General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18911, 28 January 1927, Page 10

General News.

It is reported that there has been a slight improvement in the condition of Joseph Robinson, the motor-cyclist who was injured in a smash in Fitzgerald avenue on Monday night. Late last night a slight improvement was shown in the condition of Joseph Robinson, who is at the hospital as a result of* injuries received in a collision last Monday night. At Inst night's meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association, it was decided that, with the approval of the City Council, March 4th be fixed for the' date of the annual appeal, which would be conducted in the usual manner.

Mr W. R Davidson. Assistant Chief Engineer, Now Zealand Railways, inspected the Addington and Middleton yards yesterday. Messrs F. J. Jones and A. W. Mount, of the Railway Hoard. visited Little River in the morning. The three officials left for Wellington at night. A large swarm of bees, living in fan formation in the vicinity of Oxford terrace, caused a mild sensation at noon yesterday. The bees held up traffic for several minutes during their flight, and eventually swarmed on a sycamore tree by the river, whence attempts to dislodge them were unavailing. When the City solicitors take a holiday, as they did yesterday, it apparently has some effect, upon the functioning of justice. Yesterday there was a "clean sheet" at the Magistrate's Court. This is the first time within the past, four or five mouths that the Magisterial Bench has been deserted.

For the week ended on Sunday last the level of Lake Coleridge was 1670.25 feet (previous week 1670.42 feet), and the averago flow from the Harper river 121 cusccs (312.9 cusecs). The maximum load at the power-house was 14,340 k.w. (14,340 k.w.) between 11 a.m. and' 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, and at the sub-station 10,900 k.w. (10,840 k.w.) between 10.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on the same date.

Exceptionally large numbers of applications have been received for two caretaker's positions winch were advertised recently, savs tho Auckland "Herald. • A total of 274 applications for the position of caretaker of tho Newmarket municipal building was received by the Borough Council at the last meeting This shows an increase or over 100 over the number of replies received when the same position was advertised three years ago. The position of custodian of the now Takapuna Grammar School was sought by ISW applicants.

"Js there anv barracking in New Zealand?" naked a visitor from overseas, who was present at the P unket Shield match at Eden Park, Auckland, on Monday. Someone in the immediate vicinity volunteered the information that it was practically unknown at cricket matches in the Dominion. Later in the day, as the excitement of a close finish communicated itself to the spectators, sundry leather-lunged habitues of the "hill" commenced to lift their voices to the heavens, and made known their views in no uncertain fashion. "Practically unknown, eh?" murmured the visitor gently, as Bnce, the Wellington captain, received a humorous broadside from the "hillites " "Why, they'd give a Sydney crowd a run for its money."

A Palmej-ston North, resident who has returned from a motoring tour in tlio- North informed a "Manawatu Standard" reporter that the number ot people who were spending their holidays in their motor-cars was amazing. No stage of his journey, which was from Now Plvmouth to Rotorua, via To Kuiti and Hamilton, was at all lonely, neither was the trip via Arapuni, Waitomo, and Te Kuiti. Every few minutes cars were passed fully laden with passongers, and with camping gear tightly packed on the outside. In secluded spots, generally alongside a stream, were tents, with cars nearby. In some instances elaborate outfits were carried, and it was not a rare occurence to find that the campers had a small wireless set, and nearly_ always musical instruments. The cars' bore number plates showing that they camo from all over the, Dominion. A collection of some twenty stags' heads—some of them bearing the best antlers to be obtained in New Zealand —-has been bequeathed to the Government by tho late Richard Barrer, of Kaipara Flats, Auckland district, to be displayed for public exhibition. Arrangements are being made by the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. Mr Bollard) for the collection of heads to he placed around the foot of the gallery of the Dominion Museum. > The late Mr. Barrer was an enthusiastic stalker. He obtained stags' heads in various parts of the Dominion. It was 'his aim to get heads in different stages of growth, and ho prepared short statements relative to each deer killed, together with, in many cases, photographs of the locality in which the animals were taken. Mr Bollard proposes to have the information collected by Mr Barrer, together with the photographs, published in booklet form, and made available to the public.—Press Service.

Lying at the "Central Wharf, Auckland, on Monday, morning was the Government steamer Hinemoa, which is at present undergoing her annual overhaul and survey. This popular little vessel, which has now been afloat for more than fifty years, is certainly not a flyer, but her neat clipper bow, raking masts and funnel, and her graceful lines combine to produce an appearance that is absent from ships of this age. Despite her years, the Hinemoa wears well, and it is likely that she will yet see further years or service, if not in New Zealand, then about Samoa, where, it is stated, she may relievo the Lady Roborts. Provision for the building of the Hinemoa was made in Sir Julius Vogel's Public Works loan in 1875, and "during the following year she was launched by Messrs Scott and Co., of Greenock. At that time the Hinemoa boasted three masts, and carried square sails for-ard. On arrival in New Zealand, she was used as a Government and Parliamentary yacht, being busily engaged during session time in carrying members to and from Wellington. Later she was used as the Government lighthouse ship, and for over thirty years, until replaced by the larger Tutanekai, she was engaged in this work. Io 1922 the Hinemoa was laid up at Wellington, but three years later she was recommissioned to enter the Niue and Norfolk Island trades, in place of the Rama, which was wrecked at the Chathams. Since then the old steamer has been actively engaged in these services. T>ip to the Hinemoa! In the United States, an Ice Chest is looked upon as a necessity. Our climate is just as hot, yet very few houses have this convenience which enables butter to be kept from becoming an oily mess, keeps milk cool, and sweet, and provides a plentiful supply of ice-cold drinks. Call aud inspect our stocks of ice-chests from £5 10s upwards. Mason. Struthers, and Co., Ltd. -6

It was not the iutention of the management of the D.I.C. to convey the impression that it was closing clown the Ladies' Footwear Department. In fact, by ceasing to stock men's shoes, opportunity is given to concentrate more on th'e section catering for women and children, a department of which the D.I.C. is jußtly proud, serving as it does to provide dependable footwear to a large circle of clients. With the elimination of men's shoes larger ranges of styles will be available. Quality alwavs will be- the dominant feature of this very successful department of the DXQ. *-*■