LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18019, 18 February 1922, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The punctuality observed by the steamer fjlimaroa in her departure for Sydney yesterday led to two passengers being placed in an unploasant predicament. The steadier was casting off and was oloar of the wharf with tie exception of one line, when a taxi dashed on to the scene- Two breathless men jumped out and hurried to the edge of the wharf, gesticulating excitedly. The officers of tho steamer lent a wil'ing ear to their entreaties, and thev had just sufficient time to be. hauled on board by means of a rope. They, however, departed on their voyage minus their luggage, which was taken away again in tho taxi.

A defective motor caused a delay of half an hour to the last car to Onehunga last evening. The car broke down near the Public Library in Wellesley Street, not having sufficient power to negotiate tho steep grade. Aftor several fruitless attempts were made to get it up the hill, it was driven back to tne foot of Queen Street and taken out via Anzac Avenue, passing the top of Weliesloy Street at midnight. The rest of the journey was made without mishap.

The first overseas shipment of fra/sen meat was despatched from the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's works at Moerewa, Opua, this week. The large New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Opawa arrived a* Russell last Saturday and in four working dayß she loaded 30.000 carcases of meat and 145 casks of tallow. The produce was railed from Moerewa to Opua, a distance of 12 miles, and then loaded into lighters which were towed to tho Opawa anchored in the bay off Russell. Each lighter earned about 1400 carcases ana very satisfactory »ork waa done loading the ntearner, which at times was taking aboard over 1000 carcases an hour. The Opawa is completing loading at. Auckland and will sail for England next week.

''The dehydration of fruit and vegetables could be made a very profitable business in New Zealand," said Mr. A. F. Spawn, who has for years been interested in this form of preserving fruit, vegetables, and fish in the United Stales, in the course of conversation yesterday He mentioned that less than 50 per cent, of the fruit and vegetables grown in this country reached the consumers. "There is a great market in London to-day for goods prepared under this treatment." he said. "The advantage lies in the fa»t that large quantities can be shipped at small cost, and no nutriment is lost." Mr. Spawn stated that 1001b. of apples could be reduced to 121b. by the debydratine process. Auckland lie considers admirably situated for the development of an industry of this description.

An outbreak of fire occurred under the floor of Mr. W. J. Barton's boot factory, Commercial Road, Kingsland, at 2 p.m. yesterday. The Mount Albert Fire Brigade arrived promptly and prevented any serious damage Being done. The building i s insured in the South British Office for £1230, and the stock and machines in the South British and New Zealand Offices, for £8220. A second outbreak, caused through a gas-ring lighting back, occurred in the kitohen of a sixroomed houso situated nt 14, New Street, Ponsonby, at 5.25 p.m. The flames set light to the woodwork near by, which war, chaired before the fire brigade arrived. The occupier of (lie house is Mr. W. C. Wilinms, and it is insured for £800 in tho Royal Insurance Company,

The largest shipment of onions ever made from New Zealand will be despatched from Auckland to America by the mail steamer Niagara on Tuesday. The shipment consists of 8000 cases and 1600 bags all from Pukekohe and the surrounding districts. Besides being the larg. est quantity for shipment, the onions are said to be the finest and cleanest ever got together for export. It is about two years since any quantity of onions 'have left New Zealand for America. List year the American crop was good, and sufficient for local needs. This year the crop has not been a success. Early in the season the ord»rs went to Australia, when prices were from £2 to £3 a ton cheaper than in New Zealand. As the season advanced the Australian prices hardened, and now New Zealand can compete, tho shipment to go by tho Niagara being the result, What quantity of onions is being despatched from Australia to America is not announced, but one Australian shipper has an American order for 2000 tons.

Tho total applications for shipping space made by New Zealand fruit. growers for this &eason*g export of apples to England amount to 102,250 cases, Nelson accounting for 79,650 cases! Hawke's Bay for 13,350 cases and Marlborough for 9250 cases. The Westmoreland, which will load at Wellington next week, will take 15.000 cases, and the vVhangaratt* and Athenic, which are due to load next month, will lift 16,000 and 16,250 cases respectively. So far space has been secured for 77,000 cases.

Good progress is being made with the City Council's transformer station at KingsJand, but it is not yet certain when it will he completed owing to the uncertain manner the material is coming to hand. When finished the station is to be used for the tramway department and no provision has been made for utilising it for distributing power to the residents of the district. The dimensions of the building and plant, however, are such that in the event of the station being taken over by the Auckland Power Board, it will be adequate to meet all power requirements in Kingsland for some time.

A farmer of Avondale, John Dolphin, has been adjudicated a bankrupt. The first meeting of creditors will be held next Thursday at the office of the Official Assignee.

The proposal to raise a special loan of £3000 in the Kaukapakapa riding of the Waitcmata County Council hae been altered The board's engineer has prepared a schedule of the proposed works and the estimated cost of each, Tho total amounts to £4500. The £3000 previously mentioned provided only for part of the cost of each work, the balance being expected to be covored by Government subsidy. The proposal now is to ask ratepayers to sanction a loan for the full amount on the understanding that a subsidy is obtained. Only the amount required will be borrowed.

Income-tax payers who are in receipt of ■a military pension receive no rebate on the amount of pension which is classed as "unearned" income. A protest against this was made recently in the House of Representatives by Mr." G. Mitrhell. The Prime Mini-tor made an inquiry on the subject, and he has been advised by the Commissioner for Taxes that to make the desired change an amendment in the Act would be required. It is stated that very few men are affected.