LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20990, 18 December 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Enemy Allens’ Holidays Enemy aliens who wish to go away for the Christmas holidays may not do so without making applications to the nearest police stations. An amendment to the Emergency Control Regulations of 1939 provides that all persons who have been nationals of any State at war with Britain must obtain permits before they leave their places of residence for more than 24 hours.

Perfect Summer Weather Perfect summer weather was experienced in Hamilton yesterday, when brilliant sunshine was tempered by a light breeze. The maximum temperature was 80 degrees. Both the Waikato River and the Hamilton Lake were frequented by numbers of bathers throughout the day, while many parties of picnickers travelled to beaches and other popular holiday resorts.

Soldiers At Raglan Three soldiers who have been convalescing at the Bryant Home, Raglan, were discharged on Saturday. All three returned to the Papakura camp, whence they were sent on their final leave. Two were from the infantry and the other from the Divisional Ammunition Column. The number of soldiers at present at the Home at Raglan is 14.

Soldiers Marry Only a few soldiers in Hamilton have made arrangements to marry during their final leave, which extends until next Thursday week. However, the fact that the leave came a week earlier than most of the troops expected led to hurried arrangements for some Hamilton war brides, who were obliged to marry a week earlier than they had planned. Exhibition Attendance It is considered likely that the attendance at the Centennial Exhibition will pass the half-million mark this week. The figures up till Saturday were 462,601, with a daily average of 14,018. The patronage of three ol the special attractions has been as follows: Crazy House, 82,567; Waitomo Caves, 70,532; Crown Jewels. 26,035.

Sunday Island Patient In response to a call from the radio station on Sunday Island, in the Kermadecs, a steamer which was preparing to leave Auckland for the Pacific Islands several weeks ago embarked a doctor and two nurses who were prepared to undertake an operation on a man reported ill. On the ship’s arrival at the island it was found mat the patient was not seriously ill and he was brought back to AucKland lor observation. A considerable diversion in the route of the island steamer was made necessary by the call.

Huge Shark Caught Believed to be the largest of the species ever caught in the vicinity of Napier, a 10-foot grey nurse shaik was brought into Port Ahuriri last week by the trawler Olive. The huge fish, which weighed over 5001 b, was caught a few miles out, where the crew of the Olive were fishing for groper. The shark took the bait on a set line, and a struggle lasting half an hour was necessary before it could be brought alongside. When it was hoisted on to the trawler a three-foot barracouta was discharged from the shark’s mouth. The grey nurse, a species of shark which is seldom fourd in New Zealand waters, is a known killer, having been responsible for attacks on bathers off Australian beaches.

Unclaimed Money Here is a timely reminder for some people who may be in doubt as to how their Christmas budget will be balanced. A considerable sum of lost money is now lying at the Central Police Station, Wellington (says the Evening Post) and may be claimed either by the owners or by the people who found it. During the past three months or so finders have handed numerous sums of cash to the police, ranging from 2s to many pounds, and the aggregate amount now on hand is quite substantial. The practice of the Police Department is to hold found moneys for a certain time, toi hand them over to claimants if they can establish ownership, or to restore such cash to the finders. If no application is made for the money it is paid into the Consolidated Fund.

British Film Percentage Exemption has been gazetted to seven licensed film-renting companies operating in the Dominion from the necessity in respect of the film-renting season of 1939 to acquire a stated proportion of British films, as provided in the Cinematograph Films Act, 1928. The companies named are the Columbia Pictures Proprietary, Limited; Metro-Gold - wyn-Mayer (N.Z.), Limited; Paramount Film Service (N.Z.), Limited; R.K.O. Radio Pictures (A’sia), Limited; United Artists (A’sia), Limited; Universal Pictures Proprietary, Limited; and Warner Brothers First National Pictures, Limited. Exhibitors were required under the legislation to exhibit not less than 25 per cent British films this year, the percentage having been progressively increased each year to tthe present figure, which is the maximum.

Court Comedy A Chinese charged with having an opium pipe in his possession delayed proceedings in the Napier Magistrate’s Court when he conveyed mat he could not speak English. When Senior-Sergeant P. C. Felton intervened to state that the defendant did understand English, the magistrate, Mr W. F. Stilwell, said: “It I had any local knowledge I would soon be satisfied, but this gentleman probably realises that I am new to the district, and so it is not convenient for him to understand.” To the defendant, the magistrate said: “Do you understand English?” After slight hesitation the Chinese, to the accompaniment of a general laugh in Court, blandly replied “No.” The case was adjourned temporarily, and after arrangements had been made with a solicitor, it was resumed. The Chinese was convicted and fined the minimum penalty prescribed for the offence, £25.

Make to-morrow your shopping day and make Hooker and Kingston, Ltd., your first stop—superior service, a huge selection and above all better value, makes this store the obvious choice for the lines shopper.—Choose rapidly and easily from our intelligently displayed tables. Bring the children to see Santa Claus too—Cave open continuously from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. A free gift for everyone—even Mother and Dad.**