LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5139, 15 June 1927, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Following on the wet weather that prevailed locally over the week-end. heavy frosts were experienced yesterday apd to-day. The heaviest frost so far recorded this year was the one this morning. At 9 o’clock the thermometer at the Public Works office registered 40 degrees—two degrees below freezing point. The scene in the bright moonlight last night, and aga.in in the sunshine this morning, was strikingly pretty, if a little nippy. The ground was covered with a dazzling mantle of snowy whiteness which gleamed and sparkled. Bright sunshine has prevailed each day.

A striking commentary on the unemployed situation in Auckland is the fact that the Dilworth Trust Board, as a result of advertising for a liftman, and for a caretaker of their new building in Queen Street, have received 5G5 applications in connection with the two positions.

With over £lO,OOO in hand the Massey Memorial Committee will shortly consider the style of monument to be erected at the special reserve at Point Halswell, the burialground of the late Prime Minister, W. F. Massey. Soon after Parliament meets—probably during the first week < f the session—the committee will sit at Wellington.

That there is money available for investment in Auckland is shown by the fact that the £75,000 worth of debentures issued by the- Glen Afton Collieries have all been taken up in a few days. There were two lots of debentures. The interest, on those free of income tax is at the rate of 6(4 per cent., and on those not free 7(4 per cent.

As a party of Public Works employees were proceeding along the Komata road on Monday a horse was noticed lying in the roadside drain, and unable to move. After considerable difficulty the animal was extricated from its unfortunate position, where indications showed that it had been for some time. The animal was very weak, and was unable to stand. The farmers adjacent to the locality were notified of the occurrence, but none of them appeared to own the animal. Last evening the horse was still lying where it had been pulled out, and appeared to be weaker. The matter has since been reported to the local police..

The residents of Paeroa and surrounding districts are notified that Mr Wesley Woolhouse. representing the Bristol Piano Co., Ltd., is at present in this district. Orders for tuning or repair work left at the office of this paper will receive immediate attention*

There was a full yarding of all classes of stock at the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s Ngatea. stock sale on Monday, and a first-class clearance was effected, practically everything being sold under, keen competition. Auckland buyers secured most of the offerings, ai.d prices realised were up to the ruling rates. Sows with litter brought from sgns to 7gns, sows due to farrow from 2% to 6gns, and store pigs frojn 21s to 22s 6d. Fat cows brought from £3 to £4, fresh-conditioned cows from £4 10s to £5 10s, and boners from 30s to £3. There was a keen demand for springers of quality. Cows brought from £5 5s to £7 10s and heifers from £4 10s to £6.

Times are hard for the domestic cat. The furriers have their eye on the gentlemen who sing such yearning love-songs on the roof tops o’nights. Already a Sydney fur merchant has exported 1000 Australian wild-cat skins, for which Europe- is clamouring, and the domestic variety of the cat family will need to cultivate matted hair if it is to escape commercial exploitation. Last year £3,000,000 worth of rabbit skins was exported from Australia, together with tens of thousands of fox skins, and over 3,000,000 opossum skins. And the demand is unabated.