LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Early Spring Hamilton enjoyed a real spring day yesterday, when the sunshine was warm and bright. Last night was chilly, but this morning was again beautifully fine. Spring is early this year, and peach and plum trees in full bloom are making many Hamilton gardens lovely. “Mussolini Blown to Pieces” A New Zealand soldier in Egypt, writing to his father in Dunedin, says Mussolini had a nice big statue of himself over the border with his arm raised in the old familiar way. “Some of the New Zealand sappers went over the other night and blew it to pieces,” he added. Southern Cross Laid Up The mission ship Southern Cross has been laid up for the duration of the war, the Outlook records, and will not, therefore, be able to take the usual boxes to the New Hebrides as anticipated. The Outlook asks Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union members not to send more parcels for the New Hebrides to the Missions Office until further notice. Controlled Industry A notice in the Gazette makes the gas-producer manufacturing industry a controlled industry under the supply control emergency regulations. The notice states that the industry shall be deemed to include the manufacture of gas-producer units for use on motor vehicles or in connection with stationary internal combustion engines and the assembling of the parts of any such units. Beautiful Hamilton “I have never seen anything more beautiful,” said a visitor to Hamilton today, referring to a visit to the Hamilton Lake domain. “I walked along the lakeside just after five o’clock last evening, and the combination of sunset, shadows, reflections and a hillside covered with daffodils, bluebells and white violets was something I shall never forget. In such perfect quiet, peace and beauty it was hard to realise that a war is ravaging the world.” Lorries Carrying Liquor A strong protest at the continuance of the practice of allowing heavy lorries laden with intoxicating liquor to travel between Auckland and Hamilton during war-time when rail services were available, was made by Mr F. Findlay at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council. Mr W. L. Waddel, town clerk, pointed out that the Licensing Authority granted petrol licenses and permission for all such services and it was out of the hands of the local oil fuel committee, which had already protested at the action. Maori Rotary President “It is a pity that Hitler cannot come out here and see what we are doing for the ‘dark’ race in our midst,” stated the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, at a Hastings Rotary Club meeting, when introducing Mr H. M. Tatere, president of the Dannevirke Rotary Club, who holds the distinction of being the first Maori to be appointed to such an office in the Rotary movement. The bishop said that this was in striking contrast to Hitler’s decree of “down with the dark races,” and was typical of the tradition of the British Empire and of its claims for freedom and equality of people.