LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18235, 31 October 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Diphtheria notifications received by the medical officer of health for the Auckland district for the week ended at noon yesterday totalled eight, showing a considerable decrease from last week's total of 14. Three cases occurred in the city or suburbs, and five in the country. One case of pneumonic influenza was notified from the country during the same period.

"You must be in New Zealand when the fishing is on," was the instruction given by Lord NorthcliSe to Sir William Beach Thomas, the war correspondent, who is M-iting a series of articles on Australia and New Zealand for the Times and the Daily Mail. Unfortuntely, owing to the death of Lord Northcliffe. Sir William has to curtail his stay in the Dominion from two months to about ten days as he has received cable advice to return to London as soon as possible. However, he intends to see as- much of New Zealand as he can in the short time available, and is looking forward to at least a little fishing.

The depression in the sheep-raising industry in the Poverty Bay district had affected the drovers very seriously, stated their representative, Mr. C. E. Bickiord, at the Arbitration Court yesterday Not only were many farmers doing their own droving, but some young farmers were doing work for other farmers at very low rates. Mr. Bickford considered this competition with regular drovers unfair, as the farmers, having then- farms at their back, were not wholly dependent on droving fees.

A clause in the "washing-up Bill authorises payment by the City Council of a sum not exceeding one-quarter, per cent, of the gross tramway revenue each year for the benefit and improvement of Ke sick and accident fund or the service The Mayor, Mr.,J. H. Gunson stated yesterday that this is a part of the-coun-cil's policy to raise the standard of the tramway service and promote satisfaction among its members, and thus make the whole system both attractive and efficient.

The Prisons Board held a sitting at Mount Eden Gaol yesterday, the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, presiding. A large number of cases were reviewed. The sittings in Auckland will bo concluded today, and the members of the board will leave by the Main Trunk express for To Awamutu this evening. The board will sit to-morrow at the Waikeria reformatory.

"All the indigenous trees of New Zealand are to be found in this island, but only in the Auckland district does the kauri exist," said Mr. W. B. Leyland. at the Rotary Club's luncheon yesterday. "It is necessary in the ' :rcsts of future generations to study the kauri, and in the Auckland district only can students see the kauri log converted into timber for the builder. Auckland is the only one of the four centres where the sawmillers and timjjer millers havo volunteered to subscribe toward the endowment of a chair of forestry at the University."

Parties to an industrial dispute could ask for a hearing in a sub-centre, but could not demand it, said Mr. Justice Fiazer at the Arbitration Court yesterday, when an application was made to hear witnesses at Gisborne. The time of the Court was very fully occupied as it was. His Hqnor later sketched the programme before the Court. Sittings at Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Christchurch would occupy the Court until the end of the year, and Napier, Wanganui, and probably New Plymouth had to be taken later, so that March was the earliest date that could be proposed for a sitting at Gisborne.

Fixtures for civil and divorce matters and cases before a jury and the Judge alone, for the November sittings of the Supremo Court will be made on Friday morning. The quarterly session opens next Tuesday.

Two robberies have occurred lately at Milford. On a recent evening the premises of Mr. Brinsley, storekeeper, were entered by a back window, and cigarettes and tobacco to the value of about £12 were stolen. Previously, Mr. Gee, also a storekeeper, had his till robbed of £4. Entrance was made while Mr. Gee was in another room, and the thief smashed the lock of the till to get the money.

Advice has been received by the Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. A. F. Bennett, from the Hon. C. J. Parr, member for the district, that the installation of the slot telephone at the Mount Albert tram terminus has been authorised. The work is to be nut in hand at once.

Chpoßsums may be taken or killed without license on Rangitoto Island. An Orcler-in-Council to this effect is published in the last Gazette.

Authority has been given to the Auckland CHy Council to borrow £89,875 at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent, to repay its antecedent liability. A loan of £1050 for a similar purpose, and at the same rate, has been sanctioned for the Onehunga Borough Council.

" New Z'oalanders are a fine type of people—loyal and patriotic, intelligent to a high degree and most hospitable," said Mr. D. Wilbur, Consul-GeneraJ for the United States, when interviewed during his recent visit to America. "I have never in my somewhat extended experience in the consular service received a more cordial welcome than has been extended, by the people of New Zealand. The trouble with the New Zealand people is that they are too modest—having failed to make known to the world the attractions for tourists artd sportsmen which their country possesses."

The velocity of the hurricane which blew at Carterton last weric compelled the majority of the side-showmen to take down their tents to save them from being torn to ribbons. A huge circus tent blew down while a show was in progress, and much amusement was created for outside onlookers by the unfortunate patrons of the circus emerging from beneath the large expanse of canvas stretched out over the ground. While a merry-go-round was being dismantled the wind caught an upright and hurled it against a party of lady visitors, one being bruised, on the head and another scratched about the face.

So fair the trout-fishing season in the Taranaki district has not been very kind to anglers, on account of the unfavourable conditions. Fish are reported to be plentiful and in good condition, so that satisfactory sport .is anticipated at an early date.

Reporting on the work of the inspector the annual report of the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stater,: "Two hundred and sixtysix cases have been investigated, and, in addition, a large number of minor cases not. necessitating a separate report have had the attention of the inspector. The efforts of the society being directed mainly toward the prevention of cruelty, it is only when a gross case comes before it that a charge is laid against the offender. During the past year 14 such cases were taken to Court."

There is a cheery tone throughout the sheepfarming community, which augurs well for the current season's returns, and present prices certainly justify an air of optimism, says a Wanganui paper. It quotes one farmer as saying that some months ago he received 10s a head for woolly wethers, and last week sold shorn hoggets for 17s 6d. There is every prospect of good prices being maintained, and with a reasonable return for wool, general trading conditions should be much bettor locally By Christmas.