LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21191, 14 August 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Elections Favoured The Dunedin City Council adopted a resolution opposing the postponement of local body elections next year. Condition of Bridges An inspection of all bridges in the Waikato County is being undertaken. A record of the principal members and the condition of the bridges is being made. This Morning’s Fog The moist nature of the soil following the recent rain resulted in a damp fog arising at about dawn today and rapidly drifting over the town and outskirts. A misty haze then obscured the sun during the day. Lake Rotorua A rise of six inches in the level of Lake Rotorua following the steady rain of the past few days has been computed to represent an addition of 12,800,000 tons of water to the lake. In May, 1937, the lake rose fourteen inches in three days, representing about 30,000,000 tons of water. Local Body Election “We are fightmg for democracy and it is only democratic to give the ratepayers a chance to say who is going to represent them,” said Mr F. L. Onion, at a meeting of the Central Waikato Electric Power Board, today, when the question of the postponement of the local body elections next May was under consideration. It was decided that the elections should, not be postponed. Danger on Road The dangerous nature of corners on the Hamilton—Tauhei road was commented upon by the Gordonton branch of the Farmers’ Union in a communication to the Waikato County Council yesterday. The branch requested the re-formation of the. most dangerous areas. It was stated at the meeting of the County Council that steps were already being taken to seek a subsidy from the Public Works Department so that the work could be undertaken. Dairy Producers’ Conference The problems and affairs of the Dominion’s largest dairy company will be discussed in Hamilton tomorrow when the annual conference of committeemen of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, will be held. Tomorrow’s conference will be followed by the annual smoke concert at night and by the annual meeting of the company on Friday. The urgent need for increased cheese production is expected to be one of the major problems to receive the attention of committeemen at their conference. Petrol For Soldiers A meeting of the automobile association (Otago) passed a resolution to place before the Motor Union a recommendation to endeavour to have the regulations relaxed so that members of the forces ok leave could obtain on application petrol allowance for special 'needs. The matter originated from the secretary, who said he had been approached by men on leave to obtain petrol for them to visit relatives in the country, but an application to the Oil Fuel Controller was unsuccessful. He added that the troops in England w era allowed petrol for 300 miles i'n addition to their coupons. Lessons in Shearing Applications are at present being received from farm hands in the Waikato, to receive tuition in shearing at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, during the months of September and November. The scheme was suggested by Mr W. Ranstead, secretary of the Waikato A & P Association, at the Ruakura Farm Advisory Committee’s meeting, held last June. As there is a likelihood of a dearth of shearers, it is expected that these classes will be well attended. Tuition will be continued, according to the number of applicants and the state of the weather. Soldiers’ Preference A proposal put before a meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery by Dr. E. N. Merrington, convener of the public questions committee, that some education of members of the forces in the history* and principles of democracy should be undertaken, both during and after the war, did not find entire favour. In spite of Dr. Merrington’s assurance that a good teacher could always put his message in a form that would appeal to his listeners, the Rev. H. J. Ryburn described the proposal as being hopelessly academic, and asked what would happen when men had the alternative of listening to a lecture on the Aristotelian basis of democracy or going to the canteen and having a beer. Wild Life in the Kermadecs An interesting account of the wild life on Sunday Island, in the Kermadecs, where he was one of a Public Works Department party sent to establish a meteorological station, was given by Mr H. Lukins, Wellington. Sunday Island, said Mr Lukins, was a volcano, the crater of which was about two miles in diameter, and contained three lakes. The island, about 7000 acres, was very much broken, with precipices and ravines. Passion fruit, bananas, oranges, cape gooseberries, and tomatoes grew wild. Norwegian rats, immigrants from a wrecked ship, overran the place, and had ousted the native rat. Cats, too, abounded, having originally been left on the island by whalers. The cats had so many birds to eat that they hardly troubled to catch the rats. The goats still numbered between 1000 and 2000, and played havoc with the vegetation. There were thousands of tuis and many European birds, such as blackbirds, linnets, and starlings. Mutton birds had riddled the island with their holes. Godwits, grey duck on the lakes, and birds from the tropics occasionally appeared.

During the remaining days of “Oddment Week” Hooker and Kingston, Ltd., will feature some amazing throw-outs of odd stock lines. The balance of winter felts, usually 25/-, have been sale priced 9/11 now to clear at 3/11. Many of these are quite suitable for Spring Wear. Black Silk Bridge Bags, Usually 19/6 will be sold at half-a-crown each if in the store irn Friday. Patent Leather Handbags, Usually 18/6 for 7/6. Fast Colour Art Silk Table Cloths, Usually 5/11 to 2/11. Useful Lino Mats, size 36 x 24 2/3 each. Hurry now Hooker & Kingstons must clean everything up before Saturday. Stock is not carried over from Season to Season. The Grand Spring Opening is featured for next week.