LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20502, 19 May 1938, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Currency In London.—Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 an ounce (£7 Os lid on Tuesday), the dollar at 4.97± (4.96 3-8) and the franc at 177| (177 5-8). Claude Neon Dividend.-—The directors of Claude Neon (N.Z.), Limited, have declared an interim dividend at the unchan-ged rate of 8 per cent per annum. Payment will be made on June 1.

Cost of Living In Britain.—-The British Ministry of Labour’s cost of living index on April 30 was about 56 per cent, above the level of July, 1914, compared with 54 per cent a month earlier and 52 per cent a year earlier.

Tax In Arrears.—A curator has been appointed for the estate of the “Armaments King,” Fritz Mandl, on an execution order for £18,532 tax arrears, says a message from Vienna. Mandl, who is abroad, married the film star Hedy Kreisler.

Tribute to Press.—“l prefer to trust the Press; I have always found them to exercise wise discretion and restraint,” said the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, yesterday, when asked by counsel if he would hear a civil action in camera.

New Postal District.—The Post-master-General, the Hon. F. Jones, announced at Whangarei yesterday that the Government had decided to establish a new postal district in North Auckland, Whangarei being constituted a chief post office.

Very Efficient Staff.—“ Hamilton is indeed fortunate in possessing a highly trained and very efficient Borough Council staff, who will be only too pleased at all times to give any councillor any information he may desire,” commented the Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, at the inaugural meeting of the recently elected Hamilton Borough Council last evening.

Maintenance Charge,—Charged with failing to comply with a maintenance order in respect to his wife’, Frederick George Stocklev (36), a labourer, appeared before Mr G. K. Sinclair, J.P., in the Police Court, Hamilton, today, and was remanded on the application of Serge’ant T. Kelly to appear on Monday. Arrears were stated to be £l9 10s.

Entertainments at Bhow.—A feature of the Waikato Winter Show, to be held from .Tunc 1 to June 9 this year, will be the great variety of entertainments to be presented by well-known artists from the stage in Bledisloe Hall. One of the outslandirrg turns will lie the “ Boxing Kangaroo ” and the animal has already arrived at the Show buildings. A glass blower will also be in attendance this year, this turn not having been presented for many years.

Trans-Tasman Air Link. —Discussions concerning the projected transTasman air service took place in Wellington between Ministers of the Crown and Mr A. E. Rudder, personal representative in Australia of the Imperial Airways, and a director of Qantas Empire Airways. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon- M. J. Savage, subsequently stated that he hoped to be able to make an announcement shortly regarding the establishment of an air service across the Tasman. Mr Rudder left for Sydney by the Awatea.

Heavy Taxation Burden.—Speaking at the annual meeting of shareholders in New Zealand Newspapers, Limited, yesterday, the chairman of directors, Sir Cecil Leys, drew attention to the heavy burden of taxation. The past year had seen no relief, he said, and £40,550 had been set aside for land and income tax- Taking the difficulties of the period into consideration, however, the chairman stated, it could be accepted as satisfactory that the net profit at £49\000 was approximately £IOOO greater.

Overdose of Tablets.—An inquest into the death of a married woman, Sadie Irene Johnson (38), which occurred at the Auckland Hospital on April 28, was held before Mr F. K. Hunt, coroner, at Auckland yesterday. Deceased had been admitted to the hospital two days previously suffering from the effects of an overdose of tablets. The’ evidence showed that deceased was a sufferer from asthma and had a partial nervous breakdown. Her medical adviser prescribed medicine and certain tablets, of which she had taken a fatal number. A verdict of suicide was returned.

Teachers Appointed.—Among the teachers’ appointments authorised by the Auckland Education Board yesterday were the following: Head teacher, Mr W. F. Gilligan, Ngaruawahia; sole teachers, Miss A. M. Turner, Rotongaro; Mr R. K. Campbell, Glen Murray; Mr W. C. Collings, Ruakiwi; Mr R. S. J. Rogers, Whitehall; secondary assistants, Mr N- F. S. Oram, 8.A., Raglan; Miss K. Jeffers, Morrinsville; assistant mistresses, Miss E. P. Tierney, Hamilton West; Mrs P. A. Jackson, Ngaruawahia; Miss K. G. Scott, Kawhia; Miss M. F. Smyth, Te Kowhai; substitute assistant, Miss Y. M. Sotham, Morrinsville District High. #

Feathered Visitors.—A Whangarei bootmaker reported that last Thursday afternoon lie had an unusual visitor, when a pheasant entered his shop and took shelter behind some packages whence it was captured and released. A Hamilton man in business in Victoria Street, claims to have had a still more unique experience. Last Friday night a large morepork entered through an open window at the back of his shop and alighted on a shelf. After a calm survey of the interior, it took a leisurely flight round the shop, and then flew out through the front door, incidentally giving a shock to a couple of customers who were entering. A collision was missed by inches.