LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15807, 2 January 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Ideal weather . conditions prevailed throughout the whole of yesterday, enabling the outdoor-loving population of Auckland, and her many visitors, to enjoy a perfect New Year's Day holiday in the open air. From early morning until well on into the evening the sun shone brightly, its warm rays being nicely tempered by a refreshing breeze from the east. At no time was the weather in the least threatening, thus setting up a pleasant comparison in conditions with those which existed last New Year's Day. which was fine but overcast. Visitors to the city were loud in their praises yes terday of the glorious climate enjoyed by favoured residents of Auckland, and to many the surpassing beauties of the Waitemata Harbour were a source of keen delight, seen and experienced as they were under such perfect conditions.

A plucky rescue of a little girl, named Annie Perry, who fell into the harbour yesterday, is credited to one of the Davonport Steam Ferry Company's firemen aud to a passenger on one of the steamers. When the Eagle, from Takapuna, was being berthed, at five o'clock in the afternoon, a little girl who was playing on thn deck of the steamer fell into the water. A fireman named Bass, and a passenger named Purcell, jumped overboard and kept the child from drowning. The little girl was taken into the Devonport Ferry Company's offices, and soon recovered sufficiently to be sent home in a motor-car. The parents of the child, who live in Gcsp Lynn, have written notes to the two rescuers thanking them for their brave action in .saving their u-vghter's .life.

The report of there being a scarcity of flour in Napiet was referred to by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, last night. Mr. Massey informed a Herald representative that representations had been received from the Napier Chamber of Commerce regarding the matter. Steps are being taken to provide for the shortage until the supplies of imported wheat come to hand.

The Supplement issued with the New Zealand Herald to-day contains the usual budget of topical news and special articles. Tohunga has an interesting contribution, entitled " 1815-1915-2015." Frank Morton deals with the subject of making friends. The situation in Poland is reviewed by Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Grace, N.Z.F.A. " The Time-illusion " is the title of an article by Elsie K. Morton ; and J. h. Strevens, M. Inst., C.E., writes on " The War and Chemistry." The illustrations include a picture of the London Scottish reforming from a charge under heavy fire, and a photograph of a number of German prisoners captured by the French.

In consequence of the loss sustained in the fruit trade by the recent hurricane at Fiji, the question of the running of the Island steamers has been considered by the Union Steam Ship Company. Instead of proceeding from Melbourne and Sydney to Fiji direct, the Atua will leave Sydney on January 6 for Auckland, and will depart for the Islands from this port on January 12. Originally, it was intended that the Navua should leave Auckland on January 11 for the Islands, but it has been decided to alter the time-table in this respect. The Atua is a larger steamer than the Navua, and thus no inconvenience will be caused so far as Auckland is concerned. On her trip from Sydney to Auckland on January 6, the Atua will take the place of the Maheno, and the Niagara, leaving Auckland for Sydney on January 11, will run instead of the Maheno. The Maheno will be suspended from the Auckland-Sydney service only for this one trip.

An accident which resulted in severe injuries to his nose and faca befell a young man named Albert King, a son of Mr. James King, of Mangere, at Onehunga yesterday morning. He was cycling up the steep incline from the Onehunga Wharf, where he had been to witness the departure of the excursion steamer to the Manukau Heads, when the fork of his bicycle snapped and caused him to fall and receive the injuries mentioned. After receiving medical attention at Onehunga, Mr. King returned to his home at Mangere.

The Plunket Shield match between the representatives of the Canterbury and Auckland Cricket Associations was commenced at Eden Park yesterday in perfect weather and before an attendance of about 1000 spectators. The day was one of surprises. Both teams commenced their innings in a sensational manner, and on both sides the leading batsmen failed. After a very bad start the Auckland team reached the fairly satisfactory total of 212. but it was expected that this would be easily passed by the visiting batsmen. The visitors, however, failed, and at one time it was anticipated that Auckland's first innings would be at least 50 runs ahead of Canterbury's. The "tail" of the visiting team, however; scored freely, and the side is now only 16 runs behind Auckland's total with one wicket to falL The match is in a decidedly interesting position.

Glorious weather prevailed yesterday for the third day of the Auckland Racing Club's summer carnival. Twenty thousand people were present, and the chaiming gardens, well-kept lawns, and spacious drives were much admired. The. holidaymakers had also the pleasure of watching keenly-contested races. Mr. W. E. Bidwill's colt Reputation again added to his already brilliant record' by winning the Great Northern Derby, and the victory was acclaimed with enthusiasm. The spending power of Aucklanders was amply demonstrated during the day, the large sum of £67,257 10s being invested on the totalisaxor. This constitutes a record, not only for Auckland, but for the Dominion for any one day's racing. For the first three days of the summer carnival the sum of £184.5?8 10s has passed through the totalizator, an increase of £12.144 10s, as compared with the first three -lays of last year's summer meeting. The last dav's racing of the present meeting will take place to-day.

The recovery by Detective Gourlay and Sergeant Cowan, of the water police, of a quantity of articles stolen from yachts and launches during the past year has caused great satisfaction among yachtsmen. Already stolen property belonging to the owners of the Viking, . Adelaide, Seabird, Airana, Oenoe, Stirling, and Petrel has been identified, and, but for the fact that many yachtsmen are away on holiday cruises, owners- would probably have been found for. more of the goods recovered. The two- men arrested in connection with the affair appeared on one charge yesterday, but it is the intention of the police to bring several other charges against them. In the possession of one of the accused was a quantity of carpenters' tools, and these are alleged to have been taken from a i house at Stanley Bay on December 1.

There has "seen an increase in the tonnage of vessels arriving and departing from the port during the past year. Full details as to the year's shipping are not yet available, but data is to hand which shows that the gross tonnage of vessels entering the port amounted approximately to 3.254,000 tons, an increase of 51,000 tons on the preceding 12 months. The net tonnage of inward vessels showed an increase of 23,000 tons. The gross tonnage of the outward vessels represented a total of 3.254,000 tons, an increase over the preceding year of 98,000 tons. The increase in the net outward tonnage was, approximately, 62,000 tons.

A smart rescue from drowning was effected at Lyall Bay, Wellington, last Wednesday, when a man named O'Donnell was dragged out of the surf. He was in a flat-bottomed boat which overturned in the surf. His plight was seen by Mr. M. Minifie, who swam out to him and supported him in the water. The Maranur Suif Club squad at once came to the rescue, and Mr. G. Neale swam out to O'Donnell with the life-line. The drowning man was speedily landed, but he was unconscious. Prompt steps were taken to restore him, and the large crowd of onlookers had the satisfaction of seeing him recover, not much the worse for his trying experience.

Labour representatives will tender a dinner to Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, when he visits Wellington, and a similar compliment will be paid to the Commonwealth Attorney-General, Hon. W. M. Hughes, when he visits that city. Mi-. Fisher's tour has been arranged to include a trip down the Wanganui River and a visit to South Island tourist resorts.

In consequence of the generous response made to an appeal for subscriptions in aid of the Neville family, at Silverdale, it is announced that there is no need for further contributions. The committee which has been interesting itself in the matter has acknowledged receipt of the following amounts: —Capt. H., 10s 6d; C.8., 10s; A.W.C... sa; A. P. Gladwell, ss; A. M. Pickford, ss; Sympathiser, ss; A.H., ss; AnonymcAis, 10a; W. England, 2s; £1. Shannon, 10a.