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Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 4

A couple of motor ears had a narrow c.si-ape from disaster at the corner of Queen Street and Fort Street this morning. One oar was travelling up Queen Street when the other came out of Fort Street, and the two almost crashed into each other. Indeed, before they pulled up the- mudguard of the car from Fort. Street actually touched the other car. The Auckland Racing Club's Great Northern Steeplechase Heeling advanced another stage yesterday, when, although steady rain fell practically throughout, there was it very large attendance while, when the steeplechase was run. the hill outside on the Ladies" Mile was Wack with people. The big race .vas won by the local owner, Mr. YV. Preston, witlf Mary Bruce, which defeated the Nelson-owned Dick by a neck after a most exciting finish. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the large sum of £52,048 was passed through t lie machines, which represents an increase of £14,492 on the corresponding day last year. Estimates have been adopted by the Birkeuhead Borough Council requiring a consolidated rate of sixpence and seven-sixteenths of a penny in the £ on the unimproved value of the borough. The general rate proposed is 3:] d, the hospital rate Sd, and it is intended to collect 2 3-10 d for interest on the various loans. In addition, a uniform sanitation fee of 3-1/ per pan is to be charged within the area defined by the. by-laws. For water, one penny in the. £ is to he charged ordinary consumers, with a minimum of £1 (non-consumers half these charges), while 1/0 per thousand gallons, with a minimum of £lfor the year, is to be charged for meter supplies. The rental of water meters was fixed at ten shillings per annum. The charge for connecting up properties with the water main was increased from five shillings to twenty shillings. Ladies' Mile, which abuts on the Ellerslie racecourse at the top of the hill and along past the double jump is aways a popular spot for motorists to view the steeplechase, and despite the rain yesterday tho accumulation of motors was a record one. There were upwards of 150 cars lined along tho couple of hundred yards of roadway, so tightly that tho traffic was completely blocked when the race commenced. The occupants of the cars in most cases lined the fence, and had an excellent view of the race as the field passed them three times after the strenuous climi) up the hill. Along by the double the people lined on the fence could almost touch the horses. It was here that the favourite Kohu fell. Singularly enough very few of these patrons knew what horse had won, though it was evident, when number 13 and 14 Hashed past for the run down the hill, that the race had gone to one of the light-weighted division. Tho motorists had no easy task in getting away for several got stuck in the side of the road, and blocked the thoroughfare, and many drivers preferred to go the long way round, via the Harp of Erin, rather than wait for the Mile to clear. • An amusing incident took place at the Devonport tee of the ferry wharf on the city side of the harbour last night. A leading public man, who had not long been elected to high office in his borough was jumping ofT the boat before tlio gangway was down, and in the eemidarkness the rope by which the gangway is pulled down got tangled around hie neck. "Oh!" o-bserved someone, '"You have the rope around .your neck, hut we don't want to hang you just yet."' "Don't want to hang mc just yet." eamo tile quick response. ; 'Whcn do you want to hang me?' , "You need not worry, old man,' came a sleepy ejaculation from one who had been celebrating the King's birthday, "it's all right now. governor: but wait for a year or two and you will be like all publiiv men. for when the people have got used to yon they will want to hang you all right." An echo of the 191S influenza epidemic cropped up at the meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council, in the shape of an account for £17 12/4 for benzine, purchased from Mr. S. Roberts. It was resolved to pay the amount, subject to details being furnished, and the town clerk being satisfied that tho account was in order. The Shamrock Hotel. Timarii. changed hands at £11 450 A few da s S wns resold at £12,000.

The elephant for the Auckland Zoo, the present to the citizens of JUr. John Court, arrived from India T>y the Waitemata to-day. Jumbo will be landed to-morrow morning and escorted to the City Council depot in Fattesou Street, pending the completion of his quarters at Western Springs. When the steeplechase was run yesterday afternoon at Ellerslie some amusing remarks were made by lookers-on who were standing on the fence in Ladies Mile. When the horses came round the second time, one kind hearted lady remarked: "Poor things they look very tired, - ' and when one tried to baulk, another lady exclaimed: "Well, I don't blame it for not jumping such a high thing, I would not like to do it myself.'' An important meeting of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union is being, held to-day to consider a proposal to take a ballot on the question of making payments from the union's receipts towards satisfying a judgment of the Supreme Court. Unless the members agree to a certain course which is to be recommended by the executive, it is understood that further steps may be taken which will have an important effect on the carrying on of the union's activities on their present basis. A young man named Frederick Thomas Kelly May, who was placed on probation about a month ago for theft, appeared this morning at the Magistrate's Court, Hamilton, charged with having broken the terms of his order by not reporting to the police. It was stated that defendant had attempted to travel from Te Aroha to Paeroa in a train without a ticket, and when accosted by the police it was found he had stolen an overcoat lie was wearing and that he had neglected to report at the Te Aroha police station. Defendant was ordered reformative detention for a period not exceeding IS months. When the cadets were on parade yes- ' terday morning after they had been inspected by the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, the rain commenced to fall, and I soon after they were dismissed some of | them got very wet as they made their way to the North Shore ferry boats. It could easily be seen that some of the boys were very cold, 'but it was the subject of favourable comment that on the 11.30 boat the chief magietrate of Devonport was seen in the cabins taking the deepest interest in their welfare, and urging them when they got home to get , out of their damp clothes as soon as possible. The Auckland Winter Exhibition will ' be held in the Central wharf sheds from ; July 17 to 21. The exhibition is under the joint auspices of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Auckland Industrial Association. The ' classes will include dairy produce, district, courts, roots and fruits, home industries, honey and garden produce, school competitions, etc. Entries for all classes close on Friday next. A Press Association telegram states that by arrangement with the Crown the bail granted Mrs. Cooper (whose husband is under sentence of death for murder) has been extended to July 31. on which date the next sittinc "of the Supreme Court opens.