LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18075, 27 April 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A by-election to fill vacancies on the Auckland City Council caused by the deaths of Mr. H. D. Heather and Mr. P. M. Mackay is to be held to-morrow. Four candidates have been nominated, two by tho Labour Party and two by tho Progressive Citizens' Election Committee. Messrs. R. F. Barter and E. J. Phelan are the Labour nominees, and Messrs. S. I, Crookes and A. E. Lawry are tho Progressive candidates.

A pleasant change took place in the weather conditions at Auckland yesterday. The wind had been very changeable and at times boisterous, with rain frequent, for some days. On Tuesday evening tho wind moderated and the conimproved. Yesterday there was a lighb wind and clear sky, the bright sunshino tempering tho southerly breeze. Tho barometer, which had fallen to 29.90 in. at 2 p.m. nn Tuesday, had risen by last night to 30.30 in.

The conditions for teaching at Hunlly were unfavourably reported upon at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Education Board. Notification was received from the Education Department declining a request for the establishment of a manual training school there. The announcement was received with disappointment, it being pointed out that the people of tho district had raised £500 toward the cost. The secretary, Mr. E. C, Purdie, said that when ho was inspecting schools some years ago ho held the opinion that school teaching at Htintly was carried on under the worst conditions in tho Auckland Province. It was decided to urge the board's request upon the Minister for Education by deputation.

Forty-three applications wero dealt with by tho War Pensions Board yesterday. Iji 11 instances permanent pensions were granted and in 22 cases temporary renewals were agreed to, 9 of these being deemed to be final grants. Grants in full settlement wero made in two cases. In two instances tho board decided to adhere to a former decision. An increase of pension was made in one case. Other applications were adjourned for consideration on tho expiry oi the present grants.

The question of school sanitation was referred to by the chairman of the Grafton householders' meeting, Mr. D. Duncan, in a resume of the past year's work. He said that the antiquated sanitary system at the school had been allowed to continue despito the protests mado against it and tho obvious menace to the health of the children and the community. A hope was expressed that the incoming committee would continue the past endeavours to have the unsatisfactory condition of affairs remedied.

A reference to tho late Mr. S. Percy Smith, formerly surveyor-general, who died at New Plymouth last week, was made at a meeting of the North Auckland Land Board yesterday. The commissioner of Crown lands, Mr. R. P. Greville, said that Mr. Percy Smith was one of the most distinguished public servants that New Zealand had ever had, and he had left an honoured and respected name in the Lands Department. On the commissioner's motion the board adjourned for a quarter of an hour in respect to the memory of the former head of the department. A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Alfred Cooper, a carpenter, of Cheltenham Terraco, Devonport. The first meeting of creditors will be held at he official assignee's office next Wednesday. The first Government revaluation of the One Tree Hill Road Board district since 1913 has been completed and the figures were read at tho Road Board's meeting last evening. On ulie revaluation the capital value is now £2,346.225. subject to alterations by the Assessment Court, an increase of £920,495. The value of the buildings for which permits were. issued last month totalled £6781.

The splendid work done by Mrs. Gunson and her lady helpers in connection with Poppy Day was referred to at the annual meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association last evening. The president, Mr. E. W. Inder, said the untiring snorts of the ladies had been responsible for the success of the day. The meeting passed a hearty vote of thanks and appreciation to the lady helpers and also recorded its thanks to Mr. A. A. Martin and all others for the use of motor-cars.

An excellent entertainment waa provided for the inmates of the Auckland Gaol on Anzac Day, The Rev. Jasper Calder, with the assistance of Mr. Burnnand's orchestra, gave an attractive programme, fhe iiems rendered by Mr. Calder were amusing, but one or two recitations had a note of j athos, appropriate to the occasion. These occasional breaks in the monotony of prison life are stated to have a wholesome eßect upon the men, by varying the monotony of the daily routine.

I An unusual point cropped up at the first meeting of householders of the Kowhai School district. Two of the candidates— Messrs. A. A. Buckley and W. A. Pryor— were nominated at the meeting. The nominators claimed that under Section 19 of the Education Board circular governing school committee elections they had the right to propose candidates at the meeting. The chairman, Mr. L. E. Rhodes, disagreed, pointing out that the footnote to the section seemed to make it clear that Kowhai district was in the urban area, end not in the rural area. He held that the candidate"! in question were, therefore, not eligible.

A suggestion made at the householders' meeting at Mount Albert, on Monday evening, that, school children in the Dominion should open up a correspondence with school children in Britain and Canada, was supported by Mr. J. M. Mitchell, formerly architect to tbe Auckland Education Board, who recently returned to Auckland after a number of years spent abroad. Mr. Mitchell said he thought the children overseas would gladly welcome letters from New Zealand. Tho practice, moreover, would tend to foster the Imperial spirit. If the children could be encouraged to write as child to child on such topics as the Maori, the hot springs, kiwis, and nature studies gonerally, their letters should prove extremely valuable. The suggestion was recommended to the committee for consideration.

The Chief of the Polish' State has extended the jurisdiction of the ConsulateGeneral of the Republio of Poland for Australia to New Zealand, Letters patent to the above effect havo been received by tbe Consul-Goneral in Sydney, Mr. G. F. Earp, from the Polish Government, also King George's Exequatur confirming this extension of his commission.

Under the new regulations it is now necessary to hold a £1 license to shoot native gamo. This license also covers the holder for shooting imported game. The number of licenses printed is limited, so that early application is advisable, but the secretary of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society will undertake to send a license to every applicant. Attention is drawn by the society to the regulation prohibiting the use of automatic and autoloading guns.

Reports have been received for some time past of pigeon shooting, mainly per (medium of the small-bdre rifle, while tbe feathers from plucked pigeons are to be found frequently in the bush, says a Wellington paper. The birds aro now feeding on the nriro berry which abounds in the Orongoronco and Otaki bush. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society has now organised its rangers, honorary and otherwise, relegating districts to each Renorts from these are coming to hand, and some prosecutions will follow.

Repairs are still being effected to the Whenuakura railway bridge, on the New Plymouth line, which wap washed away when tho Whenuakara river was in flood recently. The trains to and from New Plymouth still have to proceed a,t a slow pace when travelling across it.