LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The victim of the gig accident at Otahuhu oil Wediieaiay evening, Mr. Charles Doyle, who is in Auckland Hospital, has not Trained consciousness, and his condition is extremely critical. .He was sitting in a gig when, the horse reared and the gig was capsized, Mr. Doyle receiving injuries to the base of the skull.

The Renown wa§ again open to the public yesterday afternoon, and though the number of visitors was not so great as on the previous day the vessel was crowded throughout the afternoon. A special visit was f iid in l.he morning by 400 pupils from the Technical High School, accompanied by their teachers. They were divided into parties, and escorted over the battleship by guides, who explained thoroughly the different points of interest. Particular interest was taken by the boys in the repairing workshops, all the wonderful mechanism, of the engine-room, and the guns. The alleged insanitary condition of a number of the motor vehicles which are licensed as buses, and which carry people on race days, was complained of by the Taxi Owners' Association in a letter received by the City Council last evening. The association asked that the issue of bus licenses to motor lorries engaged for trade purposes during the week should be stopped, urging that the competition thus set up was a hardship on the taxi owners. The traffic inspector reported that the vehicles referred to in the communication, were in first-class order and capable of conveying whait they were licensed for. He added that on the special days when these vehicles were used for passenger traffic the number of taxicabs would be insufficient to deal with the numbers travelling. The matter was sent on to the Finance and Legal Committee.

The Auckland District Repatriation Board met yesterday, Mr. A. W. Gillies presiding. The board considered 49 applications for loans to purchase businesses, the amounts ranging from £30 to £300. and of this number 30 were granted or recommended, the remainder being either held over for further investigation or not recommended. Loans to purchase furniture were granted to 30 men, the amounts ranging from £25 to £75, while seven applications were he'd over and five were not recommended. The report of the employment officer stated that 27 fresh applications were received during the week, Sand at the end of the period 39 men remained on the register seeking employment. The vocation officer reported that three applications for the retained portion of the subsidy had been granted, one man had been granted a loan for tools of trade. 12 were granted books, fees, etc., while studying at schools or colleges, one man, was granted a subsidy while com- | pleting his apprenticeship, three were granted sustenance allowances while trainI ing at schools, and 11 were granted subsidies while training in private workshops and factories.

The following weather forecast was issued by Mr. Clement L. Wragge at eight o'clock last- evening The disturbance named Quolath, tha sudden north-western extension of which unfortunately caused: the rain at Rotorua, has now passed away. Thus generally fine to fair weather under a moderately high barometer is expected, except in the far south. Winds light and variable, chiefly southerly. Very cold nights inland. A new Antarctic depression called Rithol has evidently left Tasmania towards New Zealand. Sea moderate.

This "week's issue of the Auckland Weekly News is completely sold nit. Although several thousand extra copies were printed it -was impossible to with the extraordinary demand for the paper. The, issue next wegk will contain some very fine plates, in connection with the visit of the Prince to Rotorua, in addition to a wide selection of further views _ relating to the Auckland welcome to His Royal Highness. The whole of the pictorial section, in fact, will be devoted to the Royal visit.

A donation of £25 was last evening voted by the City Council to the funds of the Auckland Olympic Committee. 'I he Mayor, in moving the vote, emphasised the importance of the coming gathering. He pointed out that New Zealand would. figure in the Olympic games for the first time with the status of a nation.

The membership of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association was stated by the secretary last evening to be 55 per cent, of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. The report of the executive stated that 90 per cent, of the members were financial. As showing tie loyalty of members abroad, it was stated that 142 members now resident outside the Dominion had forwarded their subscriptions for the year ended March 31. from India, Australia, Fiji, South Africa, Samoa, Rarotonga, America, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while Vie member had forwarded his subscription for the past two years from the Belgian Congo. ,

Extensive alterations in the public health legislation are contemplated by the Department of Public Health. Notification to this fieri was received by the City Council last evening, with a request for any suggestions it might have to make. The council was also asked for its views as to whether the power at present in the hands of Hospital Boards regarding the investigation and prevention of infectious disease should be re-transferred to local bodies. The matter was referred to the Finance and Legal Committee.

The petty officers of the Renown gave a dance in the Navy League clubroom on the Queen's Wharf last evening, about 10" couples being present. The men of the battle-cruiser also gave a dance on the deck of the ship, at which about 250 couples were present.

The rapid growth of population in the Ponsonby district has led to further provision being made for educational needs. The property of the late Mr. W. J. Courtney, in Jervpis Road, opposite the present Bayfield school, has been acquired by the Education Department, and it is expected that a modern brick school will be erected on this site, which comprises five acres and occupies an ideal position. An area of three acres near the Church Street school, known as Scott's paddock, has been purchased as an addiional playground for that school. The playing grounds at the Richmond Road school also are being extended. The erection ol the new school in Curran Street, near Point Erin Park, is now proceeding.'

In order to reduce the cost of living the Gisborne Borough Council is seeking the co-operation of other iocal bodies in requesting the Government to bring down legislation next session, giving municipal councils power to deal in commercial enterprises. By this means it is suggested that goods might be sold to the public at reasonable prices. The resolution passed by the Gisborne bo3y was before the City Council at its meeting last evening, and was formally received.

A party of men from H.M.S. Renown were entertained by the ladies of Northcote, in conjunction with the members of the Borough Council, at the Northcote parish hail last evening. Prior to this gathering the men were the guests oi several residents fib tea at their respective homes.

The Public Works Department has issued an appeal to consumers to cooperate to the utmost extent with the Department in reducing the load on the Lake Coleridge power-house, telegraphs our Christchurch correspondent. Throughout the past year endeavours have been made, by restricting the conditions on which power would be given to new consumers, to reduce the load as far as possible, but in spite of all the measures taken a load of such magnitude as to seriously threaten the plant has been recorded.

The prickly pear plant has now been included in the schedule under the Noxious Weeds Act. The City Council was last evening advised of the fact by the Department of Agriculture, and was also informed that it might declare the plant in question to be a noxious weed, whereupon the Department would take steps to have it cleared.