LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20741, 27 February 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chamber of Commerce Picnic A most enjoyable picnic, arranged by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, was held at Raglan yesterday. The weather was perfect and the party taken for a launch trip. Dead After Dance After returning from a dance early yesterday morning, Mr Gordon Edwin Spun* (22;, single, laundry worker, was found dead by his father in his room at his home, Morningside. Auckland, with a 'bullet-wound through his heart and a pea-rifle beside him. Burning of Launch. —The 30ft. launch, Petrel, owned by Mr A. X. Kinmont, was burned to the waterline at Dunedin yesterday, when an outbreak of Are, believed to have been caused by a leak of petrol, enveloped the craft with a suddenness that prevented any efforts to save her. Mr Kinmont and a companion were returning from Port Chalmers about mid-day. Patient Improving Improvement has been shown in the condition ot Mr Bruce Wright, a motor mechanic, of Frankton, who had his neck dislocated when his motor-cycle was involved in a collision with a motor-lorry near the Commerce Street railway crossing at Frankton on .January 14. He was admitted to the Waikato Hospital in a serious condition. Typical Autumn Day A typical bright autumn day was enjoyed in Hamilton yesterday, when after the light mist which hung over the town early had cleared away, perfect conditions were experienced. Yesterday’s maximum temperature was 84 degrees, the highest for some weeks, and this encourages large numbers of bathers at the Waikato River and the Lake. Te Kuiti Alp Pageant A dozen machines from various parts of the North island took part in the Te Kuiti Aero 'Club’s pageant on Saturday. C. Plumtree, of the Western Federated Club, won the North Island landing competition, while during the afternoon nine planes were engaged in taking passengers. Two parachute descents were made by Mr G. Pegley.and the programme included displays of bombing and crazy flying.

Mortgage Registrations Mortgage registrations and charges for the year ended December 31 showed a marked falling off in value compared with the two previous years, according to figures issued by the Government statistician. Registrations totalled £18,955,499 in 1938, £20,182,227 in 1937, and £19,533,179 in 1936, while discharges were £16,550,757 in 1938, £20,580,160 in 1937, and £19,033,22-5 in 1936.

Population Increase A gain of 16,335 was made in the population of the Dominion in 1938, the total beinig 1,618,093 on December 31 last, according to the Abstract of Statistics. There were then 821,433 males and 796,660 females. The number of Maoris was 87,947. Births increased from 26,014 in 1937 to 27,253, the number per 1000 of population being 17.94, representing an increase of 0.65. Deaths rose from 13,658 to 14,756.

Rotorua High School The foundation-stone for the new manual training and domestic science block at the Rotorua High School was laid yesterday by the Minister of Education, tht Hon. P. Fraser. A welcome was extended to the Minister, Mrs Fraser, Dr. C. E. Beeby, assistantdirector of education, Mr A. F. Moncur, M.P. for Rotorua, Mrs Moncur, Mr T. Jackson, Mayor of Rotorua, and Mrs Jackson, by the chairman of the Board ol‘ Governors, Mr R. B. Nesbitt.

Private Building.—Loans made by the State Advance Corporation for home building last year doubled those in 1937. This was announced by the Minister in charge of State Advances, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. “And they tell us that private enterprise will not build,” remarked the Minister, commenting on the latest report received by him from the State Advances Corporation. “All the loans granted were for houses to be built by private individuals and to their own designs.” Bull Enters Hotel The quiet of Sunday afternoon In the Ben Nevis Hotel at Turakina was rudely disturbed at about 3 o’clock when a Jersey bull entered the lounge and stampeded the guests. It attracted a crowd of nearly 200 people. The proprietor of the hotel, Mr G. Lisham, said there was no great damage done, although there was broken glass, blood and litter all over the room. The front door of the lounge was battered and the carpets were disarranged. For two hours about 15 men tried to get the animal back to the road. Waikato Show Successes Waikato stock won an imposing number of awards at the Auckland Show, which concluded oir-Saturday. The Auckland Saleyards Cup for most points in the fat stock classes was won by Mr H. J. Finlavson, of Tuhikaramea. while the “Old Stone Jug” Perpetual Cup for most points in the pig section was won by Mr A. T. 'Rogers, of Ngaruawahia. The New Zealand Friesian Cattle Association’s Gold -Medal for the most points won in the Friesian cattle classes was awarded to the Piri Land Company, of Taupiri. Taupo Scrub Fire Beginning on the Atiamuri Road, about three miles from Taupo, a scrub tire has grown to alarming proportions and by yesterday was blazing on a mile front about two miles from Wairakei Hotel. If a breeze rises from the south the hotel will be in danger and a flre-flghting squad has been organised. The fire put the main telegraph line between Auckland and Napier out of action but full communication was restored in two hours by a gang from Taupo, no posts having been burned. The Terraces Hotel, at one stage within a few yards of the flames, was saved by a change in the wind.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands When asked to comment on the statement by the Secretary for the Colonies. Mr Malcolm MacDonald, in the House of Commons regarding the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage, said: “We have been in touch with the British Government on all these Pacific Islands questions for months.” He added that the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific was in charge of the matter. Mr MacDonald said that an item for £7500 for the Gilbert and Ellice Island in the estimates was required to pay the cost of establishing three Colonial Office officials on three islands in the Pacific.