LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16903, 16 July 1918, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Mails from Australia, United States of America, and United Kingdom arrived in Wellington yesterday, but the steamer was too late for all the Auckland bags to be sent North by the express. Only 10 bags of Australian mattor were put on the train that is due here this morning. The remainder of the mail, consisting of 90 bags, of which 40 are from the United Kingdom, will reach Auckland to-morrow morning. The Auckland section of the fortyfourth reinforcements will leavo for camp on Thursday next by special train at 2.50 p.m. The quota from the city group will number about 140 men. The men from the three southern groups will join the train at Frankton Junction. All the recruits, with the exception of those for the Medical Corps, will proceed to Trentham. An accident occurred at the Ellerslie racecourse on Saturday, as the result of which injuries were sustained by an apprentice jockey, Frank Reed, aged 17. Hp was exercising a horße ( which Hired and fell back on him, causing concussion. As he has been semi-conscious ever since, he was taken to the Auckland Hospital yesterday afternoon. His condition, nowever, is not considered to be eorious. Reed, whose parents reside at 71, France Street, Newton, was employed by Mr. J. E. Thorpe, trainer, of Ladies' Mile, Ellerslie.

The Onehunga Borough by-law relating to the zoo was the subject of a motion at the meeting of tho council last evening. Mr. Dillicw moved that the amended by-law be rescinded, owing to its non-enforcement. The motion, which was seconded pro forma by Mr. Morton, was lost .by five votes to four. The voting was: For the motion, Messrs. Brewin, Dillicar, Morton, and Sullivan ; against, the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. G. Stoupe), Messrs. Higgins. Ainsworth, Davies, and Lomas.

Labour conditions in Auckland at present are exceedingly slack, according to information given yesterday by one of tho Labour Department officials. Owing to the bad weather and other causes there is practically no work going forward in the City, and while a certain amount of employment is offering in country districts the men are averse to taking up work there on account of the large amount of broken time necessitated .by the uncertain weather. The number of applications for employment lately received by tho bureau has been small.

The number of cases of diphtheria reported from the city and oountry districts is decreasing. In view of the wet and stormy weather prevailing, this must be regarded as satisfactory, and tho health authorities say there is reason to hope that the decrease will continue.

The unveiling of the monument erected at Puponga Point, Cornwallis Park, to commemorate the gift of the park to the citizens of Auckland by the late Mr. J. M. McLachlan, has been postponed owing to the inclemency of the weather. The ceremony was fixed to take place to-morrow, but the Mayor stated last evening that in view of the continued rains it had been decided to defer tho event until the weather is more favourable.

The Rotorua Red Cross Copper Trail Competition came to an end last Saturday evening. A sum of £1483 17s lid was secured. The trail was laid from Whakarewarewa to Ohinemutu, and the Southern team were victorious, planting their flag at the northern end of the trail at noon on Saturday. Collecting .was, however, carried on by both sides until 5 p.m., at which hour the Southern team had raised £754 48 3d, and the Northern sido, £729 13s Bd. The returned soldiers in Rotorua contributed to the total £130, which was divided equally between the two sides. Of this amount £80 was raised by a soldiers' gala, and £50 by an art union. A sum of £31, the net proceeds of a performance by a band of entertainers known as the Copper Trail Minstrels, was also equally divided between the two teams. The Maoris at Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa supported the undertaking enthusiastically, and rendered valuable assistance.

The question of an appeal in aid of the Frenoh fund that has been inaugurated in Auckland, was brought before the Mayor yesterday by a deputation from the French Club. The object of the promoters is to raise a national fund, to be divided equally between the French Red Cross institution and the societies for the relief of distress caused by the war. The Mayor suggested to the deputation that in view of tho Red Jersey and other recent appeals the movement should be deferred for two months. In the meantime, Mr, Gunson said ho would convene a meeting of oitizens for the purpose of forming a committee in connection with the fund. The deputation expressed concurrence with the Mayor's proposal.

The dismissal of six returned soldiers from the service of the Farmers' Union Trading Company, was discussed at the weekly meeting of the Auckland branch of the Returned Soldiers' Aseooiation last evening, It was decided to send a deputation to interview the chairman of directors, Mr. J. Boddie, regarding the matter.

The employment of women in the Postal Department to replace men was referred to yesterday by Mr. R. B. Morris, chief inspector of post offices. "We are adopting this course wherever possible," said Mr. Morris, " and, generally speaking, with success. There are now 1632 women in the sen-ice, and we aro appointing more to our staff daily." There were stated to be several hundred girls employed in the Wellington office, and over 60 in the Auckland post office, while others were being trained as understudies in every direction possible.

Advice has been received by the official assignee, Mr. W. S. Fisher, that Frederick W. Kohn, baker, Rawene, has filed a petition to be adjudged bankrupt.

A combined concert and bazaar, to raise funds for the ''Copper Trail" contest, has been held in the Onehunga school. Each class had its own stall stocked with articles, provided by the children, while Standard VI. had various stalls, towards which public help had been received. The net proceeds amounted to £20.