LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Show Abandoned The Te Awamutu Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Association has decided to abandon its annual show, which was to have been held in February, 1942. The war situation was the prime cause of the decision. Over 80 Degrees Continued sultry weather was ex- v perienced in Hamilton yesterday, the temperature at its highest reading being 84 degrees. The lowest recording last night was 66 degrees, i The barometer remains steady at 30.30 in. Old Post Office Building Work on remodelling the interior of the old Chief Post Office building in Victoria Street to make it suitable for accommodating some other Government departments was interrupted a week ago to allow of urgent Army works being handled by the men engaged there, but resumption of the remodelling work is expected in a few days. Army Department Offices Approximately - 6000 cubic yards of spoil has been removed in recent weeks from the hillside at the back of the Army Department’s property in Knox Street, Hamilton, and the task is now almost completed. The removal of spoil was necessary to allow of extensions to the buildings, which will provide an additional 8000 feet of floor space. Trains Delayed The main trunk express train from Wellington this morning was nearly half-an-hour late in reaching Frankton Junction. The delay was caused by the derailment of one wagon of a goods train at Taringamotu station, three miles from Taumarunui, and this interfered with other train schedules. Knitted Comforts An interim return released by the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council reveals that by September 30, 1941, the following knitted comforts had been handled by the National Patriotic Fund Board: Balaclavas, 100,046; mittens, 102,199; scarves, 99,306; pairs of socks, 9754; pullovers and jerseys, 19,766; pairs of gloves, 3294; hussifs, 57,539. Delivery of Bread Through the intervention of the conciliation commissioner, Mr C. L. Hunter, bread delivery carters in Auckland have decided to deliver on the two Saturdays, December 27 and January 3. Following this decision, the Auckland Bakers’ Union refusal to bake five days’ batches of bread in both weeks, a stand arising from the carters’ former attitude, has been withdrawn.

Coupons For Soldiers The Government is to be asked by the National Patriotic Council to institute a system of coupons negotiable in canteens overseas which will be available for purchase in New Zealand by those desirous of enclosing small gifts in their letters to members of the forces. The council will also ask the Government to free the senders of remittances to soldiers overseas of the obligation to pay exchange. Ragwort Clearance Considerable progress has been made with the clearing of ragwort, and two gangs of unemployed labour had commenced last month on clearing work at Gordonton and Te Miro, said Mr G. G. Winter, overseer, in his report to a meeting of the Waikato County Council yesterday. Mr Winter stated that was noticeably much less ragwort to be dealt with this season than previously, and this was partly due to the vci weather conditions. Parcels For Troops It is announced by the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council that details will be available shortly of a scheme designed to facilitate the sending of personally-addressed parcels containing tobacco and cigarettes to the troops abroad. The authorities are endeavouring to have New J Zealand cigarettes instead of overseas brands issued to the troops in Fiji and the Middle East. War Exhibits The exhibition of London air raid pictures made available on loan by the London Press Club attracted large attendances to the Auckland Art Gallery. Collections made at the doors totalled £3BO. Exhibits due in Auckland from overseas next year to assist in raising funds are a collection of official war pictures, a collection of London fire pictures, and a Messerschmitt aeroplane. Some of these exhibits will probably be displayed in provincial centres. Petrol For Launches .Petrol rations for launches may no longer be spread over two months, the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, announced yesterday. The Minister said that launch owners, like private car owners, had formerly oeen permitted to use their petrol over a period of two months. To enable a more effective check to be kept on petrol consumption, oil fuel supplies for launches would un - til further notice be available only during 'the. montn of issue. Buried Treasure A Hamilton shopkeeper a few days ago inadvertently dropped two packets of bank notes totalling £32 in a rubbish basket in his shop, and did not realise the fact until after the rubbish removal men had called. Hurrying to the rubbish tip, he explained the circumstances to the man jin charge. Then began a search that | lasted for several hours, without re- | suit. Next day the search was rej newed, and eventually one packet of notes totalling £4 was recovered. I ! Further search that day was unavailI ing, but it was continued next morning. Within an hour the £2B was recovered. National Savings Flags Last week 108 towns secured their national savings quotas and raised their national savings flags to the masthead. Twelve offices which have j attained their quota for eight weeks 1 running are New Plymouth, Ashbur- 1 ton, Cheviot, Fairlie, Hawarden, i Hawera, Hunterville, Kaikoura, May- , field. Taihape, Urenui and Weber, j Eighteen towns attained their quota ; for the first time and to date 231 towns have reached their objective at . least once. Hamilton was among 12 of the 18 provincial centres which i were successful. j