LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20801, 11 May 1939, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Recruiting Campaign Over 800 recruits to the territorial forces have been enrolled during the last few weeks at Auckland, bringing in sight the objective of 1000. Currency in London Fine gold was quoted In London yesterday at £7 8s s*d an ounce (£7 8s on Tuesday), the dollar at 4.68 i (4.68£) and the franc at 1762 (1762). No Radio License For operating a radio receiving set without a license, Norman D’Arcy Smith, solicitor, of Hamilton, was convicted by Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, to-day, and fined 10s and 13s costs. Australia’s Wheat Surplus The Australian Commonwealth statistician announces that the exportable wheat surplus in Australia on April 1 amounted to 72,250,000 bushels, compared with 89,500,000 bushels at the corresponding date last year. Hospital Electrloian At the monthly meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board to-day a letter from the board’s engineer recommending the appointment of a permanent electrician on the staff at the Waikato Hospital was referred to the house and finance committee. Oyster Concentrate The first shipment of oyster concentrate will leave Bluff in a few’ days for England, a firm of brewers having ' placed an order for it for the purpose of making oyster stout. It is hoped that this will be the first of regular shipments to England and other parts of the world. Te Kulti Rates Increased An increase in the Te Kuiti Borough rates of seven-eighths of a penny in I he £ on the unimproved value, making the rate Is 23d, was approved when the estimates were adopted for 193940. The increase is primarily to find £452 for payments on streets and swimming baths loans and to meet the increased hospital levy. Tour Expenses Refused The Reserve Bank has refused a i request by the Automobile Association (Auckland) for £35 for special expenses to enable its touring manager, Mr R. E. Champtaloup, during his present trip abroad to attend the annual convention of the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme at Cracow as a delegate of the Auckland association. Pig Producer’s Difficulties The opinion that the greatest problem affecting the farmer In the raising of pigs was not the inadequacy of the guaranteed prices but the shortage of labour, was expressed at the annual meeting of the Waikato District Pig Council to-day by Mr L. Watkins, of Tirau. “ Pig-keeping,” he said, “is not an easy job. It requires a great deal of time and attention, and the labour is simply not available.” Bicycles Without Lights * For riding bicycles after dark without a light the following were convicted in the Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, to-day and fined 10s and costs: Jack Dickie, Edward Reddish Smith, Patrick McDevitt, Percy Druhan, Maxwell Machin, Edith Simpson, Isabelle Bowler, Donald Cave and --Gordon Richardson. Evidence in the cases was given by Constable H. R. liimtly, of Hamilton East. Hospital Patients A report tabled at the monthly meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board to-day stated that the daily average of patients during the month was 326.4. The operations carried out during the period totalled 169. The figures for other hospitals in the board’s area were as follows: Te Kuiti, daily average, 15.6, operations, 17; Matamata, 9.4, 11; Rotorua 79.8, 33. Fraud Admitted At the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court yesterday Stanley Arthur Thomas admitted 29 charges of false pretences, the amount involved being £7 19s 6d. The charges involved orders taken for ledger account books for which he collected 5s 6d each, representing himself to be the agent of an Auckland printing firm. Accused was placed on probation for one year, conditionally on delivering the ledgers or refunding the money collected. Keas in Germany Word from Germany indicates that a shipment of eight keas sent from New Zealand about two years ago are quite acclimatised. The letter says: ■'Visitors to the gardens and we ourselves rejoice over the lovely nature of these birds and their loud calls. They represent one of the most interesting varieties in our collection, and now that they have become accustomed to the food we hope to keep them for a long time.” Veteran’s Interest One of those who attended the annual meeting of the Waikato branch of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Breeders’ Association at Kaipaki yesterday and showed keen interest in the proceedings was Mr J. Wotherspoon, of Horsham Downs, who is in his 96th year. At the conclusion of business he addressed the meeting brieily and thanked members for allowing him to attend. Despite his advanced years he spoke clearly and concisely. Close the Ranks “In many places we see the Christian Church suffering persecution at the hands of what we may call ‘the Philistines’; and even in this country •materialism’ appears to have swamped spiritual truths acknowledged by our forefathers,” said the Rev. J. Evans, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Christchurch, at tile annual meeting of parishioners. “It now behoves all Christian men and women to close up their ranks and stand shoulder to shoulder against the common enemy.’’

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