LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 76, 22 December 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

H.M.S. Wellington's Vi?it. . H.M.S. Wellington will visit Napier from January 6 to 13. The ship is of 960 tons, and carries a complement of seven officers and 96 ratings. Commander S. Houston Clarke is in command. She proceeds from Napier to Gisborne on January 13 and remains until January 19. A Surprise Packet. When he picked up a tobacco pouch in the lounge of a Napier hotel yesterday, the porter little dreamed that it contained, not tobacco, but £60 in "fivers," together with some clieques and silver. Making the discovery, he took the pouch to the inanager, whose iuquiries led to its return to a man who had been to the hotel to visit friend's. Blind Institute Appeal. The annual appeal for funds for the New Zealand Institute for the Blind has resulted in a record sum being received from Hawke's Bay. The amount of subscriptions in this district is £263 1/1, with still a few subscriptions to come in. Napier heads the list with £100 16/-, followed by Hastings with £68 1/9, Takapau district £40 16/-, Waipawa district £36 4/1, and Waipukurau £19 4/-. "Iron Lung" Respirator. A sample "iron lung" respirator is expected to make its appearance in the Wellington Hospital shortly. The medical superintendent, Dr. A. E. Thorne, in reporting to the Wellington Hospital Board last night, said that he was obtaining speciiications. The respirators were being manufaetured in Melbourne at a cost of £120 each. He suggested that one be obtained as a sample, to be used as a pattern for any future one. Public Service Election. On March 7, thousands of public servants in all parts of New Zealand will take phrt in riie election to choose their six representatives on the Public Service Superanauation Fund Board. Two representatives are to be elected from the Post and Telegraph contributors, one from the police force, and three from other Government departments. Nominations will close on January 24, and posted voting papers must be delivered within 15 days of the closing at the poll. Blomfield Abroad. Three wins and a draw have been gained by the New Zealand wrestler, ' ' Lofty ' ' Blomfield, since his arrival in the States on his quest for world eliampionship honours. According to a cable received by the Dominion Wrestling Union from its representative, Mr Walter Miller, Blomfield has gained victories over "Tiny" Koebuck, Freeman McKay, and Ledue Jennings, and a draw with Sandcr Szabo after having had the best of the bout. "He is in big demand," adds the message. Blomiield is scheduled to contest the world title some time about the niiddle of next month. i Unobtrusive People. A reference to New Zealanders by the well-known author J. B. Priestley was recalled by Mr J. W. Shaw, of the Auckland Training College, in an address to the Auckland Eotary Club on "Thia New Zealand." The author had said that he was once travelling on a ship along the West Coaet of America. He had no difficulty in picking Americans, South Americans and Australians among the passengers, but there were "quiet, negative, dull. drab and unassertive people, who seemed to melt into their background. It was only with difficulty I found they were New Zealanders. ' ' Rotorua Booked Out. Although all hotel accommodation in Rotorua was fully booked for the Christmas holiday period several weeks ago, applications are still being receivod by most of the hotels and boardinghouses, as well as the Tourist Department's bureau and the Borough Council office, from intending visitors who had omitted to make earlier application. There is no doubt that the holiday influx will be a record. -To meet the position the Borough Council recently invited residents who had houses or rooms to let during the holiday period to give particulars of the accommodation available, and by this means many of the visitors have been accommodated for varying periods.