milk supplies, and any cows found to be affected must be slaughtered. It Is a system which might well be adopted In New Zealandsaid Mr A. L. Tompkins, of Hamilton, who returned this week from a visit to Australia.

Increased Costs An indication of the Increased factory costs in recent years was revealed at the meeting of the management committee of the Hamilton Rugby Union last evening when quotations for numbers of football jerseys showed an increase of almost 50 per cent since last year and over 100 per cent over the last few years. Spoil for Lake At a meeting of the Hamilton Domain Board last evening the chairman, Mr W. H. Paul, suggested that 200 loads spoil from Garden Place should be dumped into the Hamilton Lake between the yacht pier and the corner of the bathing area. The speaker stated that there was a good deal of sand in the spoil. The matter was left to the chairman. Vandals at Rugby Park “I was'amazed and dismayed at the wanton destruction at Rugby Park during the summer. It appears that St is the work of children,” commented Mr E. J. Whiting at the meeting of the management committee of the Hamilton Rugby Union last evening. On the suggestion of Mr A. E. Gibbons it was decided to as£ the headmasters of Hamilton schools to bring the matter before the children. Pedestrian Control Commenting on a recently-instituted system of pedestrian control in Sydney, Mr A. L. Tompkins, of Hamilton, who has returned from a visit to Australia, said at each busy intersection in the city pedestrians were permitted to cross when traffic was stopped by the traffic officers on duty. Pedestrian crossings were in Sydney, but they were not used to a great extent, most people crossing at the intersections between the stopped lanes of traffic. Dairy Production Falls All the dairy companies operating in the central part of North Auckland report a reduction of cream collection days on account of the rapidly falling production caused by the dry spell. So great was the decline in production last month that in spite of a payment of 2d per lb more in the majority of cases for butter-fat, the total payment to suppliers on April 20 will be £4OOO less than that paid last March. Postal Officers Confer A conference of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Guild was opened in Wellington yesterday. This organisation represents the senior controlling officers of the department. The main questions for consideration are the salaries of senior officers, the means of effecting improvements in the administration and executive control of the service, the effective training of junior officers and similar questions.

Eel-Infested Streams The number of eels in Auckland trout streams was the subject of comment by the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society last night. One member said he had noticed a 4ft eel in the Mangatangi Stream carrying a trout between nine and 11 inches long. Every pool appeared to be infested with eels, he added. It was said that the eels were leaving the creeks anrl going into the larger streams and there would probably be a high mortality among trout.

For the whole of this week Hooker Si Kingston, Ltd., are holding a Home Sewing Week. This is what this means t 0 y 0U —First, when buying your material at the Dress Counter you must purchase a McCall Pattern. Of course, no one will need urging to do this because it is a well-known fact that the McCall Pattern, with its printed cutting line, is the smartest and simplest pattern obtainable. Then —their Expert, Miss Joyce Bawden, will cut out your garment no matter what, or how elaborate it may he—for the nominal sum of 2/-. No worry, and they guarantee satisfaction and a perfect fit. Tune in to Station SZB to-night at 8.45 for Hooker Kingston's Session.sksfc