LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17641, 30 November 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Seventeen Chinese arrived in Auckland yesterday, 14 from Sydney by the Riverina and three who returned by the Mokoia from the Western Pacific Islands. The total number of Chinese who have arrived in Auckland since January 1 is now 751, excluding the three who returned yesterday.

The supply of cement for building purposes is being restricted, owing to the inability of Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement Company to secure an adequate supply of coal for its works. The company's Warkworth works are still closed, and the total output of cement from the Portland works is only half of what it was in normal times. The average weekly output for the present year to date is only slightly over a thousand tons.

Six cases of pneumonic influenza were reported to the Auckland district health officer during the week ended at noon yesterday, compared with eight cases the preceding week. Two notifications were received from the city, two from the suburbs, and one each from Waiuku and Hamilton.

A number of complaints were inquired into yesterday by the Auckland Prices Investigation Tribunal, but none of the inquiries were finally disposed of. Among the new complaints brought before the tribunal were two relating to alleged overcharges by carrying firms, two regarding grocery and drapery charges by country storekeepers, and one in reference to the increased charge for gas in the city.

The regulations framed by the Department of Agriculture, as a result of the outbreak of fire blight, in order to prevent the spread of the infection, have been flagrantly disobeyed by some person in the Auckland district. A week or two ago an orchardist in one of the principal fruit-growing areas in Nelson received through the post a parcel containing five or six pieces of pear-wood about a foot in length, infected with the fire blight. He states that he had been expecting to receive a specimen of wood ravaged by the new outbreak for the purpose of identification, but he had anticipated that it would be enclosed in a sealed glass receptacle. He says that on opening the parcel he at once realised the danger, and immediately burned the contents. The regulations gazetted in June last prohibit any persons from sending any pear, apple, quince, or hawthorn plant, or wood out of the Auckland district to any other part of the Dominion.

The Onehunga Borough Council last evening received a request from the Piako County Council for support in its protest against the closing of the Waikato Sanatorium by the Public Health Department. The matter was referred to the council in committee, as also was a suggestion by the Gisborne Borough Council in favour of premium bonds being issued by local bodies in raising loans.

A married woman, Mrs. Ada Hannah White, residing at Dalmore, North-East Valley, Dunedin, was found dead yesterday, death being by hanging. She left a letter indicating her intention of taking her life. Deceased , had been in poor health for some time, says the Press Association.

" The carting of scoria through the borough to Anzac Avenue has caused at least £3000 damage to Mount Eden Road," said Mr. T. McNab, at the meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening. There were 20 heavy fourton motor-lorries engaged in the work, Mr. McNab said, and the more trips they made the more they were paid, and the more damage was done to the road. The engineer, Mr. J. Rogers, said there was no doubt something must be done, as motor-traffic had caused fully £2000 damage to Mount Eden Road. It was decided that a deputation wait upon the City Council and ask it to increase the motor-license fees. Mr. McNab said it would be better for the Borough Council if it went b*«k to the old toll-gate. The town clerk, Mr. S. Gray : The council would be within its rights in putting up a toll-gate. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter : We do not want to go back to prehistoric days.

Building operations in the Mount Albert district are being actively pursued. The building inspector for the borough reported to the Borough Council last evening that for the three weeks ended November 25 permits had been issued "for the erection ■of 12 dwellings valued at £10,760, and two motor garages valued at £95. Permits for alterations and additions to dwellings for the period amounted to £129. In the period from April 1 to November 21 a total of 9b permits for the erection of dwellings had been issued, the value of the buildings being estimated at £81,560. Sales over the counter will be commenced at the surplus military stores depot at the Drill Hall to-morrow. Though the sale entails the services of a large, staff, territorial and cadet training has not been cancelled. Efforts to recover the Hobson County steam road roller from the Wairoa River by means of a scow have failed, as the weight was too heavy for the vessel, telegraphs our Dargaville correspondent. Two pontoons are now being used. Natives are employed in diving under the muddy water to get chains round the roller. There was a panel of 120 from which to select the jury for the Pukekawa murder trial yesterday at the Supreme Court. Eight'of the summoned jurymen applied for exemption, and six were relieved from duty, the other two being challenged. A 'total of 48 had been challenged or asked to stand aside before the 12 seats in the jury box were finally occupied. The remaining jurors were dismissed from further attendance. *> An application from the Local Bodies' Labourers' Union asking for payment of the cost-of-living bonus of 9s a week wa3 received by the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening. The application was deferred pending the result of the conference between employers and unions in Wellington. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, said that if the bonus were granted it would bring the cost of works to double that of pre-war days. The Mount Albert Borough Council last evening decided to deter payment of the bonus till the matter had been decided by the Arbitration Court.

Raucous motor horns are reported to be causing a certain amount of annoyance in Christchurch. A returned soldier, disabled and -shocked, has complained to the Mayor, on behalf of himself and other wounded men, that some of the noises made are particularly disturbing. In one case an ex-soldier received such a shock that he fell off his bicycle almost in front of a tramcar. A unique bathing pool is this year available on the west coast, telegraphs our Dargaville correspondent. A large piece of sandstone rock has been worn away by the ocean about sft. above beach level, making an ideal swimming bath, 25ft.' long, 15ft. wide, and s£ft. deep. This is covered by the -ocean only at high tide, and is available during most of the day as a, tepid bath, for the sun warms it. At full tide the water is renewed. The Christchurch City Council last evening, on the motion of Mr. Sullivan, M7P., carried the following motion: — "That with a view to the encouragement or New Zealand secondary industries, and in order to maintain the prosperity of the Dominion, the Minister for Industries and Commerce he asked to initiate a propaganda throughout the countrv urging the people to purchase only New Zealand-made goods when such goods are obtainable - to accomplish a similar object-, and in order to maintain local workers in employment the City Council urges the citizens of Chnstchurcn to purchase New Zealand-made sods during the present slack period* " Later ip the evening, says a Press Association telesram, notice of motion was oiven by Mr. Hunter expressing the opinion°th»t undue exploitation was going on in the Dominion, particularly "in relation to clothing and footwear, and asking for legislation to enable citizens to appoint vigilance, committees to dsal with prices and profiteers. r