Local & General

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5317, 1 February 1947, Page 4

Local & General

To-Day's Weather Forecast The Govei'nment Meteorologist has issued the following weather report and forecast: — . Situation: An anti-cyclone centred to the east covers 'New Zealand. Forecast for Rotorua to 5 p.m. : x Moderate winds from a northerly quarter. Weather fine and warm. Hottest Temperature Equalled Compared with 80.9 degrees for Thursdayj lyesterday's maxitou&n (shakie temperature in the Rotorua town area as taken by the Tourist Department, reaehed 82:9 degrees, this equalling the hottest temperature recorded this season, on anuary 28. Bos Murpliy-Hanham Fight I' Arrangements for a match between J Bos . Murphy and Cliff Hanham at j Hastings 011 March 1 are virtually coniplete, states Percy Galvin, ! Murphy's manager. He is now await- ! ing confirmation from Hanham. There j is little chance of a hitch in this respect. In a Press Association message from Timaru, Hanham was quoted as •saying: "I am looking forward to meeting Bos Murphy, as I think I will provide as good opposition as any hoxer in New Zealand."

Air Service to Chathams "The idea of an air service to the Chatliam Islands has been raised, but it is not practicahle." This statement was made by the Minister of Air, Mr. Jones, when he was asked his opinion about suggestions that the isolation of the islanders could be removed 'by the provision of a service. "The eost of such a service is prohibitive," Mr. Jones said. He adcled that it was felt that the steamer service, thougb admittedly irregular at times, served the islanders' needs. Detective Bets and Wins A man who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court, Petone, to bookmaking on the Trentham racecourse claimed he had lost money on his transactions. He hadv been discovered on the course on a race-day hy Detective F. A. Gordon, who said in evidence that he placed two hets with him. "He started off with £27 but endea up with only £19/10/-," said accused's counsel, Mr. H. Jowett. , "One of those who was successful in ; takihg him down was our friend : here," indicating the detective.

j ! N.Z. Fishermen for China ! A group of fishermen recruited in New Zealand to instruct the Chinese | in European methods of fishing left /•for Sydney on the liner Dominion j Monarch. They will fly direct from j. Australia to China, where they are to be employed by the Chinese National ' Relief and Rehabilitation Administration for a minimum period of three months. Out of a total of 400 applications for this work, 24 men were chosen. They have all been drawn from widely scattered parts ; of the country, so that the fishing ' resources of the Dominion would not | suft'er as a result of their ahsence. *. * ; School Absentee Warning A warning that pupils who absented themselves from school without just and reasonable cause might, with their parents, expect repercussions from the authorities, was given by members of he Wellington Education Board. "A parent who keeps a child away from school for any considerable time after the holidays have finished, i or for that matter, at any rate, may j be doing the child a severe injustice in . that the pupil's Social Security family | benefit may be suspended," said Mr. *W. R. Nicol. He was referring to the high rate of absente'eism which in- ! variably ' oecurred wiren schools j throughout the Dominion reopened after the annual 'holidays, and t'he counter-measure introduced by the Social Security Department, with the backing of education authorities. ' "Cornwell Scout" Decoration Highest boy scout award for courage, the Cornwell Decoration, has been won hy Scout Angus Norrie, of the Britannia Sea Scout Troop, Wellington. Dominion Headquarters of the Boy Scout Association announced that the award had been approved by Lord Rowallan, Empire i Chief Scout. The decoration has t been made in recognition of the high ; standard of eharacter and devotion | to duty, and for courage under suffering displayed by Norrie. Angus Norrie is 16 years- of age and has been a permanent hospital inmate ; sinee January, 1946. He received a ' dislocation of the spine, eausing a I severe spina'l . cord injury as the re- | sult of a swimming accident. Only ! three such award s have been made i in the past 10 years in New Zealand. j Taxi Rates iu Borough Some eorrespondence relating to taxi fares was discussed by the Bor- . ough Council at its meeting on Thurs-- ! day. _ The Mayor, Mr. P. A. Kusabs, j explained that the Transport Departj, ment had suggested that drivers j should be authorised to operate under j Sehedule B instead of S-ehedule A, as I at present. Schedul%e A fares were i 2/- for the first mile or part thereof, 6d. for each additional half-mile for the next four miles, and 9d. for each half-mile thereafter. Sehedule B alj lowed 2/- for the first inile or part of a mile, and 9d. for each additional half-mile. The first sehedule was, therefore, in favour of borough residents and he thought it should be retained. There was a special fare for call between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. The council agreed that the present rates should be adhered to.