LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

V Woman's Clothing Afire Pedestrians in King Street, Hastings, on Wednesday afternoon, were startled to see a young woman with her overcoat burning running along the footpath. She was detained by several people and the danger removed. lluapehu Activity Signs of renewed volcanic activity were shown by Mount Ruapehu this week. For the past month unfavourable weather has shrouded the mountain in clouds. On Wednesday,- however, the skies were clear, and a large volume of steam was seen issuing from a vent at the northeast of the crater. Mothers' Club Meeting On Monday nj?ght the Mothers' Club held a most enjoyable social evening. Mr. T. Mayne gave an I amusing dumb show f ollowed by a competition. A group .presented a jplay reading of a comedy in dress ; with the necessary "props," and the j audience greatly appreciated the ! effort. In future a social evening , will be held monthly, wheh -a series I of plays will be prepared under the jdirection of the Adult Education j Council. Demand for Farms | "We are very alarmed at" the ! number of returned- servicemen j who come before us and wish to I buy the most atrocious rubbish," stated the chairman of the North: ! Auckland Land Saies Committee, Mr. E. H. Burton, during the hearing of a case. "Many of them try to buy that stuff simply because they are land hifngry and too impatient. We have prevented quite a number of-such purchases on the ground of 'the unsuitability of the property." Cigarette Shortage in Britain No end to the cigarette shortage h\ Britain is seen by the Financial Times, which reports that the world leaf supply is lagging be-' hind the demand. The newspaper adds that in recent years there has been increasin'g tobacco corisumption, with a marked sh'ift towards cigarettes. British srnokers are now being supplied with one-third more cigarettes than before the war, yet there is still a shortage and cigarette queues are not likely to disapr pear from Britain for an appreciable time. Shops jn Hotel Foyers A recommendation that district licensing committees should have the power to permit the establishment of shops in the main foyer or hall of an hotel, provided that the bars are not directly accessible, is made in the majority report .of the Royal Commission . on> ' Licen§ing._ These shops are at present proh.ibited by the Licensing Acl,. states' the report, but shops are •a ; distinctiVI' l'eature of good^ hotels;' ?:overseas. They might include branches of the big stores in a city.or also comprise a booking office, flower, books -and tobacco stalls, and, if required, a grill room. Remarkable Escape When five pounds weight of blasting powder exploded under the front seat o'f a truck in which five men were travelling, the result was "different "from what might nave. been expected, states a Sydney message. All receiVed burns, but only three were injured seriousiy enough to be admit'ted to hospital. The five men, who are landscape gardeners, were crowded in the cab of the lorry right over the blast. When the powder exploded, one man was catapulted on to the highway with his trousers burnt off. Startled motorists saw him sprinting down the road with his body blackened and his shirt afire. The cause of the accident is not known. Kiwi Will Not Travel Mr. Winston Churchill will not receive a live kiwi for his .priyate zoo as was suggested at a gathering: of Maoris in Rotorua. 'The Minister of Internal A'ffairs (Mr. Parry) is strong in his stand against the export of live kiwis and tuatara lizards and has equally strong views regarding Maori curios and relics. To export a live kiwi or a lizard, - says the Minister, would establish a precedent which would lead to all sorts of difficulties for the au'thorities in New Zealand. Recently he saved a valuabl'e collection of ancient and rare Maori carvihgs in Rotorua from passing into private hands. It is valued at £5000 and was. bought by the . Government, and it is felt that the purchase will at least preveht rare old carvings from being used for purpos'es not. in keeping with their high aestlie'tic and historic value.