LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18059, 6 April 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Prices for beef at the Westfield fat stock , market yesterday showed a decline on the rates ruling last week. Extra choice ox sold up to £1 2s per 1001b., compared with £1 3s at the last sale, and prime making from 18s to £1. The previous week's vakes for mutton generally were maintained, and in some instances were exceeded. No heavy wethers were penned, but medium to heavy brought from £1 to £1 3s 6d, and light prime from 17s 6d to 19s 6d each. Best heavy prime young ewes made from 17s 6d to £1 Is, and I heavy fat ewes from 15s to 17s. There I was a steady demand for lambs, best prime bringing from £1 to £1 3s 9d, and light I prime from 17s to 19s 6d, while light ' realised up to 16s 9d, Pigs were in good demand, choppers making from £1 12s 6d up to £3; baconers, £3 5s to £3 9s; medium sorts, £2 9s to £3 3s, Heavy porkers and light baconers brought from £2 10s to £2 18s. The Auckland Trotting Club's Autumn Meeting was concluded yesterday at Alexandra Park, and there was an attendance jof about 16,000. The leading evont, the | Prince of Wales Handicap was won by Mr. G. Paton's mare Nita 8011. The. sum of £46,213 wss invested on the totalisator 'during the day, compared with £39,477 [on the corresponding day last year. Tho investments for the meeting amounted to £91,097 10s, an increase of £5877 on last year's autumn gathering. The Takapuna Borough Council was Igroatly amused bust evening at a threat contained in a letter received from 10 ratepayers, who urged that improvements should bo carried out to tho footpath in Corrella Road. Complaint was made of the condition of the footpath and the danger of pedestrians tearing their clothing on projecting gorse bushes, the letter concluding with the assertion that if no remedy was forthcoming the matter would be referred to the local ratepayers' association. A trial debate to choose the Auckland University College representatives at the inter-university debating contest at Easter was held last evening. Messrs. A. G. Davis, LLB, and P. O. Veale, M.Sc, v>tro selected. Messrs. E. C. Cutten, S.M., E. C, Purdio, and the Rev. A. B, ("happell were the judges. The subject for the debate at the Easter contest is, " That the rights of self-government similar to those enjoyed by the self-governing Dominions should be granted to India." Canterbury College won the contest last vear, and thus hold the Joynt Challenge Scroll.

An old man was picked up in the Domain Drive, near the Parnell entrance, shortly before 1 o'clock this morning, and was conveyed to tho Auckland Hospital by a passing motorist who saw him lying on the roadway. It was found that he had sustained a scalp wound, and it is presumed he had been knocked down by a motor-car. His name was not known this morning. The ciarge of excessive punishment of several school children recently made against the headmaster of a school in the Auckland district by parents of the children was again considered by the Education Board in committee yesterday. The headmaster's explanation in connection with the punishment inflicted on a girl pupil was discussed at some length, and tlie matter finally referred to the advisory inspector for a report. The stained glass window in the Otahuhu Methodist Memorial Sunday School has been unveiled, the president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. C. H. Laws, performing tho ceremony. The minister of the circuit, the Rev. H. L. Richards, presided. Captain Sexton represented the Returned Soldiers' Association. The public schools of the Auckland education district will not, as in former years, observe a week's holiday at Easter. Under the new arrangement, a week's holiday will be observed at tho end of May, and another at the end of August. Good Friday and Easter Monday are the holidays appointed by the board for Easter, but as the annual sports jj the Primary Schools' Athletic Association take place next Thursday, that day will also be a holiday. The number of public schools in operation in the Auckland district at the end of last year was 704, including 98 parttime and three itinerary schools. Thirtythree new schools were opened and 14 closed during the year. Tho total number of scholars enrolled at the end of last year was 60,317, an increase of 3081. Tho yearly average attendance was 52,223, an increase of 2564. Complaint was recently mado of the excessive speed at which motor-cyclists travel along Edendale Road, particularly at weekends. It was stated that the reasonable speed limit was in many cases greatly exceeded. In view of the fact that a largo public school is in the vicinity, and the district includes numbers of children, the matter was brought under the notice of tho Mount Albert Borough Council, which has requested the police to deal with the matter. Reference to the Dominion grading scheme is contained in tho annual report of the Auckland Education Board, which states that tho scheme had been attended generally with satisfactory results. One result of the introduction of the grading list as the basis of promotion had been an influx of teachers from other education districts, while a large number of uncertificated teachers were now seeking to improve their positions by obtaining certificate*, Tho number of certificated teachers was steadily increasing, owing largely to the activities of tho Auckland Training College and to the increase in the salaries of junior teachers. Injuries io tho head and back were received by Mr. John O'Brien, a granite sawyer, employed by the Coromandel Granite Company, Beaumont Street, in an accident at the company's yards yesterday afternoon. While a hand-crane was being used to raise a block of stone, it fell, Mr. O'Brien being struck by the chain. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. Ho is a married man, aged 54, and resides at Franklin Load.

The Mount Albert Borough Council has written the Auckland Electric Power Board pointing out Mount Albert's position in tho matter of electric power and lighting. It has requested the board to take into consideration the roticulation of the borough, and furnish the council with an estimate of such work as regards both streets and buildings. For the month of March the rainfall recorded a't Ngu-uawahia was 8.5 in., falling on 21 days. For the three months ending March 31, tho total rainfall is just upon 24in., which is believed to constitute something in the nature of a record for 'the district. This excessive rain has been responsible for a tremendous growth of feed, so that all farmers are facing the winter with easy minds, so far as flock food is concerned. Tho Maori Soldiers' Fund and matters connected with its administration, which were the subject of representations to tho Prime Minister by the executive of thei Returned Soldiers' Association, during his recent visit to (he city, have been engaging tho attention of the Hon. A. T. Ngata, M.P., at Rotorua during the last ' few days. The Arawa returned soldierspassed a resolution of confidence in the' trustees of the fund, and Mr. Ngata outlined a scheme for assisting Arawa soldiers, which wa B received with acclamation. It is expected that the finance necessary to carry out the scheme will shortly be available. A poll of ratepayers at Foxton yesterday, by 145 votes lo six, favoured the constitution of a lire district and fire board for the borough, says a Press Association message. Very little interest was taken in the poll, but the result indicates publio feeling in the matter. ,