LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17270, 20 September 1919, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A further relaxation of the health regulations affecting shipping was brought into operation yesterday. It baa of late been necessary for steamers for Australia and other overseas destinations to remain in the stream until the temperatures of the passengers and crew were taken by the port health officer. In! the case of the Atua, which sailed for ' Sydney yesterday, this procedure was dispensed with, and as soon as the passengers' passports had been examined and the vessel searched by the police, she left the wharf direct for sea.

Dominion Day is to be observed on Monday next. The holiday will be observed generally by Government offices, with the exception of the Post Office and Customs Department. The Defence Department offices and the Auckland District Repatriation office will be closed. The flanks and the Auckland Stock Exchange will close on Monday. Members of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants will observe the holiday on Tuesday, the occasion of the landing of Viscount Jellicoe. Dominion Day is one of the statutory holidays observed by the Auckland University College, but the College council has given permission for the holiday to be taken on Tuesday.

The first shipment of new potatoes this season from Pukekohe to the South realised a price equal to £46 a ton. The consignment was a small one, but the fine price indicates that good returns are to be expected by the early potato growers this year. It is stated that the crops in the district are looking exceptionally well, and that regular supplies will be coming forward in another week or two.

To-day is the 48th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop J. C. Patteson, first Bishop of Melanesia, who was murdered on the small coral island of Nukapu. The consecration of the Rev. J. M. Steward, who will be the fifth bishop of the island diocese, will take place in St. Paul's ProCathedral, Wellington, to-morrow. The bishop-elect, who joined the Melanesian mission 17 years ago, has passed most of that time in the Solomon Islands, where be has had a varied experience. Dr. A. W. .Averill, Bishop of Auckland, and the other New Zealand bishops will take part in the consecration service.

Evidence of the possibilities of some small holdings was before the North Auckland Land Board yesterday when the transfer of a suburban farm from its civilian owner to a discharged soldier was under consideration. The reports obtained by the board in support of the soldier's application for financial assistance showed that during the past year the owner had taken produce valued at £470 off the place. Of this amount lotus major seed contributed £240. hay £100, and honey £130.

The supplement issued with to-day's Herald contains the usual varied assortment of interesting matter. " Oratorio and Politics" is the title of Matanga's contribution, while Frank Morton deals with the home-coming of soldiers, his remarks having special reference to the visit recently pa.d to Sydney by the New Zealanders who returned from Egypt by the Ellenga. Under the heading " Settling Accounts" Professor H. W. Segar discusses the questions of gold supply and exchange. Impressions of " The New Zealand Girl " are supplied by " Gunner," who indulges in some interesting comparisons between the young women of this Dominion and those of the Old Country. Hilda Keane criticises the gardening methods adopted in the Auckland Domain and suggest* various improvements. " Nature Notes," "Local Gossip" and other features complete an excellent number.

The difficulties of small local bodies with regard to the maintenance of the Great South Road were feelingly dealt with by a representative of the Mount Wellington Road Board at yesterday's conference. In one part of the road near Penrose, he said, there was a solid and very uneven rock foundation, which would have to be blasted away at great cost before any uniform system of roading could be carried out. The sum of £700 had lately been spent on improving this strip of road, but the railway "cut" had resulted in such a sudden and heavy increase in traffic before the work could be completed that the expenditure had been practically in vain. Mr. A. E. Hattaway (Pakuranga), in adding his testimony to the truth of these remarks, said it was worse than cruel that drivers had to take heavy loads from Westfield and Otahuhu over such roads, which were worse than those in the King Country.

A picture of great interest at present, demoting the arrival of H.M.S. New Zealand in the Auckland Harbour on the occasion of its first visit here in 1913, has been lent by the artist, Mr. Walter Wright, to the Art Gallery. It is a large oil painting, measuring 6ft 6in by 4ft 2in, and gives a vivid idea of this "historical event. It will be on view from to-day.

The subscriptions at the chief Post Office to the Victory *Var Loan of £10,000,000 showed a distinct improvement yesterday. The officials state that there was a steady stream of investors all day.

The sections in the Remuera Settlement for Returned Soldiers, which were not taken up at the ballot on Thursday, are now open for application daily, under the same conditions as for those a'.lotted at the ballot. In the event of there being more than one applicant for the same section, a draw will take place, but where there is only one applicant the section will be allotted. The settlement is in the Bay of Islands County, near Ohaeawai, and the land ie described as ranging from fair to the very best quality.

To-day is '.he 49th anniversary of the entry of Italian troops into Rome, and of the proclamation of Victor Emmanuel 1. declaring Rome the capital of United Italy. The day is observed an a national holiday ii Italy. Flags wil] be flown in Auckland from the Italian Consulate and other buildings. The Italian Consul, Mr. J. H. Pagni, requests that customary visits to the consulate be dispensed with owing to unforeseen circumstances.

The inconvenience caused by the reduction of the city and suburban gas supply was lessened to a certain extent last evening, when the pressure was maintained until nine o'clock, two hours later than on the preceding days. This extension of time enabled shops lighted by gas to do their usual Friday night business. To-night the reduction will be made at seven o'clock, but to-morrow evening the pressure will be maintained until 8.15.