LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 433, 18 January 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

1 Haystack Catches Fire One Tarukenga, farmer was rather unf ortunate with his hay crop. Scanning the weather on 'Friday he. an■nounced to his neighbours that he f elt certain that heavy rain was coming. 'Whereupon, with the assistance of all 'hands his hay crop was got in and staclced. Howevef, yesterday morning a nedghbour noticed smoke rising from the stack. Spontaneous com'bustion, due to the fact that the crop was too green caused its total destruction. Another farmer in the same district cut his crop the day before the rain set in and it now lies in the paddock practically ruined. • These, however, are f ortunately exceptions, very few farmers being -'caught by the we.t. Strike at Huntly ; Because the management of the Wilton mine gave notice of dismissal to 55 men, the miners there have deelared a strike., and ho work has been done this week. It is understood that

slackness of trade was the reason for the discharge of the men. Several meetings have already heen held by the miners, and it is understood that the position was further discussed at a meeting yesterday. Won't Ask for Money "We do not consider it wise to worry the Government unduly about money just now," said Cr. W. Newell chairman of the Waikato County Council, at a meeting of the council yesterday, when asked hy Cr. T. H. Henderson what the position was with regard to the proposed loan for the new traffic bridge over the Waikato River. A Forgetful Father "Mind the kid," yelled bystanders

as an excited Maori carrying an infant fought his way through the pack to get a close-up view of the Southern Cross. He was successful in struggling under the guard'°ropes himself, bnt the unfortunate child was caught by the neck and stood the chance of being strangled. Appropriate Reply Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his brother, Mr. Wilfred Kingsford Smith, entertained at a dinner party in New Plymouth on Monday evening, and during th e function "Smithy" recounted a rather humorous story concerning the arrival of his son and heir. He said that on receipt of the news Jimmie Mollison and his wife, Amy, had wired their congratulation in the following terms: "We lcnew you could do it." His reply had been as follows: "Thank you for wire. Refer you 10th chapter St. John, end of verse 37, 'Go and do thou likewise'." Traffic Control Inspector Ford and his assistants had the traffic arrangements we.ll in hand at Te Ngae yesterday and the several hundred cars on the grounds were parlced without mishap. A Heavy Fall During the period from 9 a.m. on Saturday morning until the same. time yesterday a total of 4.01 inches of rain was recorded at the meteorological station in the Government Sanatorium grounds. This recording is 1.39 inches more than the total rainfall for the whole month of Janulary last year. Remarkable Interest

The interest taken in the arrival of Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, was evidenced at an early hour yesterday morning when the "Morning Post" was beseiged with inquiries concerning the airman's movements. The telephone was ringing almost continuously and many people assembled outside the building as the telegraphic messages were posted. Throughout the day the enquiries answered must have totalled many hundreds. • Shooting Season A decision has been made hy the Tauranga Acelimatisation Society to j declare an open season for game . from May 1 to June. 30. Three paid rangers are to be appointed in the Tauranga district and one in th'e Te Puke area. A Total Loss Fire completely destroyed a tworoomed asbestos cottage occupied by Mr. R. E. Rowe, in Brookfield Street Hamilton East on Monday evening. No water main was in the immediate vicinity of the house and a length of 600 feet of hose had to be. used by the fire brigade before the flames could be cheeked. The furniture was also badly damaged, there. being no insurances on either the building or the contents.