LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20253, 23 July 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bonus Distributed.—A bonus payment of £34,000 was distributed to suppliers of the Cambridge Co-oper-ative Dairy Company at the conclusion of the annual meeting to-day.

Holiday on Stock Exchange.—No call will be held on the Auckland Stock Exchange to-morrow, members observing a holiday for tlie Rugby match between South Africa anil Auckland.

Currenoy In London.—Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £6 19s 6sd an ounce (£6 19s lid on Wednesday), the dollar at 4.98 5-16 (4.98 1-8) and the franc at 134 5-8 (131 7-8).

Breeding of Quail. —The Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, states that inquiries are being made as to the feasability of breeding quail as well as pheasants at the State Game Farm at Ngongotaha.

Removal of Trees.—The Rotorua Borough Council has decided to remove the avenue of bluegums on the road to Whakarewarewa, but the work is not to be put In hand until other trees are planted.

Hotel Purchased. —At auction yesterday the Hotel Majestic, in Fitzherbert Avenue, Palmerston North, was purchased by Mr Charles Boyle, of Auckland, for £22,770. The opening bid was £22,500. The sale was a cash one.

Demand for Horses.—The keen demand existing in the Waikato for horses was exemplified at Matamata yesterday when Messrs Dalgety and Company, Limited, sold a line of 18 draught three-year-old fillies and geldings on account of Messrs Crabb Brothers, Matamata, at an average of £42 17s.

Gas workers’ Ballot.—Should the postal ballot conducted on Wednesday and yesterday among employees of gas works favour the formation of a national union, It Is stated as likely that a further ballot will be taken among skilled tradesmen in the Industry, who were excluded from this week’s ballot, to see’ If they are prepared to Join In the movement.

Work at Otorohanga.—The allocation for the Otorohanga county under the full-time employment scheme for men at standard rates of pay for four months Is twelve men. The State provides a wages subsidy up to £4 per week, per man. It Is likely that the men will be engaged In reducing acute road angles In the Ngahape and Paewhenua districts for a commencement.

Koala for Duohess.—Following a statement made In London by the Duchess of Kent that she had a great desire to own a*live koala, Mr V. F. Goodwich, of Hobart, has offered his pet koala bear as a gift to the Duchess, says the Argus, Melbourne. He said he would not trust the animal to anybody else for the Journey to England, but If the authorities gave him permission he would take it to England himself. He considered that it would suffer no 111-effects on a 10-day journey to England by air.

Accidents to School Children The Education Department has decided to relieve school boards of the liability for accidents to children while under their jurisdiction. Children are actually under the Jurisdiction of the schools once they leave their homes for school and until they return, but accidents on the road occurring through no fault of the educational bodies do not make the latter legally liable. The position now is that In all cases where negligence has been proved against the boards the department will assume the responsibility.

“ God Save Ireland.” —“ Dublin is just the same only there are heavier taxes every time the Government meets,” states a woman residing in Dublin in a letter to a friend in Napier. The letter continues: "In fact, the poor milk vendors now have to pay a license and Is 4d for every quart of milk they sell, and one woman was telling me that the authorities ordered her to put glass windows In the cow house, and she asked them If they would like curtains on them. They really can’t think of enough llttel things to tax—God Save Ireland.”

New Companies.—The following new companies have been registered in Auckland: ‘Williden & Go., Ltd., registered as a private company July 13. Office: Victoria Street, Hamilton. Capital: £1450 In shares of £1 each. Subscribers: Wellington—G. H. Williden 225, G. W. Wright 300, G. H. V. Binder 500, T. Rankin 100, N. E. Gun-dry 325. Objects: Woollen merchants etc., an-d incidental. Johns (A.R.) Ltd., registered as a private company July 8. Office: Te Aroha. Capital: £3070 In shares of £1 each. Subscribers: Te Aroha—A. R. Johns 3069, H. A. E. Johns 1. Objects: Garage proprietor, motor and general engineer, etc., and incidental.

A Tragedy Averted.—The timely arrival of a neighbour probably saved two Chinese in a Dunedin suburb from the serious effects of gas poisoning on a recent morning, says the Otago Daily Times. Hearing an unusual noise outside li is bedroom window, the neighbour, on investigating, was.surprised, to observe a Chinese, clad in night attire, stumble through the doorway of his residence and collapsed in the garden. On going to his assistance, he became aware of the smell of gas and, on enrerlng the house, lie discovered a second Chinese lying on a bed apparently overcome by fumes. After removing the latter into the open he re-entered the house and discovered that the gas was escaping from a heater which had been knocked over unknowingly by one of the Chinese, who had risen from Ills bed earlier to light it on account of the cold, which had prevented him from sleeping.

Two outstanding specials at Hooker and Kingston’s Winter Sale. This time from our Mantel Department, we offer a really smart Lady's Coat, specially made on tailored fittings to ensure tlio maximum comfort and style. There

are such colours as navy, nigger, wine and black, with luxurious real l’ur collars and tlie special sale price is 59/6, Hie usual value 79/6 and 84/-. Then the Special Costume is of distinction and real quality. They are in English Worsteds with herringbone or pin stripe effects, in colours navy, nigger and brown, all sizes and perfect fitting garments. Sale price 69/6, usual value 97/6.—Hooker and Kingston Ltd., the store for dependable quality.***

New York Call Money.—Call money is still quoted In New York at i per cent.

Auckland School Fire.—Fire last night destroyed a science laboratory and part of an adjoining corridor In the south wing of the Mount Albert Grammar Srihool, Auckland. Efficient work by two fire brigades prevented the destruction of the whole building.

Large Contraot. A tender of £44,000 submitted by the New Zealand Steel Pipe and Tank Company, Limited, Auckland, for the installation of the Awatere water scheme, has been accepted by the Awatere County Council (Marlborough).

Clear Skies Again.—Almost perfect weather was experienced in Hamilton to-day and not since last Sunday were

conditions so pleasant.* Although there was a frost conditions were comparatively mild. Two degrees of frost were registered at both the Whitiora and Ruakura Farm stations.

Paeroa-Pokeno Line.—The Hon. W. E. Parry, * Minister of Internal Affairs, speaking at a meeting of local bodies at Paeroa yesterday and referring to the construction of a railway between Paeroa and Pokeno stated that a strong case had been made out for the work and he would be no stumbling-block to It.

Poisons Regulations.—Regulation were gazetted last evening under thPoisons Act which are intended t< bring home to users of poisonous pre parations the necessity for care. Thi Health Department has issued a state ment defining poisons and the dutle. of those purchasing them. Additlona safeguards are provided and thregulations generally are stricter.

Otorohanga Transport—At the recent meeting of the Otorohanga Chamber of Commerce it was resolved to write to the Minister of Transport, strongly urging that local transport services be not interfered with and pointing out that the -services meant the expenditure of thousands of pounds locally which would be otherwise lost to the town and district.

Deaths on Liner.—During a voyage from Japan to Australia, two Europeans on the liner Nanking, which arrived at Sydney yesterday, were lost at sea. One was a Melbourne business man, Mr A- Henry, the other a stewardess, Miss Isabel Shannon. They disappeared at different periods. Two Chinese also died and were buried at sea.

State Homes In Demand.—Over 1400 applications for State houses have been received In Auckland, about four times in excess of the number of houses which will be completed within the next few months. About half the applicants have been interviewed by officers of the' State Housing Department. The housing survey at Pukekohe, which is completed, revealed that nine dwellings are' overcrowded. A total of, 33 were totally unfit for habitation and 79 others were below standard.

“Matrlo.” Under Fire.—That matriculation dominated the whole school system, even though out of 100 pupils at a primary school only about five would complete the university course was stated by Dr. E. G. Malherbe, director of the National Bureau of Education, speaking at the New Education Conference in Dunedin. The interests of the five therefore dominated the Interests of the other 95. "I always thought South Africa was the most examination-ridden country in the world, but since coming to New Zealand I have found that I was wrong,” he added.

Guilty of Arson.—Adding a rider that the state of accused’s health of mind should be Investigated, a jury at Auckland yesterday returned a verdict of guilty in the case in which Leonard Marmaduke Walker (21) was charged with committing arson by wilfully setting fire to his parents’ home at Whangarei on April 20. Counsel for accused submitted a medical report and suggested that detailed expert opinion he obtained prior to sentence being passed. His Honour said he would take any report submitted by oounsel into consideration when determining penalty. Accused was remanded for sentence.

Slander Action Succeeds.—Judgment against Harry Lionel Harker In favour of Charles John Palmer Drewltt was given by Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., at Gisborne In a claim for alleged slander. Damages in the sum of £SO were allowed to Drewltt with costs on the first cause of action, and notice of appeal was given by defendant, security tor appeal being fixed at £lO and disbursements. The appeal will be heard in October in Napier. Plaintiff is engineer to the Wairoa Electric Power Board and deleudant is a member of the board and Mayor of Wairoa. The grounds of the slander allegations comprised the use by defendant of certain expressions at a meeting of the board In reference to a report submitted by plaintiff concerning the board meeting held on November 9, 1936.