LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 241, 14 June 1928, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Owing to a backfire while being cranked. - A. Kemp’s car caught

fire on ; y night near the Presbvtery. Fath r Siik rang for the Fire Brig. do ■: nd then got wet sacks and placed . s : over the wheels. The brigade i, rived later. The body of the car was completely destroyed but the chassis and engine are probably not much affected. The car was insured. Mr. Kemp’s right hand was rather severely burnt. Matamata Record.

A plea of guilty was entered by Charles Cater, of Matangi (Mr. E. McGregor), who was charged at the Morrinsville Police Court on Monday with pursuing game at Piako on May 1 without a license. Constable Heeps said Cater was one of a party who were shooting on property which was prohibited, as a number of pheasants had been liberated for breeding. He would not press for a heavy penalty, as defendant had been quite straightforw'ard. A fine of 20s and costs was imposed.

A strong denunciation of the unbusinesslike methods of the New Zealand Railways is made by a Morrinsviile farmer who travelled by the night limited from Palmerston North recently. There were six or seven first-class carriages and only one second-class. As this was of course packed it was a case of paying extra or staying behind. The six or seven people who joined the train were loud in their protests against this treatment, which they regarded as an attempt to “ have ” them. “ I didn’t mind paying the extra fare,” the Morrinsville man said, “ but it is the principle of the thing that T oojeet to.”

As a result of the continued confusion with regard to tail lights and number plates the Auckland Automobile Association has forwarded information to its agents, giving an interpretation of the regulations. The rear light must be as near as possible to the right-hand side of the vehicle, with the number clearly illuminated beneath. If the red glass of the light is of a reflecting nature and not less than two square inches in area there is no necessity for a reflector. However, plain red glass is not sufficient. If a reflector is fitted it must be placed as near as possible to the rear light. The regulations are now in force and motorists are still liable to prosecution if their rear lights fail, although fitted with reflectors.

It is better to be born lucky than rich. Mr. S. Stockdale, of Matamata, had a marvellous escape from serious injury one day last week. He was travelling along in his Ford car around the bend leading from Hillcrest into Cambridge road, and was passing another ear, which, it is assumed, touched h;s wheel cap. His car turned over three 'times, finally landing on its wheels, without other Than hood damage. The top half of the windscreen fell out, but was not broken, and Mr. Stockdale found the rear view mirror in his coat pocket, and his watch some distance away on the ground. However, he gathered up the pieces and drove on home, little the worse for the surprising misadventure. In connection with the formation of rural intermediate credit associations in various parts of New Zealand, the commissioner announces th.-.t varying interpretations appear to have been placed upon the previous decisions of the board with relation to guarantees to be given to borrowers under the Rural Intermediate Credit Act, 1927, where application is made under that portion of the Act providing for direct advances without the intervention of a rural intermediate credit association. In order that the poshion may be free from doubt the board has now expressly decided that, although the normal mode of guaranteeing will be by sound limited liability companies or firms such, for example, as stock and station companies, dairy companies, and farmers’ co-operative companies, the board will be prepared to accept guarantees in suitable eases from individuals whose solvency is established to the satisfaction of the board.

A farmers’ excursion to the State Nurseries at Rotorua has been arranged by the Putaruru branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union for Friday, June 22 Excursion tickets will be issued from Matamata to Arahiwi inclusive. Buses will meet the train. The Rotorua Winter Show may also lie visited. All tickets available over the week-end.* A committee consisting of Mesdames Lindsay, McQuillam, Arnett and Henderson has been appointed by lady members of the Roman Catholic Church at Arapuni to collect funds with a view to providing a car for Father Alink. To this end a social will be held in the Arapuni Picture Palace, which will be ready for the usual entertainments, on Friday, June 22.

Mr. A. C. Thompson, manager of the Putaruru branch of the Bank of New Zealand, is at present on annual leave and will be absent for about five weeks. Mr. Thompson is being relieved by Mr. W. Winchester from the Wellington office.

A laughable bull was perpetrated by a member of the Putaruru Town Board during a discussion on a letter from the Chamber of Commerce in regard to pumice lands. Warming to his subject, the member in question stated emphatically : “ The whole of the Waikato was ‘ sick ’ at one time. You ask any of the old settlers —of course they are all dead now,” he added absently amid roads of laughter. “ Well, it’s all right, you ask one lot and I’ll ask the other,” commented I a member when the laughter had subsided somewhat.

Information regarding sources of metal supply is always of interest hereabouts. Commenting - on the Mamaku road work, the Rotorua Chronicle states that some of the Rotoiua county section was surfaced with rhyolite, but that the later work has been carried out with hard spherulitic material from the Ngongotaha quarries. ” This rock,” the journal states, “is proving of remarkable 1 value, being exceptionally stable under water and wind scour, besides giving great tyre grip and easy running. It is incomparably less in cost than any imported material, and can be obtained in any quantity. The use of Ngongotaha metal has increased the efficiency of the borough secondary roads 'hundreds per cent., and correspondingly reduced maintenance charges.” From the foregoing it would appear to be worth while for local bodies in this district to make inquiries on the spot.

Owing to various unavoidable circumstances the luncheon to Mr. F. F. Hockly, M.P., has been postponed till next Wednesday, June 20.*