LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22689, 17 August 1945, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Land Sales Applications To date a total of 430 applications for approval of transfer has been lodged with the Hamilton Land Sales Committee. Endorsement Reaffirmed The Waikato Trades Council has unanimously reaffirmed its previous endorsement of the Government’s action in acquiring ownership and control of the Bank of New Zealand. Umbrella Memories

Three young soldiers who had been celebrating the glad news yesterday accosted an Englishman with an umbrella, requesting the use of it. “No fear,” said the Englishman, “this war started with an Englishman with an umbrella and I’m helping to celebrate its finish,” a remark which provoked the reply from one of the soldiers, “OK, Mr Chamberlain.” Injured Maori’s Condition The Waikato Hospital reports this morning that the condition of Mr George Tarawhiti, aged 60, who was injured at Huntly last evening, has improved a little. Mr Tarawhiti, who resides at Weaver’s Crossing, Huntly West, was knocked down by a motor cycle, while walking across the traffic bridge at Huntly, receiving severe head injuries. Few Casualties During Celebrations Few persons were forced to undergo treatment at the Waikato Hospital as a result of minor casualties received during the celebrations. It was reported this morning that the most serious case was a man admitted with a broken ankle received when he was knocked down by a car at Te Awamutu. He was Mr Thomas Atkins, of Mahoe Street, Te Awamutu.

Sunday Pictures for Miners Picture screenings on Sundays at Benneydale, the new mining settlement south of Te Kuiti, were sanctioned by the Waitomo County Council, on representations from the Benneydale Miners’ Union, which stated that as night shifts were being worked Sunday was the only day on which all the mine workers could attend the pictures with their wives. The council reserved the right to review the position at any time. Mistaken Identity A Hamilton citizen who usually avoids the limelight will have a vivid recollection of yesterday’s festivities, particularly as he has never held commissioned rank in His Majesty’s forces. While threading his unobtrusive way along Victoria Street he was suddenly confronted by an excited young woman who flung her arms round him and kissed him effusively, with the delighted remark, “So glad to see you captain.” Evidently a case of mistaken identity. Patriotic Campaign Some enthusiastic collectors from Block 4 took a long step toward securing the block quota in the red, white and blue patriotic funds campaign when they were out with collection boxes during the celebrations yesterday. A satisfactory response was reported. The secretary for the campaign, Mr L. Darbyshire, said that now the celebrations were over the campaign would be prowith vigour. The money was urgently needed, some of it to defray costs already incurred, such as the provision of comforts for repatriated prisoners of war in Britain. Balloonist’s Ascent

About 35 years ago an itinerant balloonist named Eastwood came to Hamilton, to interest the population in aeronautics. Eastwood made an ascent from a vacant section in Bryce Street. The balloon travelled about a mile and a-half and came down on the Claudelands side of the river in Mr Charles Warr’s orchard, where Te Aroha Street is now situated. Eastwood offered a gold watch to any woman who would make an ascent with him. The old resident, in recalling the occasion, believes that a woman won the watch, but he does not remember the name of the winner.

N.Z.E.F. and Trades Council Mr Arnold T. Smith, secretary of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, at* the invitation of the Waikato Trades Council, addressed the delegates at the council’s last meeting, outlining the principles of the association. He stated that his association realised that returned servicemen could not expect rehabilitation unless the country as a whole was rehabilitated. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Smith, by acclamation, and the council agreed that returning members of trades unions should be encouraged to join the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, which is recognised by the New Zealand Federation of Labour as an authoritative organisation of exservicemen and women.

Officer Awarded D.S.O. Mr V. L. Fairbrother, of Te Awamutu, has been officially advised that his son, Lieutenant-Colonel M. C. Fairbrother, 0.8. E., has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Lieutenant-Colonel Fairbrother, who left the Dominion as a subaltern with the 20th Battalion, First Echelon, in January, 1940, served with Divisional Headquarters in the campaigns in Greece and Libya in 1941, and in the following campaigns he was brigade major in the sth Brigade. In Italy he had command of the Maori Battalion before the action on the Sangro River. After spending furlough in New Zealand he returned to Italy to command the 26th Battalion. His wife resides at Te Kawa. Junior National Club

Members were present from all parts of the division when the South Auckland Junior National Club held its inaugural meeting in the Toorak Chambers. Mr D. H. Mead presided over the meeting, which devoted the evening to the adoption of the constitution and the provisional chairman’s report. The future activities of the club, which will take the form of dances, soCials and discussion groups, were also considered. The election of officers resulted:— Chairman, Mr D. H. Mead; vicechairman, Mr K. Johnstone; secretary, Miss V. Dingle; committee, Misses D. Cobb, W. Sumner, J. Smith, B. Huckle; Messrs C. Roskruge, K. Weal, J. Hartstone, L. Williams, and C. Andrews.

Band’s Novel Appeal The appearance of the Hamilton Citizens’ Band in the procession yesterday afternoon, clad in pyjamas, created a good deal of comment, most people regarding the unusual apparel for outdoors as a novel contribution to the humour of the occasion. But there was something more in it than that. For a long time the Citizens’ Band has been in need of uniforms, and yesterday afforded opportunity for bringing the plight of the band more strikingly under the notice of the public, for a street appeal is to be made shortly in an effort to raise funds. The band yesterday not only participated prominently in the prorcession but rendered musical items in the street for the enjoyment of music lovers and those who desired to dance. Altogether it played for j seven hours and contributed materially to the success of the celebrations.