LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 December 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Christmas Air Mail. The Postmaster at Rotorua, Mr G. Nelson advises that under the auspices of the New Zealand Air League, flights with mail from Wellington to Auckland, from Palmerston North to Invercargill, and from GisDorne to Palmerston North, a return flight being made in each case, will be undertaken on Christmas Eve, December 24. Full particulars of the service will be notified at an early date. Unemployment Puzzle. Recently a singular aspect of the unemployment problem in Rotorua was demonstrated when a distriet farmer applied to the unemployment bureau for half a dozen men to assist with harvesting on his farm. Not one man could be found willing to go out into the country and it was only after much trouble and private inquiry on the part of the farmer himself that he managed to obtain the required number of men. Among those whom he did obtain were a graduated university student and a qualified ehemist who had been unable to obtain other employment. Maori Initiative. Harvesting on these sultry days is hot work and when the toil of the day is eased for a moment for "a smoko" or some other purpose, it is often a hard matter to find a shady spot in which to rest. This, at least, was the difficulty of a Maori harvester in a paddock near Rotorua the other day but his inventive genius soon supplied him with shelter for his head. With the aid of a hayfork planted firmly in the ground and a lucerne sheaf propped on top, he fitted up a temporary sunshade in the shade of which he was able to enjoy his afternoon siesta. Visit of Air Force Plane. A New Zealand Air Force Gipsy Moth aeroplane from Hobsonville piloted by Flight Lieutentnt Wallingford, and carrying as a passenger Major R. Miles, D.S.O., M.C„ R.N.Z.A., chief staff officer of the Northern Military Command, arrived in Rotorua on Saturday morning. Major Miles was paying an official visit and after spending only a few hours in the town, he left again by the 'plane. School Promotions. Eighty-eight Standard IV pupils at the Rotorua primary school will next year go forward to the High School. This is regarded as a highly satisfactory percentage and is 16 in advance of flast year's, promotions when 72 pupils went forward. Basketball Trophy. A handsome challenge cup which has been donated by the Herbert Smith Trust Fund of Hamilton for competition among basketball teams of distriet schools has been won for this year by the Rotorua primary school team. The trophy is open for competition only among pupils from Standard IV. down. Staff Changes.

Miss Anderson who has been acting as relieving infant mistress at the Rotorua primary school for the past year will terminate her appointment when the school breaks up at the end of the week. Miss Anderson has been relieving Miss' Bull, who after being I absent on leave for 12 months, will j resume duty when the school opens ! next year. The school will also lose j Mrs Roberts and Miss Longworth and Messrs A. G. C. Cottrell and Carnachan, probationary assistants, who will complete the period of training at the end of the year. Motor Camp Improvements. Considerable improvement work is being carried out at the Rotorua motor camp in preparation for the influx of holiday-makers at Christmas and New Year. The road to the camp is being heavily pumiced and those in the camp are being treated to preyent nuisance from dust. The arrangement of the water system and the conveniences is also being altered to give better accessability and service to the campers. As many more camping enthusiasts are expected this year than last, a line of tree stumps on the northern side of the area has been removed to make more. space available for the pitching of tepts.