LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20811, 23 May 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Currency in London Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 8s sld an ounce (£7 8s 6d on Friday . the dollar at i. 68 1-8 (4.082) and the franc at 1762 1762). East Coast Main Trunk Line Within a month, according to information received in Wairoa and Gisborne, the Railway Department will inaugurate regular passenger and freight services on the Napier-Wairoa section of the East Coast Main Trunk line. Intoxicated Motorist Imprisoned A Maori, Pineki Simon, aged 46. of Halcombe, pleaded guilty in the Tailiape Police Court, to a charge of intoxication while in charge of a motorcar. Accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, his license being cancelled for two years. Profit of £81,863 In their third annual report the directors of McKenzies Department Stores, Limited, state that the companies have maintained their trading position in spite of the very difficult period during which they were operating. The net profit declined from £85,332 to £81,863 in the year ended March 31. Injured Jc^keys The two jockeys who suffered head injuries in falls at Te Rapa yesterday, Herbert Turner (39), of Matarnata, and Douglas Craddock .24)’ of Greenlane, and who were admitted to the Waikato Hospital for treatment, are reported to-day to be making satisfactory progress. Ketch’s Safe Return The ketch Tonka, which was reported to be eight days overdue at Lord Howe Island from Sydney, has returned to Sydney. The captain, Mr Eric Stokes, said: "The weather was pretty bad for 200 miles at sea. We got tired of it and decided to make our way back.” True Scenic Grandeur “Parts of the North Island lay claim to being the wonderland of New Zealand hut for true scenic grandeur, go to South Otago,” said Mr C. W. Lopdell, of Hamilton, in an address to the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday. Mr Lopdell spoke on “Some things we do not know about our country.” Freezing Point Only While there may have been a light frost in parts of Hamilton this morning the official recording taken at Whitiora showed that, the temperature fell to freezing point, but not below it. The fact that, there was no frosts recorded in Hamilton this morning is all the more surprising in view of the particular cold temperature last night. Once again indicating the tendency for conditions to be considerably more severe at Ruakura, was the fact that this morning there 6.7 degrees of frost were registered.

Hedgehog Trap A simple method of destroying hedgehogs, said a member at the annual meeting of the Marton branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, was to dig a hole about two feet wide and two feet deep. “You are sure to catch a hedgehog every night by this method,” he said. Members considered hedgehogs were responsible for some of the destruction of eggs and young duck. A bounty for the destruction of hedgehogs had been considered, but the cost was found to be prohibitive. Kawakawa Coalfields A suggestion that the Minister of Mines should have an investigation made of the possibilities of the Kawakawa coalfields, which some 50 years ago produced good steam coal in large quantities, has elected a reply from the Hon. P. C. Webb, to the effect that the field would not be overlooked in the survey that was being made of the whole country, but some time would elapse before it could be given attention. No New Crisis “I give my personal assurance that although the Government of New Zealand is being kept fully informed by the British Government of what is going on in the world, I have no secret or confidential information that tells me of a state of emergency,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in a broadcast, address last evening. “The international situation is had, but I have no special reason for believing it is any worse than it has been for some time. I am one of those who refuse to believe a general war is inevitable.” Defence League’s Action “The Prime Minister appealed to the New Zealand Defence League to withdraw the enrolment card issued by some of its branches in Order to axoid confusion with enrolment cards which are being issued by the Government to-morrow. The league accordingly has done so, and as its president I urge the whole community to respond to tlie Prime Minister’s appeal,” said the Hon. W. Perry M.L.C., president of the league, last evening, after expressing satisfaction with Mr Savage’s appeal to the people of New Zealand. New Trial Applied For An application for a new trial has been filed in the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on behalf of defendant in the case in which a jury awarded Alan Grant, of Waimate, stock breeder, £B2l special damages and £IOOO general damages against Cooper, MacDougall and Robertson, Limited, of Manchester, sheep dip manufacturers. The case lasted 12 days and arose over the death of 37 of plaintiff’s stud and flock rams and injury to 156 others, allegedly through absorptive poisoning from a dip manufactured by defendant. Boyt Memorial Fund At the recent meeting of the parishioners of St. George's Church, Frankton, a special committee was appointed to decide upon the form of memorial in recognition of the great work performed in the parish by the late Rev. R. J. Boyt. At a meeting of this committee held last evening, at which the newly appointed vicar, Rev. V. A. Bianchi presided, it was considered that no better memorial could be undertaken than to assist the late vicar's infant daughter, which, would also assist Mrs Boyt. Mr F. VY. Platts outlined a life insurance scheme, and it was unanimously agreed, funds permitting, to take out a life endowment policy in favour of the infant, and it was decided to circularise all parishioners for their financial support. Mr Platts was elected treasurer. It was further decided to have suitable plate inscribed and placed on the pipe organ, which is to be known as the “Boyt Memorial urgao.”