LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 42, 5 March 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Rabbits Decreasing. "The time is coming when rabbits will be so scarce that trappers will be seeking single rabbits instead of colonies," said Mr J. S. Allen, chairman of a conference of rabbit boards held in Hamilton. A Cold Morning. Temperatures in Hastings early this morniug were only just above freezing point, and, in fact, several householders were convinced that there was a slight frost. .The official'observer at Cornwail Park, Mr H. Nelson Fowler, states that the temperature was 33 degrees, three degrees aboyo freezing point. Butter from Russia. The possibility of stronger pompetition from Russian butter on the London market is indicated in the official announcement that the Soviet's output has been doubled in four years, reaching 118,300 tons in 1936. Many modern factories have been built to secure tliis result. A large increase in internal consumption has been the immediate effect, but there is little doubt tliat ultimately the surplus will be shipped to Britain, in spite of the duty of 15 ,per cent per cwt. on all foreign butters. Public Service Entrance. An announcement has been made from the Public Service Commissioner's Office in Wellington that the Public Service Entrance Examination, which • was discontinued in 1932, will be reintroduced this year, and will be held in November. The standard of the examination, whigh qualifies applicants for appointment to clerical cadetships in the Public Service, will be substantially the same as that of the intermediate examination akeady conducted by the Edscation Department in connection with the awarding of Benior free places to secondary school pupils. Separate papers of a slightly higher standard may be set in English, arithmetic, Latin, French, mathematics and history. Acoldent at Golf ExhlbStfon. . There was an unfortunate ending to the golf exhibition which Walter Hagen and Joe Kirkwood gave at Wanganui yesterday, resulting in a member of their party, Mr I. Keane, receiving injuries above his eye when struck by a golf ball. Kirkwood was demonstrating some of his trick shots to the gallery, and as Mr Keane was walking over to the group, against the sun, a ball driven hard, struck him above one eye. Mr Keane wore spectacles at the time, but fortunately no splinters of glass cut him or endangered the eye. Medical attention was, however, necessary. Mr Keane' s injury is not regarded as serious. Bank of New Zealand. Denial of a persistent rumour in circulation in th© south that the Government is about to take over the private shareholding in the Bank of New Zealand, was given by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in Christchurch. The shares recently have been very strong, both in New Zealand and on the London market, and in some quarters it is considered that some of their strength has been due to the persistence of the rumour. On the Auckland Exchange at the beginning of this week the shares were weaker, changing hands from 43/- down to 42/6, compared with the peak price in Auckland this year of 45/- touched a week ago. Two-Mile Waik Record. In the two-mile walk handicap on McLean Park, Napier, last night, Ian Driscoll, New Zealand amateur champion walker, beat A. Brady's longstanding two-mile New Zealand record by nearly 9secs, finishing with a' great burst in 14min. 4secs. Driscoll was giving away starts up to 3/8ths of a mile and then won 'by 100 yards. There was a hearty outburst of cheering when the time was announced. The timekeepers were all agreed as to th© time, but owing to there being only two walking judges instead of four probably the^ time will not be recognised as a record. However, Driscoll is in such improving form at present that he is likely to set new standards in the championships at Auckland next week. As ifc was he almosfc fulfilled Mr T. W. Leslie's prediction given a fortnight ago that he would eventually do the two mileB in 14 minutes. Making Doubly Suro. An amusing incident occurred at the Takapau Caledonian Society's sports meeting, In the first event of the meeting, the race for boys under eight years of age, ^here was one sturdy little fellow who, from his size, appeared to be well under the age limit. H© #as given a good start by the handicapper and led the field all the way tcv the tape with legs and arms going like pistons and grim determination jn every line of his small face and figure. On arrival at the tape, however, he immediatel turned about and set out for th© starting point again, hia actions still expressive of the determination to win or burst. The judges ahouted to him to stop and come back, but the crowd on tho sideline urged him on, and run he did' as fast as his little legs could twinkle, right back to the starting point. Fortunately for him his shoulder .had touched the tape as he turned about and he was declared the winner. He eertainly earned his prize.