LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 28 September 1918, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

A LAfiOE English, American, and Expeditionary Force mail will arrive 'at Auckland from Vancouver by the Makura on Monday morning. '» The girl Elizabeth Murray, who was reported missing from her homo in West Street, Newton, on Thursday, was found at Onehunga yesterday. She had accepted employment. The diphtheria epidemic has practically

abated. Dr. T. J. Hughes, district health" officer, stated yesterday that only a fow cases of sporadic occurrence were now being reportod to his office from tho city and suburban area. So far as the country portions of his district were concerned, statistics of the disease had now fallen to their average level. Ripe Fijian bananas are at present to be seen on the trees in Mr. Clement Wragge's garden at Birkenhead. It is considered that tho production of ripe fruit in September after so severe a winter is claimed to be a unique achievement in the horticultural annals of the Dominion, proving what can be done by scientific methods and studying the local climate. A considerable improvement took place in the weather yesterday, The southerly gale which blew so hard on Thursday moderated at a late hour and was followed yesterday by a light southerly wind and bright sunshine. The barometer, which had fallen to 29.70 in on Wednesday afternoon rose from then, and last night registered 30.10 in. Prospects for the coming fruit season in Auckland are stated by local growers and merchants to be good, though it is anticipated that the strawberry crop will not be quite so prolific as it was last season. This prediction is based on the fact that a number of early plantings of strawberries failed, and had to be replaced, thus reducing the total quantity of plants that should nave been maturing. One large gnsver yesterday expressed the opinion thJ> there would be a fairly good crop of early berries, and stated that there was every indication that they would be better in quality than last year's crop. In regard to stone fruits, he said there was every promise of good crops of peaches and plums, but that it was too early in the season to estimate the prospects of orchard products generally. An interesting series of special articles will be found in the supplement to today's Herald. " Matanga " discusses the topio of candour on suggestions; Lieu-tenant-Colonel A. A. Grace indicates the possible developments on the AlsaceLorraine front; the Rev. C. H. Laws describes the interesting battleground now being fought over by the allied forces in Palestine, and reviews its history in Biblical times. Lance V. Moses throws light upon the United States' effort in connection with the war; Maurice Hnrst presents reflections upon the coming of spring; and J. Drummond contributes a budget of Nature Notes. Besides special illustrations, there are views of the blocked channel approach to Zeebrugge, and of cavalry on the western front. |

■ Some time ago the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. H. Gunson, endeavoured to secure for the city the ex-Sapper Moore-Jones's sketches made at Qallipoli, but was unable to come to terms in the matter. In view of the discussion in Wellington upon the question of their purchase by the Government, Mr. Gunson stated yesterday that he had communicated with Miss Melville, chairwoman of the Library Committee, in order that, if the pictures were not acquired by the State, the matter of. their purchase should still not be lost sight of. He was distinctly of opinion that, on account of their New Zealand interest, they should be acquired for the Dominion if, any reasonable arrangement could be arrived at. The schedule of Edmund J. C. Tyler, flaimiller.of Rawene, who filed his petition in bankruptcy,'shows that he owes £1074 2s 3d to unsecured creditors and £4437 12s 8d to secured creditors. The value of the securities is estimated at £4949 and which exceeds the amount due to secured creditors by £511 7s 4d. Bankrupt s assets, which total £1196 7s 4d include book debts, £75; furniture, £30: Wi^J 580^ and . 6ur P ,us of securities, 101 l7s w. Tho nominal surplus in the estate is, therefore, £122 5a Id. The first meeting of creditors will be held on October 8.

The city authorities are at present engaged in preparing tho special roll of ratepayers which is to be used for the poll on November 27 upon the proposed loan of £165,000 for the concrete paving of streets. Only ratepayers in the city proper will be entitled to vote upon the proposals. Grey Lynn being a special rating area for rating purposes will be excluded, the Mayor stated yesterday that the roll will not be closed for some weeks. Due notice will be given to tho public as to the time when enrolment is to cease, in order to give opportunity for the amendments required by changes in the ownership of properties. The annual conference of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Officers' Association will be held in Wellington on October 20. Messrs. S. C. -Mahon and H. M. Patrick have been elected to represent the Auckland branch of the association and Messrs. G. H. Morrish, Ngaruawahia, and S. A. Ogilvie, Hamilton, the WafkatoKing Country branches. Among the matters to be discussed at the conference will be the reclassification scheme and the question of war bonuses.

The Auckland Waterside Workers' Union has passed a resolution "viewing with grave apprehension" the action of Mr. M J. Mack, secretary of the A.S.R.S. and a member of the Transport Advisory Board in opposing the selected candidate of Labour for Wellington Central, on the ground that his action will tend to cause hostility on the part of Labour to trans, port unions and the federation. When General Sir John Monads was appointed commandant of the Australian forces in France, the president of He Auckland Hebrew congregation, Mr. Alfred Nathan, cabled congratulations to him in the name of the Jewish communities of New Zealand. In a letter just received by Mr. Nathan, Sir John expresses his warmest thanks, and states that he feels very much stimulated by the encouragement afforded to him by this recognition from the Jewish communities pi a sister Dominion. "It has been my good fortune," he adds, " to serve in close comradeship with the New Zealand Forces since the earliest days of the'war."

An appeal was lately made by the Auckland Town Planning League to the Anglican Diocesan Trust Board for the preservation of the old St. Thomas's Church, situated on the road to St. Heliers Bay At yesterday's meeting of the league a letter was received from the secretary of the trust board, Mr. W. J. Speight, Elating that the board is in full sympathy with the spirit and principle of the leagues efforts, and that, although the board lyis not as yet considered the restoration of the building, there is no intention of destroying the portion still existing of the original structure.

The CI training camp was shifted this week from Canvastown, Featherston, to Tauherenikau. Wednesday last was the first anniversary of the establishment of this camp. During the year several thousand men have been in training under tfic graduated system, and an undoubted success has met the effort to improve the health and physique of men below mili. tary standard. Major J. W. Blunt, the first officer commanding of the camp was succeeded a few months ago by Major Ryder. There are ahvavs from 800 to 1000 men in CI camp,'and these are divided into fiv companies. During the year the men have established a name for sport and entertainment, in addition to their drill.

The total of saleable fish taken from Lakes Rotoiti and Tarawera in last year s trout-marketing operations of the Department of Internal Affairs was 20,270 (weighing 22 tons 15cwt), and valued at £851. The yield of Lake Taupo was 17,947. trout, the weight being 24 tons 2cwt, and the value £876