LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17622, 8 November 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

During the last 10 days 30,000 young trout have been liberated in the streams in the Tongariro National Park. These fish •were procured from Rotorua by the honorary warden of the park,. Mr. J. Cullen, 1.5.0., through the Department of Internal Affairs, and they were liberated by the secretary of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society.

The racing season at Ellerslie was opened by the Auckland Racing Club on Saturday, when there was a large attendance. The sport was of a very interesting oharacter throughout. The Great Northern Guineas was won by Mr. G. M. Currie'a colt Listowel, -and Mr. H. J. Eave's Volo ■won the Mitchelson Cup. The sum of £76,863 10s, was put through the totalisator, this amount being an increase of £12,114 compared with receipts on the corresponding day last year.

No provision was made in the recent instructions issued regarding the lifting of the permit restrictions between New Zealand and Australia for the alien-born wives of _ British subjects, only natural-born British subjects being granted the right of free travel. The question soon arose as to the position of these British subjects by marriage, an Auckland shipping company having refused to issue a ticket until the matter • was definitely settled. The Auckland permits and passports office promptly sent a query to the head office in Wellington, to which a reply has been received that the lifting of the restrictions will apply also to the wives of naturalborn British subjects.

While working near the winch handle of a crane in Messrs. A. and T. Burt's foundry in Nelson Street on Saturday morning, an employee of the firm, David Thompson, received' a blow on the head, sustaining serious injuries. He was removed to the Auckland Hospital by the waterside , ambulance, and has since been in a critical condition. He is 67 years of age, and resides in Oliphant Street, Ponsonby.

The quarterly criminal sessions of the Auckland Supreme Court open this morning, before the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout. There are_26 prisoners for trial. About fifteen 1914 Stars will be conferred on members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at the Drill Hall, Rutland Street, to-morrow evening in the course of one of the territorial parades. The presentations will be made by the officer commanding the district, Colonel •tt. R. Potter. The plight of the population of Niue through the non-arrival of the schooner Jubilee, with stores, etc., is receiving the attention of the New Zealand Government. Word has been received in Auckland that instructions have been cabled to the Administration in Samoa to forward food, drugs, etc., to Niue by the Ajax, the vessel chartered by the London Missionary Society to take the Rev. G. Beherall to the 'island. Intimation has been received that the Waitemata, leaving this port for San Francisco, has been (requested to keep a look out for the Jubilee.

Several of the jockeys in jumping races at Ellerslie on Saturday suffered falls owing to their mounts blundering at various obstacles. Fortunately all escaped without serious hurt. W. Erickson, the rider of General Stephen in the Trial Hurdle race, had a fortunate escape. General Stephen struck the second fence heavily, and fell. The animal seemed to roll right over his rider, and as the horse rose Erickson's left foot remainea in the stirrup. General Stephen was to some extent disabled by an injured stifle, and he remained standing. The gear holding Erickson's foot broke, and the jockey was thus released from a perilous position. Erickson soon revived, and he subsequently rode Mestee to victory in. the steeplechase. A

Practically all the money has been' collected for the Cambridge district war memorial, which will take the form of a handsome column, to be erected in Jubilee Gardens, fronting, the Town Hall. Mr Nigel WaJlnutt. of Auckland, is the designer and architect in charge of the work, .which will be commenced almost immediately.

The eccentric behaviour of a man who was talking and gesticulating wildly, in Seddon Street, Birkenhead, on Friday led to investigations by Constable Beddek. When the man, who was Obviously under the influence of liquor, saw the constable he attempted to mount a horse in an adjacent paddock. The horse, however, was too acute, and the man chased it round the paddock. When apprehended by the constable the man gravely said he would put- £1000 on Gold Kip and £500 on Crowhurst for him at the races', and would lend him '£100 if he released his captive. The man, John Nicholls, appeared at the Police Court on Saturday morning, when he was remanded for a week's medical treatment before answering a charge of having been found helplessly .drunk. >

An interesting account of the work of the Y.M.C.A. in China was given by Mr. R. Adair in an address at the Auckland Y.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon. He' said the task of the organisation in China was enterprising and challenging. Already there had been established in that country 187 Y.M.C.A. 's, 'with 420 secretaries. Throughout China there were over 300 native secretaries, and each association was autonomous and self-supporting. By fostering student Christian organisations, of which there were 150, the future leaders of that great Republic were brought into dynamic relationship with a virile Christianity. It was significant that- Dr. Wang, who represented China at the Peace Conference in Paris, was once president of- a college Y.M.C.A. in America, and this was but one of many outstanding instances of Chinese students in America having been inspired to give the Christian emphasis to their life work. Similar movements are being carried on in Japan, Russia, and South America. Forty-one petitions in divorce have been filed for hearing by the Supreme Court in Wellington, at the sittings opening today. Defences have been filed in nine cases. The subject of 'rural education was discussed by the Board of Agriculture last week. The Director-General of Education, Dr. C. J. Reakes, reported that the board's suggestion in regard to the formation of agricultural clubs for boys and ! girls had been adopted by the conference held recently between the Agricultural and Education Departments. Tho board decided to recommend that an organiser be appointed to visit the different districts and A. and P. and other associations thai wish to start clubs in their centres, and that a sum of money be set aside tor the purpose; further, that A. and P. associations be invited to co-operate in the movement by opening special classes, and offering prizes for the best animals or produce exhibited by members of such clubs.

An announcement has been made by the British Air Ministry that medal roll's of those who served in the Royal Air Force and qualified for the British War and Victory medals, are being prepared. Demobilised and invalided officers of the Royal Air Force— they have already done —are requested to write immediately to the secretary, Air Ministry (5.7 Medals), Kingsway, London, W.C.2, for the necessary form of application (AM., Form 618). Medal rolls in the case of airmen are now being prepared at the record office, and at present no application on their part is necessary.

Authority has been given by Order-in-Council for the raising of the following loans by local authorities:—Mount Albert Borough Council, £ICG,QOO for road works and purchase of plant, and £82,000 for drainage; * Morrinsville Town Board £34,000 for drainage and £900 for purchase %¥*££ hal] sue; Piako Countv Council Soo.OOO for purchase of road-making 5£25i Bry ' 3 lan g°nHi County Council, ZAiffj tor erection of county offices,