LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An English mail, consisting of 320 baj(3, which arrived by the Maltatua, was delivered yesterday. A small Egyptian mail, mostly Expeditionary Force letters, arrived by the Ulimaroa yesterday morning. A small mail arrived from the Eastern Pacific by the Flora on Thursday evening, and was delivered yesterday. Two Australian mails will reach Auckland to-morrow. Over 200 bags are on the Opawa, from Sydney, and a smaller mail, landed by Ui« Wanaka at Wellington, will arrive at Onehunga by the Pateena. Both these mails will be delivered on Monday.

Two alarms of fire were answered by the Remuera Fire Brigade yesterday. The first was a false call from Gillies Avenue, Epsom. The second, at about 5.50 p.m., was to a chimney fire in Patie Street, in a house owned and occupied by Mr. H. F. Tonks. No damage was done.

One effect of the dry weather that has recently prevailed in Auckland is the creation of the dust nuisance at a period when the streets are usually well watered by Nature. Yesterday a fair south-west breeze raised dense clouds of dust in many of the city thoroughfares, though it was noticeable that the streets in which concrete paving has been laid were productive of a much smaller cloud than the old macadam thoroughfares.

The recent sailing of the Makura and Niagara for Sydney has practically removed the congestion of inter-colonial passenger traffic eo existent, owing to the want of shipping. A number of Australians have been delayed in Auckland for some time past, awaiting a direct sailing, and while there apparently have been no cases of hardship, these people have been very glad indeed to return home. Prior to the sailing of these two vessels, the Permits and Passports Office had a very busy time, all who wished to travel hurrying their passports through in view of the uncertainty as to when there will be another direct trip. Many people have recently applied for passports for travel to England, but so far, these have not been for any period later than 'September. A great reduction in overseas travel is expected from next month onward, very few people, other than those compelled to, caring to reach England during the winter months.

Several subjects of particular interest to the community at the present time are discussed by well-known writers in the supplement issued with to-day's Herazjd. The primary industries and the place of agriculture in New Zealand's educational nystem form the text of an interesting article by Matanga. Professor H. W. Segar continues his timely series of articles on Hie cost of living and future prospects with regard to supplies and prices. Frank Morton's contribution is entitled " Has the War Helped?" and deals with the universal spread of the spirit of unrest. An article on spring-time in the Waikato by Bessie N. Watty, " Energy," the second of a series by "Naturalist," and J. Drurmnond's popular Nature Notes complete an interesting front page. The illustrations show a British naval launch patrolling the Rhine near Cologne, and the finish of the flight of the first seaplane to fly the Atlantic.

The comprehensive report prepared by Mr. J. Henderson, on the works carried out during his term as Mayor of Devonport, together with the borough's obligations in. connection with loans for public utilities and borough improvements, has not so far been printed, it being un.-iorstood that the present council considers the cost of having this work done toe heavy. A type-written copy of the report was received at the meeting of the Waitemata Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening, when regret was expressed that the report had, not been printed and circulated for the benefit Of ratepayers, especially in view of the fact that the new , council had in mind certain loan proposals.

The recent eruption at White Island is considered by Mr. J. W. Tibbs, headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, as the explanation of a curious phenomena witnessed by himself and several others early on Tuesday afternoon. "Looking from the • Grammar School grounds towards the Coromandel range, said Mr. Tibbs yesterday, " we were surprised to see what looked like a very large waterspout mounting . into the sky. We watched it, and as it rose and extended saw that it must be a huge column of either dust or smoke. There was also a very black cloud apparently over Mount Hobson, and I remarked we should probably hear of a torrential rainfall in Remuera. A dull rumbling as of Ithunder strengthened the idea. Now that we know there was an eruption at White Island on Tuesday, I feel certain what we eaw was the aftermath; ft, was right in the line of the island, and remained visible for at least half-an-hour. When a visit is paid there, we shall probably hear that there has been a very violent eruption."

To-day is the eleventh anniversary of the arrival of the American Fleet at Auckland. It also is the seventeenth anniversary of the coronation of the late Kins Edward VII. *

One of the parcels of confectionery and cigarettes dropped from a seaplane on to the troopship Matatua yesterday morning struck the master of the vessel, Captain F. Greene, on the side of the head. The blow was a glancing one, and, though painful at the time, no serious injury resulted.

Although the cessation of warfare has greatly lightened the work of the womens' patriotic organisations in Auckland, a number of these are still continuing their activities, among them the Sewing Guild of the Navy League Womens' Emergency Committee. For over three years, the guild has been preparing and forwarding to England supplies of garments for the wives and children of naval men. Word was received from the guild's headquarters in London that work there would cease in April, but the Auckland branch has continued its activities, and since the beginning of the year several cases of clothing have been sent to London, while three or four more are now ready for despatch. The future policy of the Emergency Committee will be discussed at the annual meeting, to be held on Monday.

The subject of union of Churches was discussed by the congregation of the Avondale Presbyterian Church at the annfal meeting on Thursday evening. The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution in favour of the union of the Presbyterian, Congregational, and Methodist Churches throughout the. Dominion,