LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15748, 24 October 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

At about threo o'clock yesterday morning & man was taken to the District Hospital from Onehunga suffering from a broken leg. It appears that he was sleeping on the side of the road in Princes Street, Onehunga, near the railway station when the wheel of a passing vehicle went over his left leg, breaking it just above the ankle.

A Maori residing at Manger© had a painful experience at Onehunga yesterday. He attempted to leave a tramcar opposite the Mangere Bridge while it was in motion, with the result that he fell heavily to the ground on his head and was rendered unconscious. He remained in that condition for an hour or more, after which he recovered sufficiently to be conveyed to his home.

In connection with the proposal that the Government should be approached to help the City Council to acquire Wigmore's Bush, comprising 1000 acres of kauri forest adjoining the council's reserve at Waitakere, the Mayor, Mr. C. J. Parr, has telegraphed to the Prime Minister pointing out the desirability of securing this magnificent piece of bush for the benefit of the people. Mr. Massey has since intimated that he would be very pleased to give the matter his careful consideration.

A great demand has been experienced during the week for the Christmas number of the Auckland Weekly News. The excellence of the publication is acknowledged on all sides. A high standard is always expected from the Auckland Weekly News, but this year's Christmas issue is generally admitted to be a decided advance, both in pictorial interest and in artistic finish, on any previous number. All tastes have been catered for in the selection of illustrations and reading matter. No New Zealand home is completely equipped for the festive season without a copy of the Christmas number of the Weekly News, while as a Christmas greeting for friends at a distance c/r New Zealanders abroad it has no equal. As the publishers cannot guarantee to supply late orders intending purchasers are advised to secure copies at once. Thousands were disappointed last year owing to late application.

The Relief Committee in connection with the Citizens' Patriotic League met yesterday morning, when Mr. V. J. Lamer presided. Seventy-three applications for relief were dealt with during the week ending October 23, representing a total of 200 dependents. A telegram was received from the Defence Department notifying that allotments of pay from members of the expeditionary forces were being forwarded this week. The following telegram was also received from the Hon. James Allen, Minister for Defence:—"l shall be glad to make public the generous action of the Auckland Citizens' Patriotic League in not asking for a refund of payments made to naval reservists and undertaking to see that their dependents are cared for during their absence, and that both financial and medical service will be rendered."

Notice has been given- by the Consul for France, M. J. Rigoreau, to Frenchmen born during the year 1895 reminding them that they will shortly become liable for military service. Military service in France is compulsory and universal, and liability to service extends from the age' of 20 to the age of 48. The term of service in the ranks of the first line or " active" army is three years, and the men join at the age of 20 years. Those male subjects of France resident in the Dominion who are approaching the age of 20 years have therefore been asked by the Consul to report without delay to the consulate in Auckland or to the consular agencies in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin with a view to the registration of their names.

As Monflay next is Labour Day, it will be observed as a general holiday on the waterfront. With the exception of the Manaia, which leaves for Whangarei at midnight, there will be no sailings for coastal ports. Work on tho wharves will cease this evening, and will be resumed again at midnight on Monday, when a start will be made to discharge and load the H'uddart-Parker steamer Riverina, from Sydney, and the same company's steamer Victoria, from Southern ports.

A good deal of cargo has been handled on tno Auckland wharves recently. The Ruahme shipped a largo cargo a week ago, while the Star of Scotland also loaded. During the greater part of this week the Rotorua and the Zealandic, in addition to discharging several thousand tons of Homo cargo, Lave been loading large quantities of produce for London. The, Tainui is expected on Monday morning from Lyttelton. She will load frozen meat, dairy produce, and other cargo before proceeding to Wellington to complete her loading. The Rakaia, which sails from Auckland this evening for Southern ports to discharge the balance of her Liverpool cargo, will return about November 19 to load for London. The lonic will also come to Auckland about the end of November, while arrangements have been completed for the visit of a number of other large steamers during the months of December, January, and February.

The chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated yesterday that the volume of shipping at tho port had become normal, and the volume of shipping for the present month promised to be quite equal to that of the corresponding period of last year. There was a serious diminution in the number of vessels calling at the port during August and September, but since then advices had been received from abroad indicating that most of the services had been resumed. It was therefore anticipated by the board that the shipping figures in November and December would be very satisfactory. Had no improvement taken place the position at the end of the year would have been represented by a considerable deficiency. With the revival of the tonnage of shipping in and out of the port, the position a.t the end of the year, considering the special circumstances, should be satisfactory. With a view to obtaining tho removal of anomalies existing in the rates of freight on timber to Morningsido, a deputation consisting of Messrs. Murdoch McLean, Mayor of Mount Albert; C. H. Page, representing the borough; A. J. Penman, representing the builders; and Matthews a.nd Taylor, representing the Eclipse Timber Company, waited on the railway traffic manager yesterday morning. Mr. McLean pointed out that the freight on timber to Morningside was considerably higher than to Auckland or Mount Eden. The timber company had erected planing mills at Morningside, which indicated that the timber industry there would be permanent, and in view of the trams going to Mount Albert, there was considerable prospect of building operations extending in the borough. After hearing other members of the deputation, the traffic manager promised to ; submit the request to, the General Manager of Railways.

The usual Saturday Supplement ie issued w.T» to-day Herald. Three fine illustrations are included, one a panoramic view of Papeete, which was bombarded by the Germans, the second a glimpse of the ruins of Louvain, and the third a desolate scene in the ancient Belgium town of Dinant. Amon» the special articles, Tohunga writes on " Civilising the Belgians," Frank Morton on "The Soothsayers," and A. A. Grace on "Democracy and War." From the pen of Mrs. Leo Myers comes a story entitled "In War-time," while an article by J. Giles is headed " Mixed Musings." "Local Gossip,"' by Mercutio, and "A Tragedy of Errors," Critic's contribution, are also included.

Labour Day will be celebrated in Auckland on Monday, and in addition to the cl ising of all shops, the Government offices, legal offices, schools, and courts of law, will observe the day as a holiday. The chief itsm in the list of attractions will be the procession of vehicles and cars representing the various trades and industries. Those taking part will assemble in Quay Street, and will leave the foot of Queen Street at ten o'clock. The route will be via Queen Street, Wellesley Street West, Hobson and Pitt Streets, Karangahape Road, Symonds Street, Khyber Pass, to the Domain, where the sports commence at noon. The newly-formed Trades Union Silver Band will take nart in the procession, which will also be headed by the drum and fife bands of the city. A most attractive sports programme has been arranged. A fire brigade demonstration will be one of tho chief attractions, while numerous side shows should add to the enjoyment of the crowd. Children will be specially provided for in regard to sports. The usual cycling and running events are included, and a prominent place in the programme will be given to dancing com-, petitions.

The spirit of willing service in th« Empire's need is strikingly illustrated in a letter received in Auckland a few days ago. The letter was written from an English home by a lady 80 years of age, and concluded with a remark "When I have written another letter or two I must get on with Red Cross work." In the course of her letter the writer mentions appreciatively the measures taken to check any tendency towards panic. " Everything in this country is well looked after, and works smoothly," she states. "Traders are not permitted to put up prices of commodities, and all are at the prices before the war. Prices are published in the papers every week so that all may guard against imposition. Until the Government took it in hand things went up with a bound, and people began to lay in stores, but they soon found out their mistake."

The unusual experience of being able to see a star in the full glare of noon was responsible yesterday for a great many tired necks and dazzled eyes. During a couple of hours in the middle of the day hundreds of people, generally content to take astronomical phenomena on trust, gazed earnestly into the brilliant sky in search of the planet Venus, now shining with sufficient brilliance to be visible with the sun and the moon. Very many people were unable to see the crescent of burnished silver, as it appears to the telescope, but others with better eyesight succeeded in detecting it. Mr. S. Stuart, F.R.A.S., states that the planet was not so bright as he expected it would be, but it should be more brilliant to-day, as the moon will be further away from it. Venus is now the most notable feature of the evening sky.

All boats, irrespective of size, when passing down the harbour should carry a war-clearance form. This can be obtained at the Customs shipping office, Government Buildings. As the owners of a large number of launches and other small craft will cruise beyond the North Head they should not fail to obtain the necessary clearance form. If this precaution is not taken the patrol boats will not allow the craft to pass down the harbour.

The body of a man ramed James Maguire, a cabman, was found yesterday in the yard of a Parnell boardinghouse, in which, ho resided. Maguire was last seen alive at a-quarter past seven o'clock on Thursday evening. He was a married man, and is believed to have possessed a good deal of property. An inquest will be held at half-past nine o'clock this morning.

A communication has been received from Mr. F. Marnier, M.P., stating that in response to a request the Minister for Public Works had promised to have sections of the Whangarei link railway ready ae early as possible, in order to provide work for unemployed, says our Whangarei correspondent. At present a email gang of 25 men is engaged on the first section of the line, at Kioreroa, where for a distance of four miles the railway will follow the harbour foreshore. The season for trout-fishing in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's district will be opened on November 1. Throughout the Dominion the fishing season commences on October 1 and concludes on April 30, except in the Auckland district, where it opens at the beginning of next month and closes on April 15; in the Rotorua district, where it opens on November 1 and closes on May 31; and in the Hawera district, where it opens on October 1 and closes on March 31. Reports from various parts of the Auckland district indicate that a good season may be expected. Particularly bright reports have been received from Okoroire, while large fish have been seen in the King Country rivers and in the Wanganui River. Good sport, it is anticipated, will be provided by the fish in the Waikato River. It is stated that the fish throughout the district are not only largo, but are also healthy and active.

An absentee landowner, Jesse J. Hills, was fined £10 at the Police Court yesterday afternoon for neglecting to destroy rabbits on his property at Maungatawhiri, Lower Waikato. Defendant was before the Court in June last, and was then fined £2 for the same offence, and given until July 23 to take steps for the extermination of the rabbits, which flourished on his property to the annoyance of his neighbours. An inspector under the Babbit Nuisance Act, R. Rowan, stated in evidence that the Court's order had not been complied with. For the defence it was stated that great difficulty had been experienced in procuring rabbit poison. Mr. Cutten, S.M., who occupied the Bench, said the excuse was an absurd one; defendant was treating the law with contempt. He would be fined £10, with £2 7s costs. Mr. Selwyn Mays appeared for the Crown Solicitor, and Mr. A, Peak for the defendant. The president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Dental Association has received the following letter from Colonel C. T. Major, D.5.6., officer com- j manding the Auckland military district: | —"I am writing to ask you to express my gratitude to the members of the Dental Association, Auckland, for their kindness in devoting so much of their time to the treatment of teeth of members of the expeditionary force. The amount of work carried out, and consequent loss of time, is fully realised, and the generosity of the Dental Association is highly appreciated/'