LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 19 October 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Intoxicated Motorist At a siting of the Police Court in Foxton yesterday, before Mr. J. Killick and Mrs. E. Titcombe, J's.P., F. S. Easton, charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor vehicle on the Foxton1 Shannon highway, was convicted , and fined £25, with costs £1 ls. Levy on Hides The Hides Committee states that the export levy on all hides and calf-skins- (other than freezers), has been further increased on all purchases freed for export on and after Friday, October 18. The new rates are: Oxhides 12d per lb., cowhides 12d, yearlings 12-id, calf skins 20d, bullhides unchanged at 6d. Radio on Fire Engines Modern radio equipment enabling rapid communication between firemen and the fire station may be provided at New Plymouth as a result of a decision reached at a | meeting of the New Plymouth Fire j Board. Discussion arose following ; receipt of a letter from the War i Assets Realisation Board offering 1 portable radio sets at £20 each. | Flower Prices Easier j Mesrs George Thomas and Co., ! Ltd., Wellington, advise that fiowei prices for the week were slightly easier than the previous week, supplies being more plentiful. Prices: Tulips, 9d to ls 9d- pink manuka, 6d to 9d; anemones, 4d to 9d; lilac, 6d to 9d; waratah, 6s to 10s; maidenhaij fern, 4s 6d; poppies, 6d to 4s gross. ! Dutch Want to Return i The Netherlands Consul-General | in Wellington, Dr. Jonkheer van Panhuys, reports that several of the evacuees from the Netherlands East Indies who are now in Australia, were anxiouS to return and make their homes in New Zealand. j When the necessary financial arj rangements had been completed ! with Batavia, he beiieved it might I be possible to accede to their . re- | quest. j Down, But Not Out | When disputing a certain loan I proposal at a meeting of ratepayers | on Thursday night a member of j the audience, when emphasising an ! important point, accidentally lost j his footing and fell back on to the ' floor, injuring his back slightly. Un- | daunted he continued his oratory from that position until, on the invitation of the M-ayor (Mr. H. B. ' Burdekin) he resumed his seat and | concluded his address from 'thefe instead of standing up as is customary. ! Marriage and Sanity "It appears from these decisions that an insane person may contract I a valid marriage in a lucid ini terval," said his Honour, Mr. Jusi tice Fair, when dismissing a petiI tion by a woman to have a marriage annulled- on the ground that at the time of the marriage her husband was of unsound mind. His Honour quoted four decisions, adding that, notwithstanding the irresponsible and eccentric conduct of the husband before and at the time of the marriage, he was competent -to enter the marriage. Shops Close Polling Day All shops, factories, and business premises are to close at 2 p.m. on polling day. Workers retained on essential services are to be given reasonable time ofl to vote. There is' to be no deduction of pay. Under the Electoral Act, 1927, shons and offices were required to close at noon on polling day. The alteration to 2 p.m. has been made through a clause in the Statutes Amendment Act passed last week. It is also provided that it will not be lawful to sell intoxicating liquors in any licensed premises between noon and 7 p.rri. on ^olling day. Shipment of Iron A shipment of more than 2000 tons of Australian steel and iron arrived at Auckland yesterday in the Union Company's stbamer Kairanga from Newcastle and Sydnew The building and allied trades have been feeling the effects of the shortages of these materials and some assistance will be given by the car^o which will be followed bv another shipment in the freighter Fort Pic held at Sydney by the waterfro£t dispute. A full cargo of hardwooa which is also in short supply, will arrive at Auckland on Sunday in the motor ship Port Tauranga from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. *

Turning of First Sod Hon. R. Semple said yesterday that he planned to turn the* first sod in connection with. the > new railway route through the Rimutakas to the Wairarapa, on Saturday, November 9. H& added that the ceremony would be on the Wellington side of the hill.- - - Levin's Drainage Under Fire "When I came to Levin I was under the impression that the town had a- sewerage system," said Mr. H. Herring, putting a question to the Mayor and councillors at a meeting of ratepayers on- Thursday night. "I came as a lamb to the slauahter and fell in up to my-neck. We have mosquitoes all over the town now, because Levin is like a gigantic cesspool."