LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17236, 12 August 1919, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A false alarm of fire was received by the City Brigade at 5.30 p.m. yesterday from Gillies' Avenue, Epsom. The Parnell and Remuera engines also responded to the call.

Nineteen cases of influenza were notified to the district health officer for the week ended noon yesterday. They comprised three mild cases in the Auckland city area, one severe at Devonport, three mild at Otahuhu, one mild at Howick, one mild at Newmarket, two severe at Te Puke—one ending fatally—three severe at Onehunga, two mild at Mount Eden, one mild at Mount Albert, one mild at Avondale, and one severe at Whakatane. During the previous week 17 cases were reported. No case of lethargic encephalitis occurred last week.

The demolition of the Shortland Street block of Hobson Buildings was commenced yesterday, preparatory to the erection on the same site of a new fivestorey structure for the National Bank of New Zealand. In connection with the taking down of the old building there is now no thoroughfare between Shortland Stretft, and Port Street. Many business men accustomed to using that means of access from one street to another were somewhat eurprised yesterday on finding their way barred by a barricade at the point where the new portion of the building joins the Shortland Street, block. In the latter street the first portion of the necessary hoarding was erected. When fthe new structure has been completed the bank will occupy the ground floor, and the whole of the Basement right through.

A unique set of views bearing upon the whaling industry in Northern New Zealandj forms an outstanding feature in the pictoral section of to-day's issue of the Auckland Weekly News. Nothing so good of its kind has previously been published in the Dominion, and' there is little doubt that the four pages devoted to the subject will engage the keen attention of readers at home or abroad. The series is not only bright and pidtureeque, but is instructive as well. Whales are seen disporting on, the surface of the deep, blowing spray, to a great height the while; the effective and scientific harpoon-gun ie seen in adtion, and captured whales in tow by the steamer are pictured. The cutting of blubber at the Whangaroumu Whaling Station, near Cape Brett, covers another phase of the operations, while other scenes on shore will attract notice. Several other illustrations in the journal are also of an interesting nature. The arrival at Auckland last week of New Zealand mounted veterans from Egypt is well covered, and a photograph taken on board the Niagara of the Right Hon. W. P. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward marks the return home of our political leaders. A splendid view of White Island, which was in eruption last week, should also prove of interest. Many other fine pictorial subjects are ineluded, and the demand for the paper will, no doubt, be even greater than usual.

The amended land policy formulated by the Returned Soldiers' Association is to have the support of the Onehunga Borough Council. The council last evening decided that the clerk make inquiries as to the best method of giving effect to that support.

The scheme of the City Schools Committee to provide a cup of cocoa for each child remaining for lunch at the Napier Street School was inaugurated yesterday, when 200 children, including 80 infante, were supplied with refreshment. A large quantity of cocoa, sugar, and milk has been promised to the committee, and. in addition, donations amounting to £8 15s have been received.

The water supply to services in New North Road from Virginia Avenue to Dominion Road, Brown Street, Haultain Street and the Mount Albert auxiliary supply, is to be entirely shut off from 8 a.m. to-morrow. The remaining portion of the district, including a portion of the higher level of Mount Eden, will be subject to a diminished supply until the completion of the work of making three Waterservice connections, probably about 3 p.m. The opening of St. Barnabas' Hall as a temporary annexe to the Mount Eden public school, which had been fixed for yesterday, has been postponed. St. Albans' Hall, in Dominion Road, is being prepared for use as an additional ary school, and it is expected that it will be ready for occupation by. about the end of this month. These two schools, it is expected, will meet requirements until the proposed new school m Kowhai Road is erected. *

The necessity for farmers destroying rabbits on their property was emphasised by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., during the hearing of a case af Waiuku on Friday. A farmer was prosecuted for having failed to take steps to destroy the rabbits on his property when he had received notice to do so. _ After imposing a fine of £5, the magistrate stated that the maximum penalty was £100, and warned the defendant that a recurrence of the offence might entail a much heavier penalty. 'Teople must understand," said Mr. Hunt, "that the law says very definitely that these rabbits must be destroyed, and it pate the onus on the owners to eradicate them."

The problem of the maintenance of the sun's heat was briefly discussed) by Professor G. Owen in the course of his lecture on "Radium" last evening. He said that according to Lord Kelvin the inhabitants of the earth could not hope to enjoy the solar light and heat essential to their existence for many millions of years longer. Radium, however, had been revealed in the sun by the spectroscope, and this enabled us to extend enormously the probable duration of the sun as the fountain of light and heat.

The Waikumete district holds a good record for military service. Over 70 men enlisted, and one, Lieutenant R. S. Judson, has been awarded the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant Judson will bo entertained in the public hall on Thursday night. Associated with him will be 13 men who have also recently returned. Among these are Private W. D. Laurie, M.M., and Private F. Wood, who is one of a family of six boys who have all seen active service.

Memorial trees were planted in the Epsom public school grounds on Friday. An oak tree was planted in memory of one of the assistant teachers, Lieutenant H. F. Hall, Auckland Infantry Battalion, who was killed in action at Messines on June 9, 191' Some of the trees were named after famous generals and admirals. After the ceremony the children saluted the flag.

When the Auckland Women's Patriotic League and the Red Cross Society ceased working for soldiers overseas they donated to the Sewing Guild of the Navy League Women's Emergency Committee all their surplus stock of woollens . and hussifs. Appreciation of these donations, and for a similar one from the Cambridge Patriotic League branch, was expressed at the Emergency Committee's annual meeting yesterday. It was stated that the goods had been made up and sent to the minesweepers. Of the 3000 hussifs presented by the Women's Patriotic League, bOO were completely filled ; these had been sent away, and the guild now suggested that a "falling bee" might be arranged for the filling of the remainder, so that they would be ready for donation. It was mentioned that the Wellington ladies had already filled all those in hand, and intended to donate them to the men of the New Zealand when she arrived in the Dominion.

The Rotorua peace celebration expenses amounted to £301. The principal items were —Dinners to soldiers, U.US ; procession, £57; children's day, £74; fireworks and bonfire, £7; general, including advertising, £36. The amount collected was £226, and of this £195 carries a Government subsidy.

A tank of cable for the cable steamer Iris is included in the cargo brought from England by the Opawa. The length of the cable is 17£ knots.