LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18087, 11 May 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Beef prices at the West field fat stock sales yesterday wero about equal to tho rate:* ruling at last week's sale. Extra choice ox beef brought 23s per 10011), primo and choice from 18s to 225. Cow and heifer beef realised from 10s 1 c IQs. Mutton values were, rather easier compared with last week's rates. Wethers realised from £1 2s to £1 12s, ewes 17s to £1 8s 6d, lambs £1 2s 3d to £1 8s 6d.

11, is anticipated that a reiTuclion in the price of household coal will shortly be announced in Auckland. The prico lias already been reduced by 2s 6d per ton in Wellington in anticipation of lower work ing expenses. The position is now being considered by local coal dealers, and it is thought that, should the coalmine owners announce a reduction in wholesale cost, the retail price must inevitably fall in sympathy.

The shooting season in tho Hokianga district opened under perfect weather conditions, according to our Kohukohu correspondent, who reports that pheasants arr, plentiful, but, that the majority of tho birds aro small. Ho suggests that the season could well be put, hack a month to give the young cocks time to mature. All shooters report that throe to four hens rise to one, cock. Several very good hags were procured on th c opening day, several sportsmen gettipg from six to eight birds, although one is known to havo got, his full quantity—ten. It is also stated that more, attention has been paid to ducks this year than hitherto. A Rawene party secured 30 birds in the Umawera, while another party secured 50 in the same river. Taking it all round tho shooting has been good.

Tho haunts of the tuatara lizard were mentioned yesterday by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, curator of the Auckland Museum. Although the reptile is very rarely found on the mainland, Mr. CheescnUD said that tuataras were on all out-lying islands of any size, from Cook Strait to the North Cape and the Three Kings. The islands in the Isay of Plenty, Cuvier Island, Little Barrier, Poor Knights, and the Hen and Chickens were mentioned as likely places. The tuatnra sometimes lived in the nestingplaces of the rnutton bird, and was often accused of stealing the, eggs, or even attacking the young birds with its extremely sharp teeth.

"Has anything been done about the Rangiriri hill road deviation ?" asked a member of the Auckland Automobile Association last evening. Another member lemarked: "Some duck-shooters .who were up there tho other day noticed that tho new road had been surveyed round the swamp, -md the pegs have been placed in the ground."

Two typhoid patients were admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday, one from ?Jorriingsidc. and the other from Dominion Road. The Remuera Fire Brigade received a call to tho corner of Gillies Avenue, and Owen's Road at nine o'clock last evening. The alarm, however, proved to be false. One of Che three electric cranes which arrived at Auckland about three weeks \ ago ia being put together on the Quay Street breastwork by the Harbour Board's staff. The board has altogether on order for use. on tho various wharves 12 cranes of a lifting capacity of three tons. The Kaimai Road, between Matamata and Tauranga. is at present dangerous for traffic. It is reported that motorists are not using the road until improvements have been effected,

The Mount Roskill Road Board will in future draw its water supply from the city. This decision was made by the board on the recommendation of the Minister for Health, thc Hon. C. J. Paxr. Tho board on Tuesday decided to dispose of its pumping plant."

Burglars have been busy in tho district surrounding Hobson Street in the last few days. On Saturday night thieves broke into the premises of Messrs. Stuart Cave and Co. in Albert Street, gaining an entrance by smashing the plateglass panel in the front door. About £1 in silver, cigarettes, tobacco, overcoats, and shoes wero taken. The premises of C. N. Williamson and Co. in Kingston Street were also entered and thoroughly ransacked, but nothing of value was taken. Attempts were also made to force an entry to the offices of tho Northern Boot and Shoe Company in Federal Street and the premises of Messrs. T. and A. Katterfeldt in Kingston Street, but in each case the heavy door fastenings prevented the would-be intruders gaining an entrance.

Tho excellent service rendered by Mr. S. Bond, who is retiring after 20 years as custodian and head gardener at Government House, Auckland, is referred to in an appreciative letter received by Mr. Bond from Mr. J. Hislop, Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs. The grounds have assumed a park-like appearance under Mr. Bond's care, and have been the subject of much favourable comment by citzens and visitors alike. Mrs. Bond has also received the highest commendation for her services as housekeeper at Government Hops*.

In connection with the Auckland commercial travellers' " Old Clothes Drive" next week, the question was raised at the meeting of tho Auckland Automobile Association last evening whether the " drive'' was to extend to the Mount Albert district. Tho chairman, Mr. P. Obltmen, said it would not. Tho members of the association have agreed to provide cars for the " drive."

Dealing with the social work of the Salvation Army at a gathering at tho Wellington Town Hall, tho commissioner. Mr. H. C. Hodder, mentioned that there wero seven maternity homes in the various New Zealand centres, and 396 children wero bom in them last year, no deaths being recorded. Passing on to other phases of the army'B social work, the commissioner stated that thero were four rescue homes, one in each centre, to which 118 persons were admitted last yean. There wero threo prison-gate homes, to which 443 rnon wero admitted. These, men, he explained, were now working out their own salvation, employment being found for 112, the remainder being employed in the army. At tho workmen's homos in Wellington and Auckland. 63,820 beds wero provided in tho course of tho year (2599 free), and 97,887 meals were supplied (6044 gratis). Tho SaJvation Army had 16 children's homes in tho Dominion, in which 541 children wero cared for.

'Lite durability of Now Zealand native timbers has been frequently questioned, and a recent discovery in the Ngaire district, Taranaki, throws some interesting light on this subject. A ranger of tho Statu Forest Service, when making investigations as to tho species of trees growing m that district, came upon some logs buried in the swamp, and was surprised to find that tho timber was that of the vellow silver pine, a tree unknown in Taranclki at the present time. The logs were recovered from a depth of 15ft. underground, and above them were standing kahikatea and rimu stumps at least. 250 years old. In spite of tho great antiquity of these silver-pine logs the timber comprising them w;vs perfectly sound, and showed no signs of deterioration. When questioned, tho local Maoris had no recollection or tradition of any trees of this species ever having been heard of in Taranaki. The present locality of this silver pine is in the centre of tho North Island, where over 1000 acres covered by this valuable tree have been discovered in the State forest adjoining the Tongariro National Park. The silver pine is greatly valued for posts and battens, the timber never having been known to decay when in contact with the ground.