LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, 23 May 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Two false alarms of fire were given from street alarm boxes last evening. The fir»t call was received at 7.53 p.m., from the corner of Northcote Street and Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, the City Fire Brigade and a motor ■ engine- from Grey Lynn turning out in response. The second call was received at a few minutes before nine o'clock, from the corner of Argyle Street and Clifton Koad, Ponsonby, the City Brigade, with motors from Ponsonby and Grey Lynn, answering the alarm. The City Brigade was also called ont in answer to a false alarm early on Saturday morning. The call was given by the employees of premises in Nelson Street, who noticed smoke issuing from Wilkinson and Boss' engineering works. On the brigade's arrival, it was found that the smoke was not proceeding from an outbreak of fire.

Several footballers received attention at the Auckland Hospital on Saturday for injuries received while playing in various matches during the afternoon. The only case necessitating the injured man's detention in hospital was that of Norman Wilson, aged 20, residing at Hillsborough Road, Onehunga, who received injuries to his right knee and shoulder. The humorous vein in the speech mad 6 by th_£ Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, at the Orphans' Club gathering on iSatnrday evening delighted the members. After a speech in lighter vein His Excellency roused roars of laughter by smilingly jaying: " 1 have greatly enjoyed the programmte, and I shall look forward with pleasure to its conclusion—remainder, I beg your pardon." The question of the revaluation of the county was discussed by the Waitemata County Council at its last meeting. In view of the fact that there is at present only one Assessment Court and one magistrate to hear objections to the valuation of properties throughout the Dominion, and that it would be a con" siderable time before the Court reached Auckland, the council resolved to request the Government to appoint an addi* tional magistrate for an Assessment Court which would commence its sittings in Auckland. Th 6 half-yearly theoretical examinations in music and elocution conducted by the Auckland University School of Music were commenced on Saturday. The practical examinations in the same subjects will be commenced to-day and coitinued during this week. Professor W- E. Thomas is the examiner in theory, having associated with him Mr. S. Kenneth Phillip in the practical subjects. There are 17 candidates in theory including 1 senior, 9 intermediates, 2 juniors, and 5 primary pupils. Entrants for the practical subjects number 45, comprised of 2 fellowship candidates, 2 associate, 3 senior, 11 intermediate, 16 junior, and 11 primary.

As the result of the explosion of a detonator at Okahukura, a Dalmatian, Michael Rosanbie, aged 26, employed as a ganger by the Public Works Department, was admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday, his left eye having been penetrated by a fragment of metaL He was brought to the city by the Main Trunk express yesterday from TaumaiTUnui. It is believed that the injury will cause the loss of bi3 eye. A number of dwellings in different parte of the city have been entered by thieves during the last five days, and in several cases articles of value have been stolen. In the majority of cases tEe thieves were active between seven and nine o'clock in' the evenings, when many people are temporarily absent. In every case entrance was not forced, but was made through unfastened doors or windows.

'The steamer Whakatane, which was damaged through colliding with the Admiral Codrington at Gisborne last week, was floated into Calliope Dock on Saturday morning. Upon examination it was ascertained that the damage to the vessel was not so serious as was first believed. A number oi plates were found to be buckled, and will have to be removed and straightened, i A large number of men, working day and night, are now employed on the vessel, and it is hoped to have the repairs effected by .Saturday.

The alterations in the tramway services, 'which the City Council approved at its meeting last Thursday evening, are to come effect this morning. Onehunga cars will he run via Queen Street and the Town Hall, instead of via Anzac A-venue. It will be a 10-minute serrice. The regular cars' on the Royal Oak •oute will be' discontinued. Epsom ,cars

will be run via Anzac Avenue' on a, 20 minutes' service, while Greenwood's Corner (Epsom) caxs will run via Wellealey Street East every 20 minutes. Kemuera terminus cars, via- Parnell, are to run every 13 minutes, with a 13 minutes' service to the third section on the same route intervening. On Sundays Victoria Avenue cars will be run'via Anzac Avenue.

It -was stated recently that Wahganni farmers were arranging to send a shipment of wool Home by a sailing, vessel. The opportunity has been largely availed of' by farmers along* the west coast and up the Main Trunk line as far as Talhape. Space for some 6000 bales has been booked, advice having been received that this will be practically, all the available space.

A severe earthquake was felt in Nine Island toward the. end of April. The shock was prolonged, but no serious damage was occasioned.

A credit balance of £4000 is shown by the accounts for the financial year of the Wellington City ...Council's milk supply undertaking. A statement to this effect was made in the Arbitration Court by the assistant manager.

Considerable anxiety has recently been expressed in Christchurch regarding the stability of the works constructed by the Public Works Department to divert tho Harper River into Lake Coleridge to maintain the level necessary for the operation of the hydro-electric station. The electricity branch of the department stated, a few days ago, that, since March 3, the level of the water in Lake Coleridge has risen s£in. This is lin. higher than the level recorded on May 2. Mr. L. Birks, chief electrical engineer, 'referring to the levels, stated that, according to the experience of past years the level of the water in the lake would, in other circumstances, be falling rapidly at this season of the year. The altered circumstances are due to the additional supply that is being provided \by the diversion of the Harper River. Latest reports in regard to the diversion works are that they are in a satisfactory condition. /

Whether it is true that Government expenditure during the war was wasteful it is a fact, says the Wellington Evening Post, that the present economy campaign is resulting in war-time acquisitions appearing in the most unexpected places For instance, during the war the Willocbra was taken over by the Government, as a troopship, and there are now on hand numbers of fittings, carpets and carpet runners, etc. The latter are beirmput to a good use, and nowadays 'visitors to at least one Ministerial office tread upon a runner boldly stamped at inter- «™ dl^< * ~ m which appears r Jff, Adelaide 'Steamship Company, Ltd. Incidentally, i fc is recalled that when the glass doors were first hung in the : main entrance to the new. Parliament Buildings they bore the name of a wellknown local " loan and investment" com- £*?/■ Under present conditions, the first naif of the.title is more optimistic than correct.

As one means of augmenting the municipal revenues, the Wellington City Council has decided to make an important change m reference to the weeklv orean recitals. Instead of the ■ recital's behia given on Saturday evenings, a s had been thfe practice up to, the present, some other suitable evening in the week will be set apart for this purpose. The Town Hall ■will therefore be available on Saturday nights for concerts and theatrical enter- . ■,—