LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21216, 12 September 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Patriotism in Australia Sydney papers state that a wave of intense patriotism is sweeping Australia. Whenever scenes of the Royal Family or Britain’s war activities are shown on the screen they are greeted by loud applause. Six Sons Enlist A fine record of voluntary service in the Army is possessed by a Normanby family. The six sons of Mr and Mrs J. M. Tippett have all enlisted. Four are serving in the Expeditionary Force and the two others are waiting to be called up. County Finance A financial report of the Raglan County Council shows that there has been a 38 per cent collection of arrears in rates. Of the £3339 outstanding on March 31, £1271 has been collected. The total rate levy for the current year is £39,724. £14,695 was allocated for riding expenditure for the past six months, but £5372 only has been expended. Waikato Air Port The Raglan County Council decided at its meeting yesterday to assume responsibility for its share of 124 per cent in any loss incurred in the Waikato Air Port at Rukuhia. The Hamilton Borough Council had written asking the council’s attitude in view of the fact that several other local bodies had refused to have any share in the scheme. Rural Housing Loans amounting to £8650 for rural housing in the Raglan County have already been approved, stated the treasurer of the Raglan County Council, Mr G. Brownlee-Smith, at the meeting of the council yesterday. In addition, there are 16 more applications being considered and should they be approved by the valuer and council another £14,000 of loan money will be required. Successful Concert The sum of £SO was raised at the concert given by the pupils of the Hamilton Technical College recently, stated the principal, Mr W. H. Fraser, at the meeting of the Board of Managers last night. The profit from this concert was donated to the Fighter Fund, which was very appropriate in view of the number of old boys of the school who were serving with the Royal Air Force. Sitting Delayed “When we have an appointed time for a sitting we expect the parties to be ready,” said the No. 1 Licensing Authority, Mr E. J. Phelan, in Hamilton yesterday. The observation was made when the authority had to delay the sitting for almost 15 minutes pending the arrival of counsel in the case set down for consideration. Record Buying Bench Although the selling pavilion at the Claudelands Showgrounds is one of the most commodious in the Dominion, it proved scarcely adequate to cope with the record number of buyers that attended the National Jersey Sale yesterday. Buyers were present from all parts of the North Island and some from the South Island. The buying bench included a number of women and the names of four women vendors appeared in the catalogue. Prices represented the best values for several years. Late Mr G. W. Vercoe A tribute was paid to the late Mr G. W. Vercoe at the meeting of the Raglan County Council held at Ngaruawahia yesterday. “In the passing of Mr Vercoe,” said the chairman, Mr H. W. Wilson, “I have lost one of my oldest friends and the district a man whom it will be hard to replace. For mar.y years he was assessor to our council and farmers found him a man of great personal worth, whose word was his bond. I'iii advice, which was always given willingly, was a help to many settlers in this district.” Damage By Frost Those Hamilton gardeners who were congratulating themselves on early crops of potatoes received a setback this morning when they found the crops blackened by the heavy frost. Damage to potatoes was done throughout Hamilton as many growers, deceived by the warmer weather, had omitted to cover their crops last night. The frost reading at Ruakura was 8 degrees, the highest recorded for some weeks. In Hamilton 4 degrees of frost was registered. Though conditions were chilly in the early morning there was little wind, and with clear skies and bright sunshine a perfect day followed. British As Tea Drinkers “Everywhere I go in New Zealand people try to tell me that people in this country drink more tea than anyone else, but it’s all wrong. The people in the British Isles drink more tea than anyone else,” said Mr J. J. L. Logan, a tea planter from Dooars, 400 miles from Calcutta, in an interview in Auckland. Mr Logan remarked that he had never seen so much drunkenness as in New Zea-* land, and he suggested with a smile that a cup of Indian tea would be a better thing. New Zealanders who think they are drinking Indian tea are mostly mistaken, he said, claiming that what he has had here has mostly come from the Dutch East Indies, and is inferior to good Indian teas.