LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frenoh Sloop’s Movemsnts. —After a visit of 10 days, the French sloop Rignault de Genouilly left Auckland this morning for Lyttelton, Akaroa and Dunedin before she sails from New Zealand on June 6 for Tahiti.

Nelson Fruit Exports.— The Nelson district’s apples and pear export season concluded with a total of 987,421 cases, which is 30,000 below the record of 1934 but a large increase on last year, states a Nelson message.

Badminton Test. —The offer of the North Island badminton test match against the visiting Australian team at New Plymouth on June 25 from the New Zealand Association was unanimously accepted by the annual meeting of the Taranaki association.

Speeding Motorists. —Three drivers were convicted in the Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, to-day and each fined £2, by Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., for speeding in motor vehicles. They were F. Klaus, Frank Selwyn Fenton and Paul Taylor.

Bid for Liberty.— Francis Henry Gordon Guildford, who escaped from Paparua prison on May 2 and was arrested last Wednesday in Dunedin, made another attempt to escape from the cells in the Central Police Station, Dunedin, yesterday afternoon. After 65 minutes’ liberty he was arrested on the foreshore at Anderson’s bay after violently resisting his captors.

State Transport Purchase.—Negotiations extending over some weeks have been completed for the purchase by the Railway Department of the New Plymouth Express Company’s carrying service between Hawera and New Plymouth. The price has not been disclosed, but it is said to be considered satisfactory to both parties.

Waikato Winter Show. — With the opening date of this year’s Winter Show only a little more than a week away, the exhibition buildings are already hives of industry and many of the stalls are taking shape. Again all available space has been sold and this year's show, which will be held from June 1 to June 9, should be an outstanding success. The exhibition will be officially opened by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Galway, on Juno 1.

Canterbury College Window. —A war memorial window planned by the Canterbury University College Council and ordered in 1927, has only just arrived from England owing to many delays. The work was entrusted to an eminent English artist, Mr Martin Travers, at the contract price of £3OOO. Measured plans of the window were sent to Mr Travels in 1924 and the final design was forwarded in 1927. The order was placed during, the latter half of 1927.

Employment Fraud. Albert Te Rang! (48), a labourer, was fined £6 and costs at Wellington to-day for making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining benefit under the Employment Promotion Act. Charles Henry Trainer, for making a false declaration for sustenance, was sentenced by Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., at Wanganui to-day to 14 days’ imprisonment-. The amounts involved were £1 on two separate weeks. He was fined £ls last year for similar offences.

Ages of Motor Drivers. —At what age should motorists give up driving? Routine tests conducted by the Christchurch City Council show that many people more than 70 years of age can handle cars with safety. The council tests drivers over this age when they apply for renewal of their licenses in May each year. Fortyfour have been tested so far for J 938-39, and not one has failed. These drivers have been of various age's between 70 and 75.

Tourist Season.— Overseas arrivals in the Dominion exceeded departures in the year ended March 31 last by 2391, being the first occasion since 1930-31 that the balance has fallen on the side of the arrivals. The tourist season proved a record. There were 12,878 arrivals classed as tourists, compared with 11,348 in 193637. In addition, 6654 tourists in 1937-38 visited New Zealand on cruising liners. In 1936-37 the number was 5949.

A “Wanted” Dog —lt is unusual to offer a reward of £lO for a dog, dead or alive. Valuable dogs, alive but lost, have had rewards placed on their heads, but an unknown dog in the Pirinoa district (Manawatu), is at large with a price of £lO on him. This dog has played havoc among sheep. More than 70 have suffered, some being badly injured. School children, together with their elders, are hot on the trail of this elusive outlaw, but so far their efforts have been unrewarded.

Religion In Schools. —At a meeting under the auspices of the Rationalist Association in Auckland last evening, at which 1400 people were present, the following resolution was carried unanimously; "That this meeting of citizens is of the opinion that any departure from the system of secular education in our State schools, as founded by our pioneer forefathers 60 years ago, would cause ceaseless and bitter strife in the community and be detrimental to the interests of education and the children and teaching staffs.”

Alpine Guides.—The necessity for effective legislation providing for the licensing and grading of alpine guides was -stressed by Mr H. K. Douglas (Wellington), president of the Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, in his address at the annual meeting in Wellington on Saturday. " Systems providing for the licensing of guides to ensure their competence, thus safeguarding the lives of the climbers and tourists, were intrdouced in tlie European Alps a long time ago, and other countries have adopted licensing schemes on similar lines,” he said.

Well —you must in duty bound attend the special price day of Blankets, Bedding and Down Quills at Hooker <& Kingston, Ltd., to-morrow. Turn to Page 9 and see for yourself the reason why. A Ten-shilling Reduction in Kaipoi all-wool blankets. Special prices in our now famous line of down quilts. Kapoc Bedding reduced for to-morrow only—you can't afford to miss this opportunity if you are considering buying bedding this winter. We sell for cash and because we have no bad debts, we can afford to sell for less. Anyone knows that

by paying cash you pay less in the long run. Remember, though, these prices are for to-morrow only. Doors open. 9 a.m.

Light Standards on Bridge. —Several light standards have already been placed in position on the traffic bridge and the general appearance of tlfo bridge will be further improved when all the standards have been erected. Designed to conform with the bridge railing, the standards are of novel and pleasing appearance.

Cars Registered. —An increase of nearly 25,000 in the number of motor vehicles registered up to March 31 of this year is recorded in the Abstract of Statistics for May, 1938. The total number registered is given at 280,327, as against 255,748 at March 31, 1937. Of these, 184,252 are licensed in the North Island and 96,075 in the South Island.

Selecting a Bishop. —The Waiapu Diocesan Synod is sitting in Napier to choose a nominee for the Bishopric. The Rev. E. M. Cowie, formerly Archdeacon of Waikato, is acting as commissary of the Primate, Archbishop AveriH. A new procedure under which the name of the nominee is submitted for approval to the Bench of Bishops, standing committees and General Synod is in use for the first time.

Farm Labour Plan. —The farm labour centralisation plan, which was inaugurated last year, but was restricted in its application to the North Island, is to be extended this year to both islands. The Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, said that, by means of this scheme, available labour was directed last season to the source of demand, thus avoiding a surplus in one district and a contemporaneous shortage in another district.