LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20057, 24 December 1928, Page 16

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An important real estate transaction was completed at Auckland in the sale of the late Sir Arthur Myers’s residence “ Cintra ” and its five and a-half acres. The property was the only remaining large block in the city area under private ownership. The purchaser is the Fletcher Trust and Investment Company, Ltd., of Wellington, which proposed to form a garden residential area.

■ in' the Magistrate’s Court at Huntly Frank James Smith, aged thirtyseven, a farmer of AVoodleigh, was charged on various dates between April 20 and September 17, 1928, at Glenmurray, with stealing 231 sheep, of a total value of £306 4s, the property of Harold Frederick Leigh. The accused was remanded in custody to appear at Huntly on. December 28. ’

The promises of AV. Patching, Limited, saddlers and leather merchants at Ashburton, were entered and 30s and a quantity of leather goods were stolen. Entrance was effected by battering down the back door.

It was authoritatively stated on Saturday (says a Press Association telegram from Invercargill) that the Federal Steam Navigation Company, which has owned the Ocean Beach Freezing Works for the last quarter of a century, has now disposed of them to Messrs Sims, Cooper and Co., Ltd., of Christchurch; Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., Invercargill, ano J. G. Ward and C 0.,, of Invercargill. Messrs J. G. Ward and Co., who have been managing agents continuously for the Federal Steam Navigation Company will continue to act in that capacity.

The Minister of Education (Mr H. Atmore) was accorded a civic reception at Nelson. The speakers included representatives of all local bodies and ex-mayors. Reference was made to tlie fact that Mr Atmore was the first native born Nelson member to attain Cabinet rank. The Minister said he could assure the audience that the men in power to-day were nob out for party politics, but to guide New Zealand along the path of progress. Referring to the Nelson 'railway- the Minister emphasised that the losses on the railways were not made on the main lines, but on the small branch lines, some of which would have to bo scrapped, as they were ■ being superseded by motor traffic. He mentioned that the heavy taxation on motor vehicles woldd be lightened in the future. While looking after the interests of his electorate he realised that it was' his duty to serve New Zealand in general. Mr Atmore was loudly cheered on concluding his address.

An entertainment in connection with the Green Island School . break-up was given by scholars under the guidance and tuition of Mr Burton. The perfornianccs were illustrations of a Maori camp, school work, and a ■coon choral, society, all being done in a manner which reflected tho highest praise on Mr and Mrs Burton and tho hoys and girls who took part. Some twenty-six members ml’ various citv choirs went by charabanc yesterday afternoon to give a Christmas service of song to the patients and staff of the Mental Ho - ,'ital. The p’rogrammo had been prepared by Mr S. Lawn, who presided_ at tho organ and conducted tho choir. Favourite carols such as ‘The hirst Nowell, ‘ Sing High, Sing Low,’, ‘ Good King Woncheslas ’ were sung very effectively. Miss Jdvelvn Shepard sang Sleep, Holy Babe,’ Mrs Lawn ‘My Task,’ Mrs Marcella ‘ I’d Be a Sunbeam,’ and Miss Millar ‘ Still, Still With Thee.’_ Several familiar hymns were also sung, in which the congregation joined. Mr H. H. Driver, who presided as chairman of tho Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society’s Hospital Committee, conveyed the Christmas greetings and good wishes of tho society to the largo congregation, and also its appreciation of tho° kind ness of tho singers in providing so excellent a musical service for tho Christmastido entertainment of the patients. Tho Rev. F. G. Ciimmiiig, tho agent of the society, expressed the opinion that it was tho host Christmas service that had been held in the hospital for many years past, and complimented Mr Lawn and the choir on the valuable services they had rendered. The .secretary of the General Post Office has received the following navigation warning broadcast from Sydney radio, 10.40 p.m., December 22 (says a Press Association telegram from Weilington);—“Master of tho Sonoma reports breakers existing cine E. and W. about 500 feet long wore sighted at mid-day on December 20 at latitude ,‘iO, 51* south, .longitude 15S, 19 east. Breakers wore passed about quarter oi' a mile off and could be _ seen very plainly. Sea smooth, light N.E. breeze.” Fire destroyed, early on Saturday morning, a seven-roomed lioufco at Ihinollic, West Coast, occupied by Mr J. Hutchison, who, with his wife jiml family, had just time to escape. Nothing was saved.