LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20890, 23 August 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Currency in London Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 8s 6Ad an ounce 17 8s 7d on Monday. , tbe dollar at 4.08*. i.oߣ . and the franc at 1702 .176? . Fairfield Bridge Loan A notice consenting to the raising of Ho- balance £J<)UO of the Fairfield ■' Uriilge loan ot tOOOI> l.y tile Hamilton j Borough Council and prescribing t lie , conditions thereof, appears in the New Zealand Gazette. Extradition Order Frederick Berghoff. aged 42. a wood machinist who had been arrested on a warrant issued in Vic- ; loria, on a charge of stealing a sew- j ing machine, was ordered in Auck- i land yesterday to extradited. Rivers Running High As a result of the recent copious j rains, the rivers and streams of the j Northern King Country are running ( bordering the waterways arc carrying I a considerable volume of dead water. \ The Waipa River at Otorohanga is now 1 receding quickly, after threatening to \ break its banks some days ago. Dead stock may occasionally bo seen floating. Tired Passengers After many iiours in the train at Tauinarunui, passengers who arrived at Frankton yesterday afternoon were j very tired but quite philosophical j about their protracted journey, it was fortunate that the weather in the King ; Country was comparatively mild and fine during the time the trains were | delayed there. With the carriages well heated, reasonable comfort was enjoyed. Continued Activity Mount Ngaruhoe showed further signs of activity yesterday, columns of fumes mounting up to 3000 ft. making a line spectacle, as the sky was clear in the morning. Later clouds obscured the summit, but a clear sky in the evening revealed that the activity was continuing, although to a lesser extent. A breeze was blowing the smoke out horizontally in a long | feather from the mountain. Tribute to Railwaymen A tribute to the speed and efficiency of the men engaged in the work of reopening the Main Trunk line near Te Kuiti was paid yesterday by Mr H. W. Beasley, railway district engineer at Auckland, who, with other departmental officers, visited the scene. Mr Beasley said the co-operation between the permanent way men and the signal staff and other specialists was excellent, in spite of adverse conditions. Record Output A period of great expansion, which was assisted by a substantial increase in export demand, is reflected in the accounts of the Broken liill Proprietary, Company, Limited, for the year ended May 31. The output of the company's products again constituted a record. The net profit of £1,431,313 also was a record. Dividend of 12A per cent, an unchanged rate, required £760,715, against £070,562 the previous year. New Art Gallery Construction of the new art gallery for the Canterbury society of Arts i in Gloucester Street, Christchurch, ! may be delayed by the refusal of the City Council's Town-Planning •Committee to ratify the plans on the ground that the building contravenes I lie cit y's town planning scheme. Tenders for the building, which will replace the existing gallery, soon to be demolished to make room lor the new Law Courts, have been called by the Public Works Department, which prepared the plans. Building Movement As a result of the releasing of a large number of town sections by the Maniapoto-Tuiwharotoe Native Land's Board a comprehensive building programme is contemplated in Otorohanga. Most of the sections taken up are in the residential area of the town. In addition the Government is now in negotiation with vendors of Otorohanga residential areas for the purchase of enough sites for twenty state houses, which have been urgently required for many years past. Prayers for Peace Prayers for peace were offered by Archbishop Averill at a service held last night by the Auckland Diocesan Churchmen's Association. The archbishop also made a strong plea for the world to come back to Christianity, and to recognise the fundamental truth of the Gospel. Christ's leadership, he said, could alone save the world and call the people back from fears and nightmare illusions to the ways of peace. Although it might seem that the forces of religion were losing battle after battle, they must, he said, win in the final hour. Amalgamation of Counties Reporting on the recent counties conference held at Wellington, the cuairman of the Waipa County Council, Mr S. C. B. Macky told councillors at yesterday's meeting that the plan to consolidate several counties under one administrative control had been opposed by Die conference. Part of the plan was to merge the Waipa, Waikato and Raglan counties. The conference had asked for the setting up of a commission to investigate local government control. The Minister in Charge, the lion. W. E. Parry, had made it clear that he intended to proceed with the plan. Railway Bookstalls Criticism of the choice of literature offered on railway bookstalls was made by Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition Taurangaj in the House of Representatives yesterday, when lie gave notice of a question to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. At present, said Mr Doidge, the traveller's choice was confined to thrillers and detective stories selling at lialf-a-crown, when there was a wide range of works by reputable authors selling at a shilling. " Why, on any of the main railway bookstalls, is it no longer possible for the traveller to purchase a book at less than lialf-a-erown? ” Mr Doidge asked. "Will the Government reverse this policy without delay? •’ New season’s wearing apparel is opening every day in Hooker and King - ston's showroom —Turn to page 9 and see illustration of the newest creation of fashion's foremost designers—Millinery is delightful in its freshness, while superlatives are necessary :o describe the smart little two-piece suits and coats showing in our show room at present. Hooker and King ston Limited, as usual—the first with the latest. ’*