LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17429, 26 March 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A total of 381 applications were dealt with by the North Auckland Land Board during the three-day sitting which ended yesterday .morning. A large number o'f farms and house properties came under discussion, and the number of soldiers' I applications showed no diminution. The Assessment Court for the hearing of objections to the valuations of' city property sat yesterday, Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., presiding. The majority of the objections were readily adjusted, being based chiefly on slight differences in rental value as compared with the actual rentals. The work of the Court was concluded in the one sitting. The work of laying the concrete surface along the .Ponsonby Road has been commenced, the men who were working on the New North Road having been transferred. The first section to be undertaken is that extending from Richmond Road to the Three Lamps. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated yesterday that it is anticipated the concreting of the whole length of the thoroughfare, from the reservoir to the Three Lamps, will take about a year. The permanent paving of theßemuera Road in concrete will, it is. expected, be commenced in May, and there will be about the same amount of work upon it as on the Ponsonby Road. The concrete roads in the city area continue to show excellent results, the Mayor said, and it was questionable whether any improvement in the present method of laying them was available. The difficulty under which the City Council was labouring now was the shortage of sand and other materials.

The young man. Dennis Gunn, who is accused of the murder of Mr. A. E. Braithwaite, postmaster at Ponsonby, and of the burglary at the Ponsonby Post Office, will appear on remand at the Police Court this morning. It is understood that a further remand for one week will be applied for by the police, and that the inquest and mnrder charge will be taken together.

The annual supplementary examination in connection with the New Zealand Uni-

versity courses in law and commerce will conclude to-day at St. Andrew's Hall. The candidates, 125 in number, const : tute a numerical record for this examination in Auckland. "The Rev. Dr. T. O'Callaghan is acting as supervisor.

There is increasing interest in the activities of the Navy League, and this is accompanied by material support. Yesterday morning the league received a donation of £5 from an anonymous donor, which was particularly welcome as a contribution towards the heavy expenses involved in the entertainment of the men of H.M.S. Renown. . An official canvass taken in Morrinsville shows the population to he 1227, or 227 more than that required to form a borough. A petition has been signed by one-fifth of the residents, asking that the district be proclaimed a borougn.

The following weather forecast was issued by Mr. Clement L. Wragge at 9.30 last evening: The improvement in weather conditions is likely to prove bat temporary. There are indications that another depression named Nathal is not far distant and a renewal of rainy and unsettled conditions may be expected ere long. Winds south-westerly, inclined to back toward north-west and north. I cannot speak more positively at this time, but further details will be given in the next forecast.

The latest fish story was related in the Supreme Court proceedings in connection with a claim by Maoris for compensation for loss of eels through the draining by settlers of the Repongaere Lake, telegraphs our Gisborne correspondent. The Maoris, who were awarded by a jury £5? compensation, claimed that the eels from the lake supplied all the food for huis in that and other districts. Mr. Justice Hoskin" became reminiscent, and said he had seen eels six feet in length in Lake Manapouri. A Maori witness, Taki Kerekere, who was in the box, capped this by saying he had seen eels 18 feet in length, and men had been need for bait. His Honor said he thought this was rather a tall one, and adjourned the Court for lunch.

The Auckland District Women's Christian Temperance Union met on Wednesday, the president, Mrs. Cook, occupying the chair. Mrs. H. Brown, delegate to, tile recent convention in Wellington, reported on the proceedings. The many departments connected with the activities of the union were touched upon, showing that good. work had been accomplished daring the year. It was urged that for the safety of the children travelling all hotels be closed during the visit of the Prince of Wales.

It is the intention of the Early Settlers and Historical Association of Wellington to present an address of welcome to the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his visit to that city. The proposal is that the address be signed by pioneers who landed in New Zealand in the Years 184041. ;

Serious injuries were received by Mr. John Morgan, aged 24, the third officer on the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Whakatane, as the result of a fall on the vessel yesterday. He was admitted to the hospital, where he was found to be suffering from internal injuries and injuries to the body. A carter Mr. Thomas Jackson Nichols, aged 57 siding at 7, Waterloo Quadrant, was 'also admitted suffering from injuries to the body and legs as a result of a fall from a load of cases on the wharf.

The District Repatriation Board met yesterday, Mr. A. W. Gillies presiding. Of 45 applications for business loans, 29 were granted or recommended, six. withdrawn, three held over, and seven not recommended. Twenty-one furniture loans were granted. In the training branch two men who had finished their course were granted the retained portion of their subsidy, five were allowed advances to purchase tools of trade, 17 trainees in private workshops and factories, and One apm-en-tice were voted subsidies, one trainee at a technical school was allowed sustenance, and 15 were granted books, fees, etc.', while studying at schools and colleges. It was reported that the names of 41 men remained on the unemployment register, this being one less than "the number on the list at the commencement of the week, during which 43 new applications were received.

The dangers caused by owners anchoring small craft in the fairway of the harbour were emphasised in the Police Court yesterday, when a number of offenders were brought before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., on the information of the Harbour Board (Mr. Durham). Counsel stated that the ferry boats, and indeed all the large vessels ooming into the harbour, had frequently to deviate from their course to avoid running down yachts and dinghies anchored in their way. which sometimes involved their having to go perilously near the edge of the fairway. There had been sum* narrow escapes from accidents. Convictions wore recorded against A. Crow-hurst. J. Johansen, M. I.aing, J. Moleson, C. H. Reed, E. Turnham, and W. E. Wat. who were ordered to pay the Court costs, 17s 6d in each case.

The consulting engineer, Mr. L. Gannon, of Auckland, reported to the Hamilton Borough Council on Thursday on the very comprehensive drainage scheme which the borough has in hand. In conclusion he said :-*-" I have carefully considered the estimate, and am of the opinion that when the scheme is completed it will be found that th e estimated cost was very near the. mark. It will provide a modern sewerage system for the whole of the populated part of Hamilton, and will dram over 1000 acres in addition to that portion of the town already .sewered. In other words, the size of pipes will meet all the requirements of a suburban population of 27,000. The scheme, as a whole, 1 strongly recommend.