LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Airmen’s Mumps Epidemic As a result of an epidemic of mumps among R.A.A.F. personnel, 130 cases have been treated at Prince Henry Hospital during the past month, says a Sydney paper. Armed Forces Appeal Board The No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board is hearing appeals at Tauranga today and at Waihi tomorrow. Next week the Board visits King Country centres. New American Clippers Six new Clipper flying-boats are nearing completion in the United States. Three of these machines will be sent to Britain for the maintenance of Empire routes. Train to Rotorua A special train passed through Hamilton this morning bound for Rotorua, with about 500 officers and ratings of the United States naval squadron at present visiting Auckland. A similar party travelled through to Rotorua yesterday. Low Barometer Reading Not since November 7, 1940, has the barometer fallen to such a low level as it now stands. At 9 a.m. this morning the barometer recorded I 29.25 inches, while the recording last [ November was 29.15 inches. This I low reading indicates the continuance of unsettled weather, with heavy falls of rain probable. Hamilton Pageant in Wellington The Pageant of Empire, which made such a big impression in Hamilton some months ago, will be produced for a season of four nights and two matinees in Wellington next 1 mqnth, on behalf of the patriotic funds, under the direction of Mr Gordon Hooper. Bowls Abandoned Again “It’s just like home,” commented a member of the touring party of Taranaki bowlers this morning when steady rain was falling, thus preventing the scheduled game at the Whitiora Club’s green. The visitors were to have played at Te Aroha on Monday, and at Hamilton and Cambridge yesterday, but all games had to be abandoned owing to the rain. Monkey At Liberty The last of the 17 Javan monkeys which escaped from the Wellington Zoo a month is still managing to elude capture. It is now nearly a fortnight since the last of his fellows was recaptured, but in spite of persistent attempts to trap him he has so far managed to outwit his pursuers. He has not been frightened into shifting his quarters or wandering away from the precincts of Newtown Park.

Motorist’s Narrow Escape Three occupants of a Hawera car travelling between Dannevirke and Woodville late last night had an alarming experience when a bridge about a mile the other side of Woodville collapsed just after they crossed it. They felt the bridge tilt as they were crossing and were able to shout a warning to a following car, which was able to pull up with the front wheels touching the end of the bridge. As this car stopped the bridge fell into the flooded river below.

Squally Conditions Unsettled weather is being experienced throughout the Waikato and the frequent rain squalls have caused low-lying areas to be covered with miniature lakes. For the 24 hours which ended at 9 a.m. this morning .30 inches of rain was recorded, making a total of 4.22 inches for three days. A steady fall was maintained throughout today, and as the barometer remains at a very low level prospects of a break in the weather do not appear very bright. Bank Dividends Maintained Profits of the British banking group known as the “ Big Five ” for 1940 show an easing in every instance, the aggregate decline being approximately 9 per cent. Results for the year, 1939 earnings in parentheses, are:— Westminster, £1,310,630 (£1,475,745); Barclays, £1,525,666 (£1,784,880; Midland, £1,933,093 (£2,181,350); National Provincial, £1,697,539 (£1,718,984); Lloyds, £1,383,807 (£1,589,646). Profitearning was curtailed by sharp rises in expenditure. Dividends in each case were maintained at 1939 rates. Unusual Mishap Caught by strong wind and tide the Devonpor.t Steam Ferry Company’s ferry steamer Takapuna was carried sideways into the wharf at Devonport shortly before two o’clock yesterday afternoon and became wedged between clusters of piles at either side of the entrance to the berth. The strong ebb tide and the north-west wind held the steamer firmly in that position for about 30 minutes. No damage was done to the ship or to the wharf and only one trip was lost through the delay. Oscar Natzke In Wellington An audience which nearly • filled the Wellington Town Hall paid homage, on Saturday night to Oscar Natzke, the young New Zealand basso, says a Wellington paper. Mr Natzke’s voice is the most powerful ever heard in the Town Hall; moreover, it is rich in quality, and sonorous over a great range. While his voice below the clef is diapasonic, it is so elastic that he can sing the lighter interchanges of Mozartian arias with almost dainty airiness. Music-lovers will rejoice to learn that another concert has been arranged for next Saturday night.

Railwaymen In Army Railway employees released for military service overseas number 2728, according to figures quoted today by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple. He said that in addition about 550 employees were undergoing territorial training. Mr Semple said that 3424 railwaymen served from 1914 to 1918 with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 446, or 13 per cent, lost their lives* and 111 were awarded mililary honours, including one Victoria Cross. The total enlistments of railwaymen in the last war were 4162. Working Hours "I am advised by the Minister of Labour that wherever it has been necessary for the war effort, the hours of labour have been extended beyond the usual 40 hours a week,” wrote the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, to the Associated Chambers of Commerce in reply to a letter sent by the chamber urging the extension of working hours. "He states further that in some industries the materials required for carrying them on are in short supply and an extension of the hours would not prove of advantage at the moment. However, the whole subject is constantly under review.”