LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20508, 26 May 1938, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Queen Mary's Birthday.-—To-day Queen Mary will celebrate her 71st birthday when tributes of affection and esteem will be received by her from all parts of the Empire. In honour of the occasion flags are being flown on Hamilton public buildings to-day, while in Auckland the warships ln port “dressed ship” and fired a Royal salute at noon from the Devonport Naval Base.

No Chang®.—A cable message from London states that the discount and short loan interest rates on New York call money are unchanged.

Ourrency In London.—Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 Os 7id an ounce (£7 Os 4£d on Tuesday), the dollar at 4u94* (4.95 J) and the franc at 1784 (1784).

Flood Relief.—As a result of efforts on behalf of the Hawke's Bay flood sufferers over £SOO has been secured through a ball held in Masterton this week and public subscriptions.

Shares In London.—The following are the quotations for New Zealand dredging company shares ln London: Clutha River Company, buyers Is 9d, sellers 2s; Molyneaux River Company, buyers Is, sellers Is 3d.

Effect of 40-Hour Week.— ‘lt is estimated that for the increased amount of wages, the days worked by jhe staff are approximately 2864 fewer than in 1936, owing to the introduction of the 40 hour week,” stated the chairman's report to the annual meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday^

Vice-Regal Tour.—The itinerary of H.M.S. Leander on the Pacific Island cruise with the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, and Lady Galway on board was announced last evening by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The eLander is to leave Auckland on July 6 and return on August 19.

Homer Tunnel.—The absence of snow In the Hollyford district has made it possible for work at the Homer Tunnel to be continued and no date has been fixed for the withdrawal of the workmen. No snowfall has yet been reported this winter, but it is expected that immediately after the first fall of any magnitude the men will be withdrawn.

Prolific Weeds. —That the autumn had been an exceptionally favourable one for all weeds, necessitating a continued effort by those concerned in controlling noxious weeds was pointed out in the report of the inspector to the meeting of the Waipa County Council yesterday. Indications were for a greater use of sodium in the future.

Interest in Politics.—“lt is remarkable the interest which the people of New Zealand display in politics,” said Mr T. H. Toovey, M.8.E., representative of the Port of London Authority in New Zealand and Australia, who was in Hamilton yesterday. ‘♦Wherever I have been in New Zealand the main topic seems to be one of a political nature. H overshadows everything else.”

South island Railway.—Early in 1939 there will be complete railway communication between Picton and Clarence, according to Mr E. P. Meachen, M.P. This will represent a substantial proportion of the whole of the South Island Main Trunk project, leaving only about 35 miles between the northern and the southern railheads. It is expected that at the same time the southern railhead will be established at Conway.

Farm Accountancy.—A remit advocating that steps be taken to evolve a national system of farm accountancy •Nrs carried by 33 votes to 17 at the inter-provincial Farmers’ Union conference in Wellington. The remit was moved by Mr R. 0. Montgomerie, of Wanganui, on behalf of the Makirikiri branch. He contended that under present methods of farm accountancy it was impossible to present an accurate statement of a farmer's annual net profit.

People Dislike War—“ All through Europe the people did not want war. In fact, they dread the possibility of it; but with a few ‘madmen' in charge of affairs iL only needs a spark to set another war in progress. Of course the dictators have to do something big all the time to keep favour with the populace.” remarked Mr T. It. Toovey, M.8.E., representative of the Port of London Authority in New Zealand and Australia, when discussing the European situation with a Waikato Times reporter to-day.

Walpa County R£>tes. —“The rate collection for the year in the Waipa County amounted to 93.9 per cent, of tlie European rates levied as against 91.7 per cent, last year, while 62.4 per cent, of the arrears were collected, against G 9 per cent, last year,” said the chairman, Mr S. C. B. Macky in his report to the annual meeting of the county council yesterday. The arrears in rate payments were gradually being reduced, and this year stood at £4877 as against £8339 at March 31, 1935. Included in the arrears was an amount of £ISOO owed by natives and £499 being the Tualuanioana drainage rates.

Bargain Friday To-morrow. Turn to page 1 I and see the liberal discounts being given throughout the entire store—4 -in the £ off all Handbags over 30/-: 2/- in the £ off all Bags under 30/-; ■> f, in the £ off all Carpet Squares: 2- in flip £ off all Linoleums. Free Sued? ' othproof Bay to every purchaser of Fur Coat over £l2 12s. in fart, every department is represented lip’ - * 5 . not forgetting the Underclothing section, where they are busy wrapping up Nights. Pyjama*, etc., from that special Underweal* purchase. Yes. you'll save at Hooker &. Kingston's to-morrow—Friday. *•*

Arm Fractured.—A fractured arm was received by Mrs Mary Lovell 57 ) when she fell at her home in Ohaupo Road last evening. She was admitted to tiie Waikato Hospital.

Name Wanted.—“ Can anyone suggest a name for the new women police we are to have?” asked Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., president, at a meeting of the Taranaki Justices' Association. “We can’t call them Bobbies, you know,” he added.

Increase In Ice Cream Profits.—An increase in net profit of £IO9B to £3587 is shown in the accounts of Peters Ice Cream Company (N.Z.). Limited, for the year ended April 30. A dividend at the unchanged rate of 10 per cent, lias been declared.

Burglaries at Rotorua.—A visitor from his bedroom in a leading private police at Rotorua that £4O was stolen from his bedroom in a leading private hotel while he was asleep. Despite an intensive search, the safe containing £l3O, which was removed from Lake House Hotel, has not been located.

Elderly Woman Assaulted—Alfred George Clegg (48), labourer, was sentenced by Mr Justice Fair in the Supreme Court, Auckland, yesterday to three years’ imprisonment. He had been found guilty by a Jury of assaulting an elderly woman with intent to commit rape at a lonely cottage in the Paremoremo district on January 14.

Five-Day Week. —A Press message states that the operation of the fiveday week plan has spread to Christchurch legal offices. The Canterbury Law Society has decided that its offices shall close on Saturdays as from June 1, although there will be no reduction in the total weekly hours, through a half-hour increase daily on the other days.

Dunedin Firm's Profits.—A net profit of £3803 is shown in the annual accounts of the Trustees, Executors and Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited, Dunedin, for the year ended March 31. This compares with a net profit of £3709 in 1937, and £3632 in 1936. The dividend has been maintained at 8 per cent., with a Anal distribution of 4 per cent.

Polished Hospital Floors.—The polishing of floors in the wards and corridors of the Christchurch Public Hospital is to cease forthwith. A motion adopted at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board today laid down this ruling, members agreeing that the highly polished surfaces throughout the institution were a danger to patients and to visitors. The same ruling will apply to all hospitals under the board's care.

New Zealand Tariff#.—A cablegram has been received by the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, Mr W. J. Jordan, from the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, denying that the New Zealand Government intends to increase import duties on British clothing, as has been rumoured ln Britain recently. “The Government have not at any time considered proposals for increased duties on imports of clothing from the United Kingdom, nor have they informed New Zealand manufacturers that they intend to increase them,” Mr Savage stated.

Gambling Spirit. —The gambling spirit prevailing in Australia greatly impressed Mr E. J. Carr, New Plymouth, during his recent visit. He told New Plymouth Rotarians that he saw a row of “two up” schools playing openly in a street at Newcastle and one boy aged nine or ten years informed a friend in Mr Carr’s presence that a certain horse.had “romped home at six to four” the previous day. He was informed that two high school boys had made £ls the previous week betting on horses. Women saved sixpences and shillings to “have a flutter” at the betting shops and after investing their money hastened home to listen to the race on the radio.

Rare Operation.—A difficult operation during which new tissue was stitched on to a man's heart muscle was performed for the first time in Australia by a Sydney surgeon at Prince Alfred Hospital. The patient was a man suffering from angina pectoris, which is caused by a starving of the blood vessels of the heart. The surgeon first opened the man's chest and exposed the heart. Then he took the omentum, a tissue, with fat, which covers the bowels, and drew it up. This lip stitched right into the muscle of the heart. In time this tissue will give new blood vessels to the muscle of the heart. The operation was first performed in England by a leading surgeon in association with Lord Dawson of Penn.