LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20497, 13 May 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Jersey Stud Realisation. —At the complete dispersal sale of the Almadale Jersey Stud, which concluded at Rototuna yesterday, the total realisation was approximately £2720 for the 140 head of cattle.

Large Motor Company. —lt is reported that one of the largest motoring organisations in the Dominion, with a turnover approaching £1,500,000, is to be converted into a publio company with a capital of £500,000.

Education Committee. —The New Zealand Educational Institute considers that a consultative committee should be set up to report to the Minister of Education on important matters of educational principle and practice.

Farm Hand’s Leg Broken. —When he fell from a sledge yesterday afternoon, Harry Orr (18), a farm hand employed by Mr H. Gaskill, of Te Pahu, received a broken leg. He was admitted to the Waikato Hospital and is progressing satisfactorily.

Squandering Money. —“ When we just try to keep up with the demands of modern times we are accused on all sides of squandering the public money,” said the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, at Morrinsville last evening. “ Money was created by man to serve man’s nee'ds.”

Wilsons Cement. —The directors of Wilsons (N.Z.). Portland Cement, Limited, have declared a final dividend of 4id a share. An interim dividend of a similar amount was declared in November, making 9d a share for the year ended March 31. This is equal to 7i per cent.

Crash at Ohlnewal. —A motor-car was wrecked when It collided with the north-bound limited express at a crossing about a mile north of Ohinewai yesterday. The driver, Miss M. Morlarty, escaped injury. She had stopped to allow the train to pass, but released the brake before the cross-7, in-g was clear and struck the back portion of the train.

Airmen's Funeral.—The funerals of the late Commander C. M. Duthie and Second-officer Peel, the victims of the air crash at Mangere on Tuesday, took place yesterday, the former being interred at Feilding and the latter at Napier. There were large crowds, and the wreaths and floral emblems betokened the widespread respect In which the deceased were held.

Teachers and Thrift. —A teachers’ investment society to encourage thrift among members, to raise funds by way of contributions from members, and to make advances to members, is to be established by the New Zealand Educational Institute, which at the annual meeting at Wellington yesterday authorised the setting up of a provisional board for this purpose.

Whakatane Burglary. —At Whakatane yesterday Graham Wilfred Morton and George Morton (brothers) pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the premises of the Whakatane branch of the Farmers’ Trading Company, Limited, and stealing a safe containing over £2OO in cash and cheques. They were committed to the Supreme Court, Auckland, for sentence.

Saving Time and Money. —“l paid men 23s a day on the Mohaka viaduct construction and was criticised by the opposition for doing it,” said Hon. R. Semple at Morrinsville. “but they did not tell you that I saved £IO,OOO on their own estimates and got the job finished two months under their time allowance, and although the men were working 200 feet above the river there were no fatal accidents.”

Helpful Elephant. —The hero of the floods north of Gisborne is an elephant belonging to a touring circus. The road was rendered slippery by subsidences and slips, and the elephant was harnessed to lorries and waggons. He pulled them safely through a road which might easily have become a bog. Private motorists travelling down the coast were also aided by the elephant.

School Committees. —At an adjourned meeting of householders of Karamu this week the following school committee was elected: —I>. D. Smith (chairman), J. Cheyne, C. Smith, P. M. Simmons, 11. Lang (treasurer). At the Kaipaki school the resulted as follows: —A. *M. Fisher (chairman;, V. Mellow (secretary), J. McEldowney, 11. Harvey, E. McEldowney.

Mr Semple’s Wheelbarrows. —While exhibiting his film at the Morrinsville Sirai.d Theatre last evening the Hon. R. Semple was explaining the working of a modern “ bull-dozer ” as depicted on the screen, when the scene changed suddenly to two men wheeling ordinary barrows. Instantly the Minister broke the thread of his discourse to remark, “ That’s tlie only two I've got left: I'll sell you one if you like." an aside which was greeted with much laughter and applause.

The Old and the New.—“ When I took over the Public Works Department I found an estimate for £175.000 to construct an aerodrome at Nelson by antiquated methods,’* said the Hon. R. Semple, at Morrinsville last night. “ I had fresh estimates prepared based on modern methods and we did the job for £35.000. Not only did we save £140.000 hut there was an economy of time also. Then Mr Hamilton asks * where is the money coming from 1 ”

Dearer Milk In South. —Milk prices in Christchurch will shortly be increased by 2d a gallon because of an acute shortage of milk, according to a statement by the secretary of the Christchurch Dairymen's Society, Limited, Mr A. A. Cooper.

From the Bench. —“ The first words he said when he came in were ‘Shoot your piece,’ ” said petitioner in a divorce action heard in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon. “Ah, a. Mexicanism. I should imagine.” commented the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers.

Faster and Faster. —“ln 1889 the McLean Act fixed 9peed limits at 12 miles per hour with a constant warning device. In 1912 the first motor journey from Auckland to Wellington took 8 days. I know some people who would do it In 8 hours if I let them step on it,” said Hon. R. Semple speaking at Morrinsville last evening.

Infant Scalded. —Scalds on the neck and side of the face were received by George Wood, 18-months’ old son of Mr and Mrs George Wood, of St. Winifred’s Avenue', Claudelands, last evening, when he pulled a hot cup of tea on himself. The child was admitted to the Waikato Hospital and his condition to-day was satisfactory.

Vice-Regal Congratulations. —One of the most pleasing messages of congratulations received by the New Zealand polo team following its victory in the final of the Australian Gold Cup In Sydney last month was a cable from the Governor-General, Lord Galway, which expressed the Dominion’s gratification at the honour.

Use of Wheelbarrows. “This machine' digs and carries Its own load of 17 tons a minute and we have them now capable of 25 ‘tons. Who would use a wheelbarrow'?” asked the Hon. R. Semple, while exhibiting his film at Morrinsville last night and in view of the' Minister’s earlier reply to the Hon. Adam Hamilton a voice from the back of the theatre retorted, “ Adam!”

Government Policy.— “ I have been criticised for buying American machinery for publio works,” said the Hon. R. Semple at Morrinsville last night. “ England doe's not make them. She buys them herself. Our policy is to try and buy in New Zealand first, then in the Empire, and failing that to go to the best of the rest.”

Supreme Court Bench. —lt is probable that a new appointment will be made to the Supreme Court Bench within the next few days. The absence of Mr Justice Ostler through indisposition and Mr Justice Smith abroad on leave has been severely felt and the appointment of Sir John Reed, who has been recalled to the Bench, is only temporary and he cannot sit on the Court of Appeal.

Bafety or Economy. —“ The Leader of the Opposition says we want cautious, prudent, safe, thrifty, businessmen in Parliament. In his day it was costing 8s Gd a yard to shift soil on certain public works; we’re now doing it for from 2d to 7d a yard by modern methods, but that Is not the honourable gentleman’s Idea of economy,” said Hon. R. Semple at Morrinsville last evening.

Black Frost. —A black frost was experienced In Hamilton this mbrning when two degrees were registered at Whitiora and .4 degrees at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction. The chill atmosphere was intensified by a heavy fog which shrouded the borough during last evening and to a late hour this morning. Motorists were forced to proceed very cautiously last evening when vision was restricted to a few feet.

Railway Problems. —Science and man-power have conquered in the struggle which for years hindered progress on the South Island Main Trunk railway line. For years the engineers faced shifting sands on one' side and a huge moving hillside on the other. By the excavation of thousands of tons of material and the laying of drains In the Blue Slip, aqd the extensive? planting of marram grass on the sand dunes, former difficulties have been overcome.

Booms and Slumps. —‘‘The Leader of the Opposition says you don’t want to spend money on public works in boom times, but you should wait for a slump; I wonder If your local body men who waited on me to-day with reasonable requests for urgent works in the Waikato would agree with that. These are not boom times; we’re Just back to normal and you won't see clothes drives and soup kitchens—slump conditions—here again while the present humane Government is in office,” said the Hon. R. Semple at Morrinsville, last evening.

Baker 9 Dismissed. —As a consequence of the refusal of drivers employed by George G. Mathieson, Limited, bakers, Mount Eden, to take out the delivery vans, other employees were given formal notice yesterday of the termination of their employment. They were informed that the position was such that they could not be retained. The Auckland Master Bakers’ Association decided to endorse Mr Mathieson’s attitude in his refusal to reinstate the dismissed driver and to communicate with the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, requesting him to take action to protect the rights of employers.

Insurance Society Sued. —Suing the Australian Mutual Provident Insurance Society for £3OO, allegedly lent the society-' for investment. Miss Grace Berry, matron of the Pahiatua Hospital, was non-suited in the Supreme Court, Palmerston North, yesterday, the judge holding that if there was any action there was a claim for a breach of trust, which must be brought before a judge alone and not a jury. It was explained that plaintiff had financial dealings with Godfrey Halse, the society’s former manager at Palmerston North, who received money from plaintiff and others without authority and was subsequently convicted for theft.

Week-end Shooting. —While the bright clear days which have been experienced lately are not likely to favour duck shooters, conditions should be ideal for sportsmen shooting pheasant and quail during the week-end. To date bags have been well up to the average, and while birds are becoming more wary, the prospect of securing good tallies is si ill good. The week-end will give sportsmen the last opportunity of taking pukeko as the season for these birds will close nn Sunday. An indication of the' favourable season is given by the amount of game which has aleady come forward for the Hamilton Acclimatisation Club’s annual duck dinner to be hold early in June.