LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18175, 22 August 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

■A decided decrease in the number of notifications of diphtheria to the Health Department is shown in the figures for the. week ended at noon yesterday. There were only eight cases last week, compared with 27 in the previous week. Of the eight three occurred in the city, one in the suburbs and four in country districts.

A party of #16 boys from Northern Wairoa, eight of whom have never been to a city before, will arrive in Auckland next Monday under the sponsorship of d)e Young Citizens' League. Of the 16 boys, four aro Maoris, and each lad represents a division of the Young Citizens' League in the -northern Wairoa. They will be accommodated at the Y.M.C-A. and wilJ bo shown the sights of the oity and entertained by various local associations and bodies during their week's stay. The- chairman of the Rotary Club, Mr. C. Rhodes, announced at the club luncheon yesterday that arrangements had been made to entertain the yoting visitors at the next weekly luncheon.

Several accident cases were admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday. A gardener, Mr. Herbert William Allison, residing at 4, Hastings Road, Dovonport, picked up a cartridge, which exploded in his right hand, blowing off the top of his thumb and injuring the index and second fingers. A child, three years of age, Herbert W. Evetts, while playing in the backyard at its home at Neilson Street, Onehunga, slipped and broke his left leg. While working at some over'head wiring in Manukau Road, Epsom, a City Council employee, Mr. Ernest ! Chapman, fell off the ladder, with the result that he received a compound fracture of the left leg. Mr. Chapman, who is single and 24 years of ago, resides at Eden Street, Ellershe.

In referring to the subject of visit-ng competitors to Auckland trotting meetings, the chairman of the Auckland Club, Mr. John Rowe, spoke yesterday of what ho termed the absurd cost of travelling in tho Dominion. It seemed an anomaly that a New South Wales owner could bring a horse to Auckland and return it to New South Wales at a less cost than for a joibrney to and from Canterburv. Mr. Rowe was of opinion that the New Zealand railways were penalising themselves in this matter and ir.at a reduction of charges would result in quadrupling the business done bv the department in this connection. Criticism was also levelled at the heavy taxationstyled as "class taxation"—imposed on racing in New Zealand, special emphasis being" placed on the limitations put upon clubs by the income tax. which prevented 'extensions of public accommodation in a manner commensurate with the growing popularity of the sport.

A provision limiting the charge for admission' to public recreation grounds to Is was discussed at the recent meeting of the executive of the Municipal Association at Wellington, and on ,the motion of the Iviayor of Devonport, Mr. H. S. W. King, representing several Auckland local bodies, it was decided to ask the Government to raise the maximum charge to 2s, plus tax, and that the provision should also apply to beaches vested in a borough council. In this connection, the Mayor of Masterton gave evidence of loss of revenue owing to important football fixtures being held at Carterton because the Masterton ground was a public domain with power to charge only Is admission thereto.

The date of, and plans for, the public appeal to obtain the sum of £80,000 required to complete the fund for the erection of tho War Memorial Museum will be considered at a joint meeting of the citizens' committee and the council of the Auckland Institute, to be held this afternoon. The meeting will also make arrangements for the jury of awards to commence their work of judging the designs submitted for the memorial. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, will preside.

The alteration of tho "safety zone" at tho interaction of Karangahapo Road and Symonds Street to a point opposite tho Jewish cemetery, is stated to have led to an improvement in the handling of traffic at this busy cross thoroughfare. A certain amount of confusion on the part of the public was noticeable for a day or two, but matters are reported to bo'now running smoothly. Reference has been made, by many people to the desirability of keeping clean the spaces between the various raised " zones" and tho tram rails. Waste paper, discarded tram tickets, fruit peelings, and other rubbish is allowed to collect, particularly at the zone at the top of Symonds Street.

Further evidence of economy in the Government printing department is afforded by its refusal to print free of cost the proceedings of the recent Municipal Conference, which had been done in previous years, according to a report on the recent meeting of tho executive issued by the Mayor of Dovonport. Mr. H>. S. W. King, to tho various Auckland local bodies which he represented at Wellington. Tho executive itself resolved not to have tho proceedings printed.

Wanton destruction took place in the Government Gardens at Rotorua one evening recently, when some persons unknown misplaced numbers of Labels, pulled up all tho pegs and score boards of the bowling club, destroyed plants and flowers and unset seats. A hapd-cart and barrow were thrown into the cooler reservoir and rollers were pulled in among tho flower beds, doing considerable damage.

An incident which happened during the exhibition billiards match in Wellington between Stevenson and Abotomy shows what, simple things will disturb a player in making a stroke. A local enthusiast, who had on several occasions timed the breaks, was occupying a seat at the top end of the table in cue line with baulk. In tho break of 297 Stevenson was in hand and was about to play the red loser, wanting the three for the 300. Out came the watch, the front flew open, and the bright inside of the case reflected the light straight to Stevenson's eyes just as he was striking, causing him to deflect ever so slightly, but enough to make his ball touch tho corner of the pocket instead of going down. The owner of the watch afterwards asked Stevenson how ho came to break down at a simple loser in which were all the elements of a much bigger break. He knows now.

'' The deer is becoming an unmitigated nuisance throughout the Rotorua, Wairarapa. Central Wellington, Nelson. Otago, Southland, and Westland regions, and its rapid increase is causing considerable alarm and concern in many parts of the country," reads an extract from the Forestry Service annual report. It explains that as well as causing serious damage to cereal and root crops, very substantial de struction of natural tree growth, plantations, and reproduction has already resulted through the districts hi question. The' annual national loss from this source is estimated at £100,000. In some regions it is now a case of deer or forests. It is satisfactory to note that a conference has been called by certain acclimatisation societies to consider this question, and already steps I ave been taken to, keep the herds 'in check. The service has undertaken a comprehensive survey of the animal, its depredations, its possible economic usefulness, and means of control.

' There are now only 17 hansom cabs plying for hire regularly in Christchurch and two or three four-wheelers. Of the remaining oab-drivers, one has been plying for hire for 43 years, and others for 30 years and more. 'They have all survived the motor-cab, and say that they are doing well. " Indeed, there are many old people who will not ride in taxis," said one cabman. " Then we have our regular patrons, people who stick to us, and then wo do very good casual business. We get over the ground quickly, we never kill anybody, rnd cur cabs are comfortable to ride in. It will be a long time Ijefore we are squeezed out altogether. Cur expenses are much lower than those of taxi-drivers."