LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17971, 17 March 1930, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

After five months of summer-time New Zealand reverted to standardtime at two o’clock yesterday morning. The salmon run In Canterbury rivers this year is perhaps the best ever experienced. In hundreds they are rushing up the snow rivers, providing for anglers a sport fit for kings. The Ralcaia -and Waimakarirl Rivers, particularly, are providing fine sport. A reduction of one penny a pound in the retail price of butter was made to-day. The prices will now be: Superfine, Is 6d per lb’; first grade, Is sd, second grade, Is 4d. A similar reduction has been announced in the wholesale rates. The revised price will be retrospective to the trade as from last Thursday. A request for the suspension this year of the new entrance extminalion for the Teachers’ Training College was decided upon at a. meeting of the management committee of the Auckland District Educational Institute on Saturday. Successful trials of the big glider of the New Zealand Model Aero and Glider Club held during -the week-end came to an unfortunate finish when the club captain, Mr. F. C. Macdonald, of Remuera, was struck across the eyes by the loose end of an extended catapult, which was being used to propel the machine, Mr. Macdonald was unable to see out of one eye as the result of the accident. Evidently with a view to meeting acute motor competition the Railways Department has reduced the return fares between Auckland or Newmarket and Rotorua, and all fares between Auckland- or Newmarket and stations on the Waiuku branch line. The changes are embodied in amended regulations just gazetted. In order to consider a proposal that a ship should be acquired in Wellington for the training of hoys who desire lo take up sea life as a vocation, a representative meeting was presided over by the Mayor ol' Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup. It is the aim to instruct 50 boys a year, enabling them lo enter the mercantile fleet as ordinary seamen. It was decided to interview the'aeUng-Prime Minister. A sum of £4985 is to be paid to the acclimatisation societies of the Dominion by the Department of Internal Affairs in respect of opossums taken in their districts. It represents the amount received in fines and from the sale ol’ confiscated skins, together with half the net revenue from fees and royalties. The Wellington society receives the largest share, £1690, and Otago is second with £548- Auckland receives £2OB -and Rotorua £lO2. Mr. E. J. Howard M.P., speaking to a Waikato Times reporter this morning said lie was exceedingly pleased at the appearance of the country around the Waikato. If -lie had his way he would promote an excursion to this -part of the country for all Hie pessimists who think the bottom of New Zealand has dropped out. Iluntly, too, was a pleasant surprise. It was twelve years ago since lie had visited that town previously, when -the only impression left on his mind was that it was the place where the coal came from. To-day it looks as if it is not only dependent on coal, but the back country is using -the town. It had certainly improved considerably, and the town -hall was one of the best speaking halls he 'had ever been privileged to speak in.