LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A proposal to apply town-planning principles to the .sea-front at Petone is under consideration, and two definite motions bearing on the matter will be moved at the next meeting of the Borough Council by Councillor A Scholefield. One is that future beach improvements shall conform to a general plan; and the other is to the effect that the council shall invite competitive designs for the general lay-out of the beach frontage, and shall offer £100 as a prize for tho best suitable design.

According to a Press Association message the Christchurch Moulders' JJnion attacks the Arbitration Court in a statement which concludes with the declaration that it has no confidence in the Arbitration Court, and cannot see its way to nominate any person to the position of workers' representative.

_ °n? ,faß "ly » every three in the South Island has got a motor-car: it looks as if the proportion will be one in two very shortly," stated Mr. F W. Furkert, chairman of the Main Highways Board, in replying to a deputation of motorists at Christchurch.

Two valuable dairy herd beasts near Whangarei have been killed under unusual circumstances. In one case it is clear that lightning was the cause of the death of the pedigree Jersey bull Maori Squire, owned by Dr. Walker, of Maunu, while Gold Plane, a valuable two-year-old pedigree Jersey cow owned by Mr. Alex. Christie, of Tanekaha, owner of the world's record-breaker Vivandiere, was found dead in an open paddock yesterday; (writes a correspondent). It appears that shtj died from the same cause.

A letter from the Prime Minister asking that donations; to the Massey Memorial Fund he sent to the trustee appointed was received at a meeting,, of the New Brighton Borough Council on Monday evening (states the "Lyttelton Times"). "No money has been received from any source whatsoever," said the Mayor. On the motion of Councillor Shaw it was decided to advise the trustee to this effect. "I hope that this will not be taken that we did not appreciate the services of the late illustrious gentleman, and I am sure if the council had the power something would be done, but I am afraid that that is impossible," concluded the Mayor.

'We can't be putting hooks and lifebuoys there every week, as they cut the lifebuoys to pieces," said Councillor W. R. Gahagan at a meeting of the New Brighton Borough Council on Tuesday, when a letter was received from the South Brighton Progress League, stating that the life-saving hooks were missing on the Peasant Point jetty. It was stated that new hooks were supplied to the Pleasant Point jetty recently (reports the "Lyttelton Times"). In view of the necessity of both life-saving hooks and lifebuoys at the jetty it was resolved that the police should be asked to try to discover the persons who had destroyed the previous cnes.

New motor-cars are selling in Auckland at the rate of over 50 a week. Although statistics covering the last month are not available it is considered that the figures will establish a record and reveal sales averaging quite ten cars a day (states the "New Zealand Herald")- Dealers are all experiencing a very brisk demand, and not a few have customers waiting for deliveries. In anticipation of heavy sales for December and January many agents had booked large stocks. In some cases they have not sufficient cars left for their showroom displays. It is not anticipated that the present record sales will continue for many weeks, since the potential car purchaser usually makes up his mind early in the summer in order to obtain the benefits of fine weather for several months. Re> cords of ear sales in Auckland. since April, 1925, reveal that there has been a steady increase each month. In April last 137 cars were sold in Auckland City. The sales for October totalled 228, an increase of nearly 70 per cent, in six months.

When the Governor-General pays ■what is called an official visit to the Exhibition it is not. tlwtys as formal as it sounds (writes a Dunedin correspondent). For instance, Sir Charles Fergusson on Thursday paid an official visit to the Auckland court, and, in the course of time, the official party was invited into the office to sample some of Auckland's famous wine. Asked what they would have, most of the party chose port, while three selected sherry. The glasses were emptied in unison and a strained silence followed. Something was clearly wrong. Finally Sir Charles Fergusson said: "Was that alcoholic liquor?" An official was quick to assure him most emphatically that it was. There was another strained silence. "Well," ventured Sir Charles, "I would like to make sure." Then an amazing discovery was made. By some mischance those who had ordered port had been given a nice tepid drink of coloured water, and the Governor-General was among them. It. appears that the bright array of Auckland wines on exhibit in the court is a delusion and a unare. The bottles contain coloured water, and one of these was apparently mistaken for the real article.

Prompt action by Mr. K. M. Beck probably averted a drowning fatality at Knraka Bay on Anniversary Bay. Ono of a number of people bathing nnar Kavaka Bay Wharf.was observed to lie in difficulties, and Mr. Beck swam to him and after a struggle took him ashore.

In Tuesday's " Evening Post " there will appear a full-pago advertisement of Kirkcaldie's Gigantic Clearing Sale, which commences on Wedneeday next at 9 a.m. There are going to bo wonderful savings at this sale, and you are advised to ask for an illustrated catalogue; any assistant will give you one. Every single line of our immense stack, ex-