LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

California Clipper The California Clipper arrived at Honolulu at 1.50 a.m. yesterday. Soldiers Receive Parcels The receipt of parcels sent from Hamilton on July 11 has been acknowledged by a cablegram from a member of the Second Echelon in England. The cablegram, which expressed appreciation of the gift, stated that all parcels had arrived safely and the men were well in England. Weather Clears Following a stormy day yesterday the weather in Hamilton has cleared appreciably. Today was fine, though a high wind sending the clouds across the sky made the sunshine intermittent and kept the atmosphere cool. For the 24 hours ended at 0 a.m. this morning .20 inches of rain was recorded. Maoris in Home Guard “Maoris will be on a 50-50 basis in the Home Guard—they have their kumera patches to defend,” replied the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, when asked if Maoris could join the movement during question time at a meeting held in Hamilton last night to discuss the formation of a Home Guard. Founder of Auckland Representative citizens of Auckland and school children paid tribute yesterday to the memory of the founder of Auckland, Captain William Hobson, R.N., the first Governor of New Zealand. The occasion was the 98th anniversary of his death and burial, and the ceremony took place alongside his grave in the Symonds Street cemetery. Mr Semple and Cowards “He is a fifth columnist or a double-barrel coward or both,” commented the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, when expressing the opinion at a meeting in Hamilton last night that a man who would not fight in the defence of his own country was cowardly in the extreme. The Minister’s comments were in answer to a question as to whether recruiting for the Home Guard would be on a voluntary basis. Ideal for DrillingAt the special meeting held in Hamilton last night to discuss the formation of a Home Guard, the most suitable venues for drilling were discussed. It should be possible to find quite a number of suitable places, said the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple. For instance, in Hamilton, he said, the Bledisloe Hall would be ideal for drilling. There was nothing better in the Dominion for the purpose.

Donations of Bulbs The donation of thousands of' crocus bulbs to the Hamilton Domain Board by Mr G. Cleverly was mentioned at a meeting of the board last night by Mr W. H. Paul, who said the bulbs were now in a nursery and would be planted out under trees later. Mr Paul also reported that Mr L. Thornton, of the Auckland Railway Department’s nursery, had given the board 200 totara trees and 3G assorted native trees, as well as many phoenix palm seeds. It was decided to send letters of appreciation to both donors.

Businessman’s Death Reference to the death of the late Mr G. W. Vercoe, of Hamilton, was made at the meeting of the Central Waikato Electric Power Board today, by the chairman, Mr T. Hinton. A resolution of sympathy with his family was passed. The members of the board stood a moment in silence. At the Frankton stock sale yesterday auctioneers, buyers and vendors observed a fdw minutes’ silence, prior to commencing selling operations, as a mark of respect. Mr Vercoe had been one of the bestknown figures at the yards for a long period of years. Testing Power Poles The systematic inspection of all power poles that have been in service five years or more was continued last month by the Central Waikato Electric Power Board. The engineer-manager, Mr J. R. Ellis, reported to the meeting of the board today that satisfactory progress had been made. During the month 2343 poles of all types were examined, and it was found that 101 require replacing. Up to date 19,314 poles have been tested and 1229 require replacing. Two men worked on the inspection for 22 days during the past month, and the average poles tested each day by each man was 53.25. Electricity Sales An increase of 18 per cent in electricity sales during the four months ending July 31, as compared with the corresponding period of 1939 has been experienced by the Central Waikato Electric Power Board. At the meeting to-day it was reported that the sales during the fourmonths period of this year had amounted to £31,683 compared with £26,821 for the 1939 period, an increase of £4862. During August 34 new consumers came on to the board’s supply, making the total number of consumers 7152. No Consistency A strong protest at the decision of the Hamilton Domain Board to write a letter to a woman discovered picking daffodils at the lake was made at a meeting of the board last night by Mr W. H. Paul, who said that the decision disclosed a lack of consistency by the board. Other persons had been caught breaking the by-laws but nothing had been done. Mr Paul contended that it appeared as if the board adopted one attitude for people well known and another for people who were not so well known. The woman had been spoken to and that was sufficient. Local Body Elections

Support was given by the Central Waikato Electric Power Board today to a resolution of the Electric Power Board’s and Supply Authorities’ Association suggesting to the Government that nominations for the local body elections in May next should close one month earlier than usual. The suggestion was made so that, in the event of no election being required if the correct number of members was nominated, the heavy cost of printing rolls could be avoided. -The association expressed a similar opinion to that, incorporated in a resolution of the Central Board last meeting that the local body elections should be held as usual during tbe war.