LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Twenty-seven- bags of Australian mail matter which reached Wellington yesterday morning by theUlimaroa from Sydney will arrive at Auckland by the Main Trunk express this morning. The postal authorities advise that the English portion of the New Zealand mails which were despatched from Wellington on April 1 by the Marama, via San Francisco, reached London on May 8, six days late. It was decided at last night's meeting of the committee of the Auckland Automobile Association to ask the Government what its intentions are with regard to the assets of the Continental Tyre Company, the affairs of which are now in the hands of the Public Trustee. The association, making large purchases of tyres, and not desiring to support any German institu- ! tion, does not wish to continue purchasing

the firm's productions if the money is going to be kept in trust and handed over to Germans after the war.

The Auckland wireless station, the aerials of which are above the post office, has been closed, and in all probability it ■will not be reopened. The official explanation is that the Auckland station has been rendered unnecessary by too opening of the powerful Awanui station further north. No delay should result in the transmission of messages to and from Auckland, as the Awanui station is in both telegraphic and telephonic communication with the Auckland Telegraph Office. The instruments at the Auckland wireless station will not be dismantled for the present.

The Minister for Marine, the Hon. W. H. Herries, stated in a reply to a, question yesterday that when the Auckland Harbour Board's new by-lawg were submitted to the Marine Department some months ago they were formally acknowledged. No further sanction, be says, is required in regard to the new ferry by-laws.

Owing to an accident to her machinery, the Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Ngoiro was withdrawn from the St. Heliers service, last evening. The Ngoiro left The Ferries at 6.30 p.m. on her usual trip to St. Heliers Bay. She had only proceeded as far as the King's Wharf when she was seen to slow down and then stop. Several long blasts from her whistle intimated to the harbour authorities that the vessel needed assistarce, and in a very short time several steamers arrived on the scene. The ferry steamer Condor, after disembarking her passengers from Stanley Bay, took over the Ngoiro's, and proceeded to St. Heliers. In the meantime tho collier Baden-Powell had also visited the scone, and when it was ascertained that the Ngoiro's engines were disabled, she was taken in- tow by the BadenPowell and berthed at The Ferries at 7 p.m. Tho mishap to tho Ngoiro was caused by a bolt of one of tho pistons breaking, putting the engines out of working order. Repairs were effected last night and the vessel will resume her running to-day.

Three young men and three young women were arrested in a house at Milford Beach yesterday afternoon by ActingDetective Maguire, and will appear at the Police Court this morning on various charges. The arrests arose out of a theft of silver plate and jewellery, valued at £25, from a house in Upper Queen Street on Monday night, and a subsequent search for a girl named Madeleine Pearl Alcock. The girl was found in the house at. Mil ford Beach by Acting-Detective Maguire, who—with Constable Steer—proceeded to the premises, and discovered not only Alcock, but five other persons, whom thev also arrested. The five people referred to arc Ida Roach, Daisy Curtis, Alfred Ford, Jock Powell, and Albert Homan. The three men will be charged this morning with being idle and disorderly persons and with associating with thieves and the three young women with associating with thieves. Alcock will also be charged with the theft of the jewellery and silver plate.

The cargo steamer Taviuni, which was detained at Auckland on Monday night owing to the difficulty experienced in securing a stokehold crew, Bailed shortly aiter 11 a.m. yesterday for Westport. The vessel was removed to an anchorage in the stream at 9 a.m., being then two men short of her complement. About two hours later the necessary men were signed on, and the vessel cleared without further incident.

Twenty-five additional hutments arc to be erected at Trontham, at a cost of about £9000. for the accommodation of troops in training for active service. The Minister for Defence stated in Wellington on Monday that possibly" more would bo built later if required. He added that the men had been provided with an extra blanket with tho advent of the cold weather, and they now had three blankets each.

Shortly after the. outbreak of hostilities the Auckland Automobile Association offered the Defence Department a motorlorry. The offer was accepted, and an up-to-date lorry accompanied the expeditionary force to Samoa. At last night's meeting of th.> committee of the association information was received to the effect that the.lorry is doing splendid service, Samoa being an island where tho available horse traction U of the poorest quality.

The hundreds of New Zealand casualties which have already been announced have brought to every New Zealander a. vivid impression of the great sadness of war— a sadness, in New Zealand's case, relieved by pride in the gallant conduct of the forces now fighting in the Dardanelles. In to-day's issue of the AtCKLAXD Weekly News is commenced a series of portraits of New Zealand's heroes who have fallen and suffered in the- struggle for world-freedom. Two full pages of photographs present the likenesses of many officers and men included in the casualty lists. These are bound to prove intensely interesting to every patriotic New Zealander, and those desiring a complete pictorial record of the roll of honour should keep this and following issues, in which it is intended to continue the series. A splendid picture of the lost liner Lusitania covers the full width of the central paces, while some of her pasangers, including Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Macky, of Auckland, also appear. Amongst many new photographs of the New Zealand troops now in Egypt and the Dardanelles are groups of officers and men, events in and around the camp, and the arrival of the Maori contingent at Zeitoun. A fine selection of war photographs presents scenes in the British, French, and German lines. Other subjects include a great night demonstration in Wellington, the lost destroyer Maori, scenes at the Dardanelles, Behian carnivals at Whakatano and Hokitika, and duck-shooting in the Waikato. These pictures combine with many others in forming one of the I most interesting issues of ths Aucklaxd Weekly News so far produced.

The late arrival of the Huddart-Parker steamer Riverina at Auckland from Sydney was due entirely to adverse weather conditions. The vessel anchored in the stream at 2.30 a.m. yesterday, the passage of 1281 miles having occupied four days 14 hours. She left Sydney shortly after noon on Thursday, and immediately after clearing the heads encountered a moderate south-east gale, with extremely thick weather. The gale veered to the east, and then the north-east. For three days the vessel had to contend with high head seas, and the waves broke continuously over the bows. When she was approaching the Three Kings on Monday morning th© weather became very thick, with heavy rain, which obscured all land marks. Tho steamer wan slowed down several times until tho headland at Cape Maria van Diemen was picked up, when she was again put at full speed. Tho weather again became very misty off Cape Brett on Monday night and the Riverina proceeded slovly until the mists cleared. She sailed for Sydney late last night.

The Mavor of Devonport, Mr. A. M. Pickford, stated at last night's meeting of the Borough Council tnat he was against any work of a temporary nature being carried out to the roads or footpaths unless such work was absolutely necessary to enable residents to get to their homes in comfort. Ho was against any patchwork policy, necessitating the placing of a load of scoria, hero or a load of metal there. Any work done in the future should be of a permanent nature. Mr. Pickford was led to make the remarks when applicationo were submitted to the council urging that certain temporary work to streets and footpaths should be carried out.

The National Reserve movement is growing in the Auckland Province, where 32 branches have now been formed. A meeting of the Auckland watersiders was addressed on Monday by Mr. Hall Skelton, who urged that those working at the wharf should form a branch of the reserve. He pointed out that labour unions in the Old Country had lent their organisations for recruiting purposes and he urged that labour unions here should fall- into line in a similar direction. Those present 'at the meeting, numbering about , 300, resolved themselves into a branch of the National Reserve. A meeting is to be held in Ponsonby next week for the purpose of forming a branch of the reserve in that district.'

A case of shooting without a license on the hills on the western side of Matamata, was reported to the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, last evening. Five men are involved, two of whom having, it was reported, been caught coming out of the bush with a number of pigeons. Two of the others had killed a young doe, and it was believed that another deer was also killed. The presi-

dent, Lit

Hazard, stated

that he had taken possession of the game, and the matter of further proceedings was left in his bands.

The trial trip of the new auxiliary schooner Strathcona will probably take place on the harbour on Saturday. The Strathcona has been constructed to the order of the Pacific Cable Board, and will be employed in carrying stores and material between the various cable stations controlled by the board in the Pacific. She is regarded as one of the finest vessels of her class yet built at the port, and has attracted a good deal of attention while being fitted out at the Albert Wharf during the past few weeks.

An old man named James Rnos, a resident of Hepburn Street, was knocked down by a taxicab at the corner of Queen Street and Customs Street East yesterday morning. Knos, who is 74 years of age, sustained a broken leg, and was immediately conveyed to the Auckland Hospital.

A counterfeit half-sovereign was discovered among his takings last evening by a shopkeeper in Queen Street. The coin bcre a remarkably close resemblance to the legally minted gold, showing the head of King George, and the date 1911, with the other devices, including the milling or the edge, faithfully reproduced. Comparison with a genuine half-sovereign showed the base coin to bo much thinner and lighter in both colour and weight. . The surfaces of the counterfeit coin were also marred by minute pittings, giving them a dull appearance.

A suggestion was recently made by Major-General Sir A. J. Godley that water-filter waggons would be a welcomo gift to the New Zealand expeditionary force. Efforts are being made by somo of the artist members of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts to raise funds for the purpose of providing at least one waggon. About 40 pictures have been donated by the artists, and they wil] be sold by auction in Wellington on Friday afternoon.

The scow Rimu, which was driven ashore on the rocks at "Tho Noisies," in the Hauraki Gulf, on Sunday morning, was towed off at 4 a.m. yesterday by the Harbour Board's tug Te Awhina. The vessel was brought into port and moored at Craig's Jetty, in Mechanics' Bay. With the exception of tho loss of the stern post and rudder, she appears to have suffered little damage. At the time of the accident the Rimu was lying on the beach partly loaded w'vh shingle, waiting for high water, when the weather suddenly became very rough, and she was carried along the beach, breaking a mooring line. The four men of the crew were on shore, and were unable to do anything to prevent the accident.