LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Air Mall In London.—Air mail despatched from Wellington on July 13 arrived in London on August 1, states a Wellington message.

No Change.—A London cable message states that the discount and short-loan interest rates and New York call money are unchanged.

Bogus Test Tickets. —A report comes from Wellington that bogus tickets for the test match between New Zealand and the Springboks are being circulated.

Reoords Lost.—A Are in the Labour Department’s Library, Wellington, last evening, practically gutted a portion of the building and destroyed a nura ber of files and records, but these are not considered Important.

Currency In London.—Fine gold In London was quoted yesterday at £9 19s 6id an ounce (£6 19s 7£d on Tuesday), the dollar at 4.98± (4.98 3-16), and the franc at 132 27-32 (132 25-32).

Woollen Company Dividend—The annual report of the Wellington Woollen Company recommends a dividend of 6 per cent., leaving a balance to profit and loss account of £18,584, states a Press Association message.

Outbreak of Fire.—A minor outbreak of fire occurred in the incinerator room at Tower Hill Hospital last evening. The fire was noticed immediately and when the brigade arrived at 8 p.m. the outbreak was quickly suppressed before any damage resulted.

High-priced Bullocks.—Exceptionally high prices for fat cattle were recorded at Addington yesterday. The prize-winning bullock, from Outran?, brought £56, the highest price at a National market for some years. A pen of three bullocks, prize-winners in another class, made £36 each and one bullock from Wanganui made £34.

Demolition of Hotel.—The demolition of the Commercial Hotel prior to re-building is proceeding apace and already much of the old wooden structure has been removed. An interesting feature* Is that the old shingle roof has been uncovered by the removal of the corrugated Iron. Half of the old structure will be taken away at a time In order to permit building operations to proceed expeditiously.

Teaohers Appointed.—The following were among the appointments of teachers authorised at yesterday’s meeting of the Auckland Education Board: Head teacher, Mr 11. Bannister, Leamington; sole teacher, Mr W. E. Gudsell, Te Kawa; secondary assistants, Miss W. M. McPeake, 8.A., Morrinsville District High; Miss J. Strathdee, M.A., Te Awamutu District High; Infant mistress, Miss A. J. Greville, Matamata primary school; assistant mistresses, Miss L. D. Crouch, Motumaoho.

Joynt Scroll Debate.—The annual Joynt Scroll debate between the New Zealand University Colleges was held last night, when the shield was awarded, for the sixteenth time, to Victoria College. The subject was “That Democracy Has Failed.” Victoria College took the negative. The judges, Messrs Julius Hogben, J. W. Shaw and the Rev. Gladstone Hughes placed Victoria first with 191 points and Auckland next with 179. Mr S. G. Andrews (Victoria) was adjudged the best speaker with Mr H. T. George (Auckland) one point behind.

Willow Menace.—“ The willow problem is one to which attention must be given shortly,” stated the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, addressing local body members at Gisborne. “We have in this country some problems arising from the introduction of plants and animals which were thought to be a blessing. It Is going to cost the country hundreds of thousands of pounds to clear up this question of river blockage by willows. We put the willows there as an asset, but in a few years they have become a living menace to us. The problem Is one which must be tackled on a national scale. With river erosion, it presents one of the most difficult tasks the Government has to face, and there are going to be a lot of headaches before it is dealt with finally."

Control of Traffic.—The actlngMinlster of Transport, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, states that the traffic regulations will be more rigidly enforced, and the police will actively co-oper-ate with local authorities in the matter. “Road accident statistics," said Mr Mason, “show that during the three and a-half months ended June 30 no fewer than 460 pedestrians and push-cyclists were involved in accidents with motor vehicles; 24 were killed, 63 seriously injured and 373 suffered minor injuries. The returns also show that in 92 of these cases pedestrians were guilty of breaches of the regulations, and in 138 cases cyclists committed breaches. These figures clearly indicate that in the interests of both the pedestrian and the cyclist the traffic regulations must be enforced more rigidly.”

A Generous Action.—A generous effort on the part of his neighbours, organised by Toe IF, resulted in Frank Murphy (12) being sent to England by the Rangltiki which sailed from Wellington on Tuesday. The boy, whose home is in Dunback, a small town in Central Otago, Is suffering from a tumour on the brain and he Is being rushed to London for the necessary operation as there are no surgeons in New Zealand or Australia who can do the work. Ordinarily the lad’s family could not have afforded the expense of such a 1 rip and medical attention, but the Toe H padre In the town organised a meeting and started a fund t" send the boy t<> England. Within 20 minutes Ihe meellng had donated £3OO. Complete co-operation was received; banks, shipping executives, the Rotary Club, and Toe II were among those who proffered their assistance.

British War Loan.—British war loan. 3£ per cent., was quoted in London yesterday at £IOO 3s 9d, compared with £IOO on July 29. London Air Mall.—The Monowal, due at Wellington on Saturday from Sydney, carries the air mall despatched from London on July 21, states a Press Association message. Limited Delayed.—The north-bound Limited express was delayed at Paro-o-taro, just south of Te Kuiti, this • morning with engine trouble. Two hours were loft. and the express did not leave Frankton until 9.10 a.m. Wellington Housing.—There is still an acute shortage of houses in Wellington. Within a few weeks the Government cottages at Miramar will b? tenanted, but that will not ease the situation to any extent. Otorohanga Territorials. —Lieuten-ant-Colonel R. V. >Closey, of Papßtoetoe, made his annual Inspection of the Otorohanga corps of territorials this week. Colonel Closey was pleased with the parade of this unit of the Waikato Regiment. Four Degrees of Frost.—Although there was no recording at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, four degrees of frost were registered at the Whitiors. station this morning. The weather In Hamilton was damp and chilly early but when the sun broke through conditions improved rapidly. Profit of £18,819. —A net profit of £18,819 is shown in the first accounts of -Radio (1936), Limited, for the year ended June 30. The directors recommend a Cnal dividend of Is 6d a share, which, with an Interim dividend of a similar sum paid on the first halfyear’s trading, will make 3s a share for the year. £ISOO Damages Awarded.—General damages of £ISOO were awarded by a jury In the Supreme Court at Christchurch yesterday to John Victor Jacobson for injiuries he suffered in a collision between his car and another at the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace. The defendant was Malcolm Ward Beaven, to whose negligence the jury found the accident had been due. Bobby Calf Pool.—A meeting of farmers was held at Horsham Downs recently under the auspices of the Farmers’ Union to discuss the formation of a 'bobby calf pool. A committee was set up to investigate the possibilities and It is now reported that most of the calves in the district have already been sold and many farmers have made promises to supply individual carriers. On these grounds therefore it recommends no further action this year. Dairy Asset 9 Sold.—As the result of the decision of the Springhead Cooperative. Dairy Company, Limited, to amalgamate with the Maungatapere Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, due to the recommendation of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, which visited the district a tew months ago, a •clearing sale of the land, buildings and plant of the Springhead Company was held this week. The proceeds of the sale under the terms of amalgamation, will be repaid to the shareholders.