LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20916, 22 September 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Italy’s Population A messcire from Rome states that it is oflicially stated Uie population ol' Italy is 44,371,000. Summertime Extended Sir John Anderson, Secretary for Home Affairs, in the British House of Commons announced that summertime is being extended to November 13. Te Puke Burglary The shop of Mr C. Rhodes, tobacconist, Jellicoe Street, Te Puke, was broken into on Wednesday night and pipes, tobacco and other goods to the value of approximately £6 were stolen. Entry was made through the back entrance of the billiard saloon, the door being forced with a blunt instrument. The police are now making investigations. National Provident Fund The effect of the social security scheme in arresting the progress of the National Provident Fund is shown in the fact that the number of new contributors enrolled last year was only 439, compared with 2398 the previous year and 792 in 1936. At the end of December last the fund stood at £5,290,258, showing an increase for the year of £297,G71. There were then 29,439 contributors. Funds For Plunket Work Today the annual street appeal of the Hamilton Plunket 'Society was held, when willing helpers sold flowers to equally willing donors. People recognise the value of the society which continues its valuable work with a Government grant and public donations. There were large numbers of pedestrians wearing button holes today, showing that the appeal for funds had been successful. Fire Protection Services At the half-yearly meeting of the Hamilton Fire Board yesterday the resignation of Mr W. E. Burrow, tile Government nominee, was received owing to liis departure from Hamilton next week. Regret at Mr Burrow’s departure was expressed by the chairman of the board, Mr W. Bourne, who referred to the services rendered by Mr Burrow. A further tribute was paid by Superintendent A. Craig High Value of Dollar Passengers who arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa remarked on the rapid appreciation of the United States dollar as a result of international tension. Those who desired an American visa for their passports in Sydney shortly before leaving said they had to pay 14/4 in Australian currency for the usual charge of two dollars, and others said that dollars were selling' on the liner at 7s. Whitebait Season Improved runs of whitebait are reported along the Waikato River from Port Waikato to Tuakau this week, fishermen generally reportmig better catshes than for some time past, when heavy rains have made the river high. The level of the river is falling slowly, but is still about 2ft above normal. The season closes on November 15, but the prospects as a whole for a successful season are not regarded as the brightest. Emergenoy Precautions Meeting In furtherance of the emergency precautions scheme for Hamilton, which will come into operation in the event of a national emergency, a meeting of women will be held in the Waikato Winter Show Hall at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. The meeting has been convened by the chairman of the ascommodation and evacuation committee Mr W. H. Paul, and an invitation has been extended to all women willing to assist. To School by Air According to an Aucklander who returned recently from a little-known but rugged and beautiful South Westland district, this is the only part in New Zealand where the children travel regularly to school by aeroplane. The only access to South Westland is by pack horse, he said, and the children were as much at home in a ’plane as other children were in the more prosaic school bus. He added that each property had a landing ground, many of these being constructed or subsidised by the Government. Trout In Waikato Reports of the reappearance of trout in the lower reaches of the Waikato River were made at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society at Waiuku on Wednesday night. Mr W. E. Nicholson said that, following silting which occurred when the Waikato River was turned over the head-race at Arapuni on to the pumice flats below, trout had practically disappeared from it below Arapuni. Now that the river was practically free of silt, trout had again been observed as far downstream as the Tuakau bridge. Not Cruel to Drown a Cat “There is no actual cruelty in drowning a cat,” stated Mr J. J. Ilincheliff when reporting to a meeting of the Otago Society for the prevention of Cruety to Animals, on a complaint of cruelty to cats. The complainant had stated that a neighbour, a girl of 16, drowned all the cats that came about her place, including the pets of her neighbours. It was not a case of cruelty, and the complainant had been advised that the society had no jurisdiction in the matter. “I saw a pile of three or four cats she had drowned,” Mr HinehclilT added. "It looks more like a case for the sanitary inspector,” commented a member. Confusing Sirens At a meeting of the Hamilton Fire Board yesterday the question of private firms using sirens similar to that employed .by the lire brigade was discussed, Supintendent A. Craig stating that a considerable amount of confusion had resulted from the practice. One of the offenders had been approached on. the matter, but had replied that there was no by-law to prevent the use of the siren. On receipt of a letter from the Borough Council, it was decided to advise the firm that the use of a siren similar to that at. the lire station was a breach of Section 67 of the Fire Boards Act 1926. What’s In a Name? It would be hardly right to say that the inspection committee at the Waikato Combined Breeders’ Bull Fair at Claudelands tiiis week allowed prejudice to creep into their judgment when they rejected one of the entries yesterday, but the name of the rejeted bull opened ground for conjecture because of its similarity to a name now looming largely in international affairs. The name of the particular bull was Koura Hiller, but it is understood that the bull was turned down entirely on its own shortcomings and not because of its name. When an unsuccessful attempt was made to sell Koura Hitler at the conclusion of the sale he proved very recalcitrant in the ring, and persisted in kicking out at his attendant.