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Evening Star, Issue 22228, 4 January 1936, Page 10

The air mail despatched from London on December 22 will arrive at Wellington by the Monowai on Tuesday. Not only in the value of the buildings but in the number of permits : issued, the building programme : commenced and largely carried out in the year just ended in Wellington shows an increase over either of the x>revious two years. The value of the buildings for which permits were issued (says a Press Association telegram) was £647,155, an increase of £178,473 over I the figures for 1934 and *£229,801 over 1933. The number of permits issued was 1,144, which is 393 in excess of 1934 and 433 in excess of 1933.

The following Otago candidates passed the State examinations in maternity nursing held on December 4. The candidates are shown under the hospital at which they were: trained and are not placed in order of merit. Those shown as having gained honours received 75 per cent, or: over of the total written marks:—Dunedin; Barclay, G. L. (honours); Esplin, P. M. A.; Garrett, V. D. (honours); Hickson, C. H.; Hunter, C. A. Maniototo: Gerrard, E. I.; Halley, J. (honours).; An additional item to the advertised programme for 4YA to-night will be a talk at 7.30 on the Health Stamp Campaign by the Rev. W. A. Stevely,

An. obstruction which would have been sufficient in certain circumstances to derail q, train was discovered across the railway lines on the Auckland side of the Parnell tunnel yesterday afternoon. The inspector of the permanent way proceeding along the line on a jiggqr found an iron pipe about an inch in diameter and some "lift in length across both sets of lines. It was held in place by two piles of large pieces of scoria ballast. The inspector took the names of some children found on the scene and removed the pipe. The matter has been reported to the police. The sea lion which has made his home mainly at St. Clair during the past three or -four months has paid occasional visits to St. Kilda. At times he has been . found in the most unexpected places, sometimes on the lawns of homes, outside back doors to the surprise of housewives, in motor garages, and in gardens. Several times he has wandered into shops, and made himself comfortable on the floor. Yesterday he paid a visit to the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery, to which he had to waddle a long way from the sea. Fruit markets report- that,_ though business has eased slightly since the holidays, it has been fairly brisk. Consignments of stone fruit are increasing, fine samples of peaches, apricots, cherries, and plums being received. Ettersburg strawberries are available, and some very fine red and black currants and raspberries. have come to hand. Unfortunately, owing to the holidays, values for this fruit have been low. Good supplies of tomatoes are arriving, and consignments of Nelson-grown are increasing. Nice quality grapes are coming to hand from local hothouses. Vegetables generally are in over supply, being difficult to sell, and peas are bringing particularly low. values. Apples are unprocurable; and the new season’s fruit, due this month, will meet a very keen demand. Bananas are scarce, and the next shipment of Niues and Samoans, due on January 14, should have a good inquiry. The figures at the local Government Tourist Bureau have soared above the record figures of 1934, and from the period December 23 to December 30, the previous year’s returns were almost doubled. This is attributed partly to the increased amount spent by most individual travellers', and also to the larger number of persons who are travelling during the present holiday period." Accommodation at Queenstown is still heavily booked, but there is some available, though it is advisable to book well ahead. At Stewart Island accommodation is now available.

The first flight from the Hermitage to Franz Josef Glacier was accomplished by a Puss Moth plane, piloted by Mr A. J. Bradshaw, carrying two passengers. The journey to the glacier and back was covered in two and a-quarter hours. The aviators were afforded a magnificent view of alpine scenery. The landing grounds at the Hermitage have been improved.—Timaru Press Association. The rainfall for December at the Port Chalmers Corporation reservoir at Sawyers Bay amounted to a total of lin, rain having fallen, more or less, on 12 days. For the past year the total rainfall registered was 36.94 in, against 42.72 in for the previous year. In 1934 rain fell on 179 days and in 1935 on 169 days. Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Stiirmer and Watson Etd.,. Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. fAdvt.l The Railway Department advises in tin’s issue particulars of special trains and cheap fares in connection with Vincent Jockey Club’s races at Oraakau on January 11. Tho usual weekly old-time dance will be held in the Early Settlers’ Hall to-night, at 8, Savonia Band. Monte Carlo and Juckjr ggpi&