LATE LOCALS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1932, Page 6

LATE LOCALS

No further news is available today in connection with the disappearance of Mr John Peake on Sunday night.

There died at Christchurch on Sunday, Mr George Pcniington, who was lor many years architect to the Canterbury Education Board. He was thirty years an employee of the board arid retired last year.

According to the annual report of the Marine Department, the sale ofl ock oysters last year resulted in a net profit of £839 6s lOd, after taking all charges’ into consideration. This was £553 less than the net profit obtained’ during the previous year, when the sales were a good deal higher.

A hair seal, about seven feet long, took refuge on the beach near Avoca street, Kaikoura, one day last week. It had an elephant fish caught in its Jaws by one of the fin bones. When disturbed by a number of people ahd by a dog, the seal made a sudden turn, which had the effect of shaking the fish free, and made off into deep water.

Sixteen cases of infectious diseases including one of lethargic enciphatis sleeping sickness), were reported' in the Canterbury health district during the past week. There was no notificat:on from the West Coast. Details of the statistics are : Canterbury-.—Scar-let fever 3, diphtheria 2, tuberculosis 7, erysipelas 3, lethargic enciphalitis 1 ; total 16. There were t-vo deaths from tuberculosis.

- Tho Golden Coast Dairy Factory Reefton, output for the month of September was 15,6611b5, as against BS73lbs for September, 1931, an increase of 66881 bs } or just less than three tons of butter for the previous September'. It is also noteworthy that on Monday last, the 10th of October,- 214 boxes of butter were shioped for export—ono month earlier than the first shipment last year.

Parliament still enjoys a long weekend vacation, from 5.30 p.m. on Fridays until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and according to the Prime Minister tnere w ill be no immediate move to lengthen the sitting hours. Mr Forbes holds the view that with the coming of longer and warmer days, it is not expedient to shorten the week-end vacation unless the rate of progress becomes so slow that the prospects of ending the session before Christmas are endangered.

An invitation to “come and have a look at our fine picture of Gloaming,” was extended to visiting players at the opening of . the Riccnrton. Racecourse Howling Club on Saturday : fternoon. The invitation was readily a-cepted, but instead of. finding the picture of Gloaming which they expected they found foaming ale waiting for them. Usually when a member of a bowling club invites a visiting player to have a “spot” with him at the green he asks him to “come -and have a look at our lawn-mower,” and tlie novelty of the invitation extended at the Racecourse Club was much appreciated.

The Bank of New Zealand entered its 72nd year of business yesterday. It opened its doors in Auckland for the first time on October 16th, 1861, and its Wellington branch on January 15tlj of the following year. Th e prospectus of the bank stated that it would be an entirely New Zealand institution "capable of doing the present banking business of New Zealand, and susceptible of expansion with a view to meet • the requirements of that prosperous 'future, which, it is believed, will cci tainlv and surely be realised for New Zealand." The hank began with a paid-up capital of £108,785; to-day its paid-up capital is £6,858.113, and reserve and undivided profits amount to £3.970,056. The Government has about one-third -share interest in the bank, and its dividends last year amounted to £245,312. .Sir Henry Buckleton, general manager, has boon in the service of the hank for we’l over 50 y:ir a , joining a- a junior at t u e Sydney branch. j