LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17984, 1 April 1930, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

To-day is “All Fools’ Day," and the practical" joker was abroad'in timehonoured fashion. The obstetrical fund in Hamilton is now' approaching £4OO. The canvass has been extended to a date in April. The Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board has 21-62 consumers linked up by its reticulation, an increase of 18 having been made in the number of consumers during the past month. The Railway Department advertises the issue of holiday excursion tickets in connection with the Waikato Trotting Club's meeting at Claudelands on April 5, also the train arrangements in connection therewith. s. Ellis, fishing off Whangaroa from the launch “Reelemin,” over the week-end landed four mako sharks, weighing 1401 b., 2271 b., 3401 b., and 212 lb., and a swordfish weighing 2601'b. In the Mercantile Gazette appears the following: Company Charges.— Hamilton Airways, Ltd., to M. A. Scott. Debenture; guarantee bank account; charged on undertaking and all property, including uncalled capital. Bankruptcies in Auckland in March totalled 12, compared with 20 in March, 1029- The total for the first three months of the year is 32, compared with 48 in the coiresponding period last' year. “The law doesn’t take any notice of shingle,” remarked Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., in the Napier Police Court, to a defendant charged with negligent driving, who stated that he was driving in the centre of the road to avoid the shingle.

Speaking at the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board in reply to a welcome extended to him, Dr. A. 0. B. Biggs, Hie new medical superintendent of the hospital, described the Napier Hospital as “a most excellent institution on a beautiful site. ’ lie said that he could not conceive of anything more happily circumstanced. Argument in the case of the Eltham Co-operative Dairy Factory Company as-ainst William Johnston, farmer, was continued in Hie Court ol Appeal yesterday. The case is an appeal from a judgment awarding the respondent £loi 16s 7d as bonuses on milk supplied, hut it was stated that the case was brought principally to test the validity of the company’s articles. For a voung country New Zealand is shaping well in the divorce line, but the “milling” process here is quite slow compared with Chicago, where last year one family in every 103 was broken up with the consent of the law. Decrees were granted at the rate of one every hour. There were 9670 cases, an dover half that number of children were affectedWomen’s petitions outnumbered those of the men by three to one. To he able to save two pounds on a smart fur trimmed coat right at the commencement of a season is an opportunity that docs not occui eveiy year, but Hooker and Kingston’s have just’opened this morning from London one case containing seventy-five beautiful coats, all lavishly fur trimmed. Their Home buyers were fortunate in getting them at a wonderfully low price—that is the whole reason these garments are being sold at 79/6. Every coat is worth £5 15s lo £6 17s 6d. Don't delay a moment. The very best values in coats this sea - son will be at Hooker and Kingston’s.

A message from New Plymouth states that Moturoa Oilfields, Ltd., started drilling on a new bore yesterday on the harbour reserve, near the breakwater.

Last month at Gisborne was the driest. March in fifty-two years, the registration being 23 points in three days, while there were twenty-five consecutive rainless days.

Taranaki Oilfields report:—Gisborne No. 2 well: Experiencing difficulty in holding up caving in shale between 3800 feet and 3895 feet, now making further effort with somewhat modified method.

The assistance of the Wellington Education Board in promoting “calf clubs” was sought by a deputation from the Wairarapa Boys’ ancl Girls’ Agricultural Club. The movement aims at encouraging children to observe and assist in the rearing of animals. It is hoped to thus maintain interest in agriculture among the younger generation. The Education Board assured the deputation that its assistance in furthering the interests of counry life would be available.

The prevalent idea that people buybundles of second-hand linen and clothing in auction marts without looking at the goods was exploded in the Police Court at Wellington by the representative of an auctionering firm, “it is quite a mistake,” lie said, “to imagine that people will buy a pig in a poke. All the goods have to be displayed, and particularly does this apply to second-hand goods, which might have holes in them.”