LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18173, 19 August 1922, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

... mm The Auckland fish market has been very well supplied during the present • week, excellent supplies having come forVtard from the various trawlers, and good varieties included in the different catches. An exceptionally fine haul of 700 baskets was landed by the James Cosgrovo on Monday, while the Baroona on Tuesday came in with 300 baskets. The Thomas Ourrell on Wednesday landed 400 baskets, and the Countesis, from the gulf, had 300 baskets on Thursday. The City Council's trawlers, Simplon and Cowan, both had good catches, the former arriving in the harbour on Tuesday and the Simplon on Thursday. Complaints of cargo broaching on the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Whakatane at the Queen's Wharf led to Detective Gourley, accompanied by Messrs. Fisher and Robertson, of H.M. customs, keeping, watch when cargo operations ceased at 10 p.m. yesterday. As the waterside workers filed down the gangway the detective intercepted one of the men, who was carrying a suspiciously full lunch bag. . The bag, it is stated, was found to contain 500 cigarettes in packets. The man was- arrested on a charge of theft. The matter of securing'a better environment for children living under bad home conditiona formed the subject of discussion between Sister Esther and the Relief Committee of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. The former stated that in the course of her work she frequently came into contact with very sad cases of destitution and neglect of children, but unless the parent* were willing to pay for their maintenance, it was a very difficult matter to remove the children into better homes. In the particular case Tinder discussion, the children were now in a home, but it would be impracticable for them'to remain there, while it wa3 most undesirable that they should be permitted to return to their parents. The hospital authorities, while fully sympathising with the children's need, deferred definite action until full investigation had been made Among the improvements contemplated iu the city parks is a grotto fountain in front of the old exhibition buildings in the Domain. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated yesterday that the foundation work had already been carried out, and the construction probably would be completed toward the end of the year. Reasons why the system of rating on unimproved values should not be adopted for Northcote were expounded at a public meeting last evening. The Mayor, Mr. W. E. Richardson, presided. Several points were emphasised by speakers to indicate that the system would not work equitably in the borough, which was closely built upon in portions, while a large area was utilised for fruitgrowing and small farms. The unimproved rating, it. was maintained, would work inequitably to thoi<e engaged in getting their living by cultivating the land. That community singing has lost none of its popularity was evidenced by the fact that over 500 people attended the "singsong" held at the Broadway Theatre, Newmarket, vesterday. The singers were ably led by Mr. Alan McElwain. Mariy favourite airs were sung and heartily enjoyed by those present. Another gathering took place at the Empire Theatre. Dominion Road, where a large attendance sang with enthusiasm. The leader was Mr. Will D. More. The work of ih& Birkenhead Borough Council, and its loan proposals were explained at a well-attended meeting of ratepayers held in the Birkdale school last evening. Mr. J. W. Dadson presided. The Mayor. Mr. J. W. Court, said he had a vision'of what Birkenhead would be like if every thoroughfare were laid down permanently, as it should be. It could be made a "model borough, but ho was just wondering how far the ratepayers, who had to sanction the council's recommendations, would allow that objective to be developed. He anticipated that the loan poll would be held within the next two months. Offers of donations to the Auckland Zoo continue to be received by the City Council. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated yesterday that on the previous day he had* received a letter from a resident of Taumarunui offering some kiwis that had been captured in the bush. The offer had been accepted, the donor agreeing to hold the birds until the zoo was ready to accommodate them. The zoo would be established not merely to exhibit a collection of animals, the objective being to make it a zoological park and recreation ground which would form, an attractive pleasure resort for the public. The restoration of the historic church at Russell is to be undertaken shortly, tenders having been called for the work this week. The floor of the church is to be raised, concrete foundations put in, and boarding to be replaced wherever necessary. For some time past, it has been the aim of settlers of the district to have the old church put into a state of good repair, for its historic associations make it one of the most interesting places of its kind in New Zealand. The old church was built 84. years ago, and New Zealand a first Governor, Captain W. Hobson, attended service within its walls. During the stormy days of the "forties" the little building played a conspicuous part in the fighting between Maori and pakeha, its walls still showing the.bullet holes inade by Hone Hekc's rifles, while in the graveyard outside are headstones bearing the names of those associated with the earliest history of the little township of Kororaraka. "Sugar-beet growing experiments on several farms in Central Otago have been carried out under the direction of the Department of Agriculture. So far as the crops are concerned the results have been excellent, and as they are now ready for harvesting the work of sugar analysis will be taken in hand immediately." This was the reply given by the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. W. Nosworthy, to a question asked in the House of Representatives. A large collection of New Zealand specimens—botanical, geological, and entomological—was shipped aboard the Tahiti at Wellington this week by the American scientists who have just completed their visit to New Zealand. The members of the party are:—Professor C. C. Nutting (State University of Iowa), Professor R. W. Wilie (botanist), Professor A. O. Thomas, (geologist), Dr. Dayton Stoner (entomologist), Mrs. Stoner, and Mr. Waldo Glock (geologist). Prior to leaving, Professor Nutting, who is in charge ot\ the expedition, said :— " The principal object of our visit has been to study the plants, animals, and geological features of the country, and also to establish relationships with the scientific men and institutions here. We are quite satisfied with the success of the expedition from our standpoint.' We want to express our high appreciation of the many oourtesie-s we have received from the New Zealand Government and from private citizens throughout our stay. We arc certain that, when the material we have collected has been studied and classified, it will prove exceedingly valuable from the standpoint of American naturalists." There has just been added to the "'Hocken Library, Dunedin, the original manuscript of the late W. N. Blair's hx>k on "The Building Materials of Otago." Mr. Blair's elaborate treatise was published in 1879, and is generally looked upon as a standard work on many of the New Zealand timbers and building materials. The- book has long been out of print and unprocurable, although still often referred to by engineers and others interested.