LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18062, 10 April 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Uliznaroa sailed from Sydney on Saturday for Auckland. The break on the telephone cable between iiri Island and the mainland has been repaired. The signalmen on the island were able to communicate by telephone with Auckland on Friday after having been cut off for about 17 days. The completion of repairs will be appreciated in shipping circles as, when in communication with Auckland, the signalman at Tiri can report vessels when they are 30 miles off the island. As a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr. H. Moore-Jones and Mr. T. D, o'Moore, the victims of the Hamilton Hotel lire, tho congregation attending tho evening service at St. Matthew's Church yesterday stood for a few moments in silence. At the commencement of his sermon, the Rev. C. H. Grant Cowen referred in eulogistic terms to the life and work of the late Mr. Moore-Jones and requested the church secretary to convey to tho relatives of the two victims the deep sympathy of the congregation. At tho morning service Mr. Grant Cowen referred to the recent death of the Rev. H. Robjohns, a curate of the church some years ago, and offered an expression of sympathy with Mrs. Robjohns on behalf of the congregation. Two false alarms were received on Saturday by tho City Firo Brigade. At 1.22 a.m, firemen were called to the corner of Hobson and Cook Streets, and again at about 6 p.m. they received an alarm from the corner of Albert and Cook Streets. In neither case could any trace be found of the person who broke the glass. In his anxiety not to miss the steamer Canadian Spinner on which ho is employed, a seaman jumped into the harbour from tho Queen's Wharf on Saturday, and commenced to swim out to the vessel, which was at temporary anchor in the stream. The nuin had been left ashore when the steamer went out into tho stream from the Western Wharf before sailing for Wellington. He secured a passage off to the vessel by tho launch Ferro, which had, however, to call at the Queen's Wharf en route. While waiU ing there tho seaman evidently feared that the steamer would sail without him, so ho decided to swim to her. After he had proceeded nearly 100 yards tho Ferro overtook him, picked him np, and succeeded in placing him aboard tho Canadian Spinner before she sailed. Tho thirtieth of, tho series of the New Zealand Official Year Book has been published by the Government Statistician. Mr. Malcolm Frasor. It has been enlarged in comparison with previous issues in respect of tho size of page from demyoctavo to royal octavo, and in volumo is considerably larger than the previous issue, the number of pages having been increased from 414 to 616, while space has been economised by the adoption of smaller typo. The volume comprises 36 sections, in comparison with 23 in the attenuated issue of 1920, the various enlargements having permitted " a decided advance toward the attainment of tho ideal set up somo years ago, but kept in abeyance through war and postwar conditions, of making the year book a full and authoritativo book of reference on all branches of the Dominion's activities, and all aspects of her Bocial and economic characteristics and progress."

Speaking on tho subjoct of the volcanio. character of the Auckland isthmus at the welcome to the Workers' Educational Association organised on Saturday, Professor A. P. W. Thomas said he had been told that steam was seen recently issuing from the ground at a spot not far from Auckland. Soon afterwards he had observed a similar phenomenon at Mount Eden. The rocks from which the steam issued were distinctly heated. Investigation, however, revealed that the rocks, previously covered with moisture, had suddenly become heated by the sun's rayp, and the condensation of the rising moistladen air was the cause of tho somewhat alarming phenomenon.

An unusually large apple, probably tho heaviest grown in New Zealand, is on view in a window in Christchurch. It is of the Alfriston variety, and was grown in Mr. Kiddey's Sundale orchard, Upper Moutere, Nelson district, and weighs 2|lb. No special cultivation or thinning was adopted to induce growth. In this respect the apple from Upper Moutere differs from a 31b. Rome Beauty, to which reference was made in a recent issuo of the American Fruitgrower This apple was raised in one of the far western States of America, and waR produced as tho result of thinning the tree, giving it plenty of fertiliser and plenty of water and good cultivation. The growth of weed in Lake Takapuna was discussed at length by the Lake Takapuna Board of Control at its last meeting. It was decided to authorise the Borough Council to employ two men to clear away the weeds near tho pumping stations ajid to remove tho dead weed on the shore of the lake. It was resolved to obtain reports from experts as to methods of total destniction of the weeds, it being recognised that the present temporary measures are useless. The chairman was also authorised to obtain contour maps of tho country surrounding the proposed sources of supply in connection with the effort to augment the water available for the boroughs concerned. A business man whose interests lie between Wairoa and Gisborne declares that there is not a single bona-fido case of unemployment in Wairoa, according to a Gisborno paper. The hydro-electric, railway, and harbour works proceeding in the district provide sufficient work for all who want it and aro not above accepting labourers' work. In order to economise the Government forms, a Palmerston North solicitor, who haa a score of land and income tax returns and copios to prepare, tried to use a number of last vcar's forms. Ho was faced, however, with the alteration of tho date no less than eleven times in one form and nino times in tho other, states a Palmerston North paper. School hours and homework are mentioned by the Southland school inspectors in their annual report. They state that toward the end of the year they mado a somewhat extensive inquiry into school hours, homework, and extra work with the view of discovering whether there was over-pressure in the schools. Ono outstanding fact was impressed upon them— that schools doing work within the ordinary school hours were quite outclassed in the race for scholarships by those in which some form of extra work and even overpressure prevailed. They took the opportunity of saying that in common fairness to children and teachers in the district,, they unanimously disapproved of extra work being given for scholarship and proficiency purposes,

Concerning honey crop prospects, the director of the horticulture division, Department of Agriculture, has received the following report for the Wellington district:—"The hulk of the season's honey crop has now been gathered, and apiaries are in courso of preparation for winter. Contrary to earlier' expectations, the quantity is disappointing, due to the a.bnormal climatic conditions. Quality also has suffered to some extent, on account of the same cause, which has, through a moistnro-charged atmosphere, made the ripening process difficult, resulting in samples being thin and watery. Beekeepers would do well to extract no unsealed honey this season. Prices have slightly declined for bulk lines on the open market. Comb honey is firm, and beeswax is quoted at Is 6dl lb." Tennis is credited with being the means of imparting vigour and endurance to its devotees. The Palmerston North courts furnish an interesting proof of this. About fonr months ago a player had the ill-fortune to lose a left arm near the shoulder. Twelve days, after the operation he could dress himself, and he is now reported to be playing his camee on the court vigOEpurfy ajg gkiifnllj &s spj,