LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21441, 7 June 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Raffle a Minute A raffle a minute—l2o raffles in 120 minutes—was a recent feat of the Air Force Queen Committee in the Wanganui patriotic queen carnival. London Fruit Prices A letter received from London states that apples there are costing 4s 6d a lb., consisting of four apples only. Another luxury is tomatoes, which, at the time the letter was written, were being sold at 10s a lb. Frost Recording Following a clear, cold night, six degrees of frost was recorded at Ruakura this morning. In Hamilton the recording was three degrees. Although the sky was still clear early, a light shower was experienced in Hamilton shortly after 7 a.m. No Greek Flag A Greek resident of Wellington, who attended the Victory Queen crowning ceremony, said that he was surprised on looking round to find the Greek flag missing in the hall decorations. “ There are not so many nations with England in its present struggle,” he said, “and one would have thought that the Greek flag would have been prominent, in view of the valour that nation showed in her recent conflict with Germany.” Highway Closed

The Automobile Association (Auckland) has received advice that the main central highway between Taihape and Waiouru has been closed to traffic. The detour available is not recommended. Road traffic to and from the south is recommended by the Automobile Association to use the Parapara route between Raetihi and Wanganui. Conditions on the Taihape highway are not expected to improve until after a spell of fine weather.

Profit On Ice Cream “Can you tell us what is the usual gross profit on the sale of ice cream?” counsel asked a bankrupt milk-bar proprietor in the Supreme Court, Napier, says the Hawke’s Bay Herald. The witness replied that it was usual to sell ice-cream for about 100 per cent more than the purchase price paid to the manufacturer. Some sellers made as much as 200 per cent gross profit.

New High School A promise that the construction of a new high school in Tauranga would be proceeded with unless anything associated with the war prevented it was given by the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, to a deputation from the Tauranga District High School Committee which waited on him when he paid a short visit to the district. The Minister said he had given instructions for plans and specifications for a new building to be prepared some time ago, and was at a loss to know why this had not been done.

Royal Show The view expressed at a conference in Auckland yesterday of agricultural and pastoral associations of the province was that there was little likelihood of a Royal agricultural show being held this year. It was stated that the annual fixture was scheduled to be held in Canterbury. Several speakers suggested that it might be possible to induce the Royal Society to finance the fixture at one of the provincial associations’ shows. It was decided to leave the delegates to the annual conference with a free hand should the subject arise.

Holding Their Own ! A company from Papakura military camp was on a 16-mile march. After three hours’ marching the captain halted a farmer and asked him: “How far is it to Papakura ?” “Oh, about seven miles,” replied the farmer. After another hour, the captain stopped a second farmer and asked him the same question. “I should say about seven miles,” was the reply. The company continued on its way for another two hours, and then stopped a cyclist. “How far is it to Papakura ?” brought the reply: “Oh, about seven miles.” “Well,” cried the captain, “we’re holding our own !” Licensed Sideshows The annual of agricultural and pastoral associations in Auckland yesterday discussed the control of sideshows, following a report from the Northern District Council. Regret was expressed at the lack of co-operation among affiliated associations in discriminating between licensed and unlicensed showmen. The Auckland association was definite in its attitude to support the licensing system. Several speakers emphasised the difficulties of securing unanimity among the associations throughout the Dominion. The report from the District Council, urging the associations to work together, was adopted. Magic of the Pipes

In a letter describing incidents of the Greek campaign a Stratford sergeant writes that the men were desperately tired, and many of the men fell out during the march to an overnight camp. “They looked as if they were going to stay there on the roadside for the night,” he continues. “Then a lone piper—a real Scot by his voice—began to play a stirring tune. You know well enough the story of the Pied Piper who lured all the children after him—well, this was the same. The magic skirl of the pipes put new life into tired men and set dragging feet marching again. Out of the ditch all along the roadside rose men who, to all intents and purposes, had chucked it for the night. Soon the piper was heading a small army of men, who reached their camp bed that night and were ready there for their breakfast in the morning, instead of waking stiff and hungry in a ditch miles from the camp.”