LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18364, 3 April 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Two stowaways were on the Makura, which arrived at Auckland from' Sydney yesterday. They were discovered secreted in the firemen's quarters, after the vessel's departure from Sydney, and were locked up. Upon the steamer approaching Auckland one of them broke a, window of the cabin in which they were confined, and, escaping, had a short burst of liberty 'before he was again discovered. The two men, who are Australians, will appear at the Police Court this morning.

A fire broke out at about 2.30 this morning in an unoccupied building adjoining the Birkenhead Post Office. The building, which had been previously partially destroyed by fire, quickly collapsed, and the efforts of the local fire brigade were confined to preventing the spread of the flames to the buildings on either side.

The Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting was concluded yesterday, when there was an attendance of about 24,000 at Ellerslie. The leading event— Autumn Handicap— won by ' Mr. R. Harmon's gelding Lord Star, and Uio Great Northern St. Leger went to Mr. A. B. Williams' colt Rapine. The totalisator investments amounted to £86,311 10s, which showed a decrease of £1572, compared ' with the corresponding day last year. The grand total for the two days, however, amounted to £163,970, which showed an increase of £5267 10s on last year's figures.

A fire, occurred shortly after two o'clock yesterday afternoon in a furniture shop in Hobson Street occupied by -M*. J. Heartley. The City Fire Brigade responded promptly to the call and sup pressed the outbreak after some damage had been done to a number of mattresses. It is not known whether thft premises or stock were covered by insurance, as the proprietor of the shop was out of town for the day.

The carelessness of trespassers on Saturday last endangered the safety of a magnificent piece of native bush at Birkenhead. A fire was discovered on tho edge of the bush shortly after dark on Saturday evening and was only beaten out after a severe fight waged by willing residents. The blaze by this time had reached the edge of the valuable bush and was within two chains of a grovo of kauri trees. This property, which is owned by Mr. E. Le Roy, has hitherto been open to the public, but in view of the recent experience the owner has decided to restrict access to the bush to those who first obtain permission.

An interesting relic of the past is possessed by an old resident of the Manawatu district. This is an old and worn tin coin which was in circulation in Nelson in the late " fifties," and which was known as the Nelson tin penny. " I don't know what arrangements were come to with the banks," said the owner recently, " but these coins were in circulation for many years, and the gentleman who gave this one to me had had it for 65 years."

Some amusing stories were told by Mr. Julian Grande, in the course of a lecturo at Christchurch. One concerned an.incident in South Westland. He was returning from an ascent when he heard loud cries for help. Hurrying forward, ho saw a stout lady hugging the side of a long suspension bridge, and too frightened to go forward or back. Mr. Grando walked to her rescue, and after much difficulty, persuaded the lady to complete the journey across the swaying bridge. The lady, with tears of gratitude, presented him with a tract. " Mr. Grand* who had just completed a nerve-racking ascent, and - rescued ■ the lady in distress, read the title with some amusement: "Are You a Drunkard?"

A proposal that a general manager be appointed has been adopted •by Iho Wellington Harbour Board. 'Mr. James Marchbanks has been appointed to the new position, with jurisdiction over and responsibility for the co-ordination . and efficient management of all the board's officers, activities, and properties.

An enterprising Wanganui undertaking firm recently wrote to the Wanganui Hospital Board asking for permission to erect its business sign in the morgue at the local institution. "In the what?" asked one of the members in tones of surprise. " I move that permission be not given," said another member. The motion was carried unanimously.

Stewart Island is a bird sanctuary, and sportsmen are not allowed to discharge guns there. The matter of not being allowed, and shooting,, are, however, entirely different things, and a Wellington resident who was for several weeks a member of a party had a splendid time and the "shooting was of the best." Judging by the variety of dishes described as being enjoyed, the praise of the shooting was justified, and guns were freely used. It was mentioned to the speaker that Stewart Island was a. bird sanctuary and shooting was not allowed, and the reply was that nobody appeared to worry much about that. It is not long since the New Zealand Institute decided that shooting of deer, which are committing depredations on the island, could not be allowed, as the birds might be disturbed, but it is pointed out that the shooting of deer will not disturb "the birds nearly, so much as will indiscriminate picnic parties.

"I had no" idea that the matter was being defended. As a matter of fact I am not aware of any possible defence," maintained Mr. A. B. Sievwright when a civil case was called at the Magistrate's Court, in Wellington, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. "Oh," returned Mr. J. Scott, appearing for the defendant, "for my friend's information, the defence is that the person he is suing has been dead for two years."

"A certain amount of opposition was shown by parents when the medicaJ inspection scheme was introduced." states the annual report of the Southland Education Board, "but now • parents are only too eager to co-operate with the medical officer, who receives frequent requests from parents for a conference."

" Manawatu is destined to become the centre of the New Zealand poultry industry," remarked Mr. J. A. Smith at a meeting of members of the Manawatu Cooperative Utility Poultry Society. He commented upon the great voting strength of the North Island, and the success of the Manawatu delegates at the recent conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association.

There were 5856 men employed on public works in February, this' number including 2253 on railways, 1104 on roads, 478 on hydro-electric works, and 2021 on other public works. There, were 403 men engaged on the RanganuiWaiotira sections of the North Auckland railway, and 502 on the East Coast railway. At the Mangahao electricity development works, 336 men were engaged, while there were ten at Arapuni and three at Waikaremoana.

"While talking upon the telephone system," said Mr. A. T. Markham, as-sistant-secretary of the Post -and Telegraph Department, at New Plymouth, "it may be of interest to note that 64 per cent, of th© telephones in the world are held in the United States. i! 5 per cent, in Great Britain, Germany, France, and other European States, and the balances of 11 per cent, in the rest of the world. The United States of America, being the home of the telephone, has 12 telephones per 1000 of population, Canada 10, and Denmark 8, while New Zealand is fourth on the list with 7, or one to every 14 persons. It will probably not be long," Mr. Markham added, "before New Zealand is claiming third position', as at present we have 94,000 subscribers connected, with > over 2000 applicants waiting."'