LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18519, 2 October 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tho coal supply of; the Auckland : Power Board was. referred to at the; board's meeting yesterday, when Mr. S. J. ■ Barbutt; who presided,; announced that the reserves had - been increased to approximately 2300 tons,, or sufficient for four weeks. Arrangements, ha. 'said,: had also been made for a slight J increase m the usual weekly delivery of coal, thereby assuring, the board against any eat !of disorganisation.

An exceptional increase in building is stated to have taken place in Otahuhu recently. The Mayor, Mr. R. B. Todd, stated at a meeting of ratepayers last evening, that in the last eight months between 60 and 70 new'houses, of a total value of £45,000, had been erected in the borough. '"' ...; : " '' .;.;. : ■■'::;.■'■ y.;

Complaints have been made that some motorist's are disobeying the by-law in re-' gard to the, passing of stationary tramcars. .Several persons report having had narrow escapes irora being : knocked down. The fact that motor-cars are required to stop makes this practice even more- dangerous, as passengers joining and leaving cars have', acquired the habit of relying on motors to pull up as required by the regulation.

Arrangements are now well in hand for the match which is to be played between the Hawke's Bay and Auckland Rugby football teams at the Auckland Domain on Saturday next, in aid of the Auckland War Memorial fund. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated yesterday that the Hawke's Bay team would! be tendered a civic reception at the Town Hall Council Chamber on Friday next. As this was the premier team of < tho Dominion, and, in view of the .object to which the proceeds of the return match would be devoted, the occasion could, be regarded as an outstanding 11 one. Mr. Gunson also mentioned that the Citizens" War Memorial Committee had asked the Auckland Rugby Union to arrange, if. possible, a match between the teams of King's Collego and tho Auckland Grammar School as a curtain-raiser to the big game.

That Aucklanders do noli like to be dictated to by people from other cities was suggested in the . Arbitration Court, yesterday. The employers'" representative in a waterside dispute, in which judgment was reserved, said that a hint from the .Court would be of more value than one from the National Disputes Committee' in Wellington.. ''You know what Aucklanders are,"- he smilingly remarked. Mr. Justice Frazer confessed that Auckland was his own town, and he *<"'' that he thought { that perhaps the Aucklanders concerned would take the hint he had given in ! the matter as coming from an Aucklander. '

At a meeting of tho Auckland Provincial Industrial. Association yesterday. Mr. J. A. C. Allum presiding, a letter was received ' from the Canterbury District Committee of the British Empire Exhibition, recommending that the opinion of manufacturers be sought on the advisability of appointing a representative at the 'Exhibition to watch their interests. It was suggested that the manufacturers take similar action to that of the primary producers, and anrjoint representatives ,to work under those sent by the Government. It was decided to consider the matter further at the next meeting.

'The Cheltenham Ratepayers' and Resi dents' Association, met last eveni**- to consider a proposal to improve the end of the beach to tho west of the kiosk. A grant of £50 was made by the Devonport Borough Council in May toward beautifying the ■ Cheltenham - area, and with the small surplus from last year's carnival, it is hoped to make the beach more attractive to visitors. A scheme will be laid before the Borough Council for approval. • • ~ •'■

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by Leonard ; Cavill, farmer, of Bombay. A meeting of creditors is fixed for next Tuesday., , " :,~ - , ■

Triplets wciro' born to 'a- Jersey cow on Mr. E. Swann's farm at ■ .Helena Bay, North Auckland, last week.! Two of the calves were heifers. Ono of them was accidentally drowned, and the bull, calf was killed.'' ,

Tho Arbitration Court, which will conclude its Auckland, sitting this week, has made tho following further fixtures:— Gisborne, October 12; Dunedin, October 23,; Ohristchurch, November 5; Nelson, November 16; Westport. November 20; and Greymouth, November 23.

How finely pulverised is' that useful fertiliser, basic slag, was indicated in the Arbitration Court yesterday,: in a dispute in regard to "dirt money" for handling'this product. It was stated that the slag would pass through a sieve with a mesh-of 1200 to the square inch. As to its penetrating qualities, the ■ remark was made ..that it would go 'through-so closely woven a textile as - silk. The point was raised as. to whether slag had ever been :. carried in ships as a bulkcargo, and Mr. Justice Frazer jocularly suggested that if it had been so loaded it would probably have found its way through the ship's plates. Authority has been given " for the erection of 'a -post-; office at ,T P • Uku, ; a settlement seven miles from Raglan. , A site is being giver? by the settlers of tho district. A report on - the site and > the size of building required is to be submitted to . the. department by the chief postmaster. Hamilton, ,: ■;•■/■

A From the point of view of the Public Works Department, the •? position in regard to handing over the Otira tunnel to the Railways Department is that the tunnel will be transferred -when every detail of the specifications has been complied with. Up to the present tests carried out have proved - satisfactory, V and several sections have already been placed under the control of the ; Working Railways Department. There are certain technical matters yet to be adjusted rto the requirements of the Public Works' Department, however, and meanwhile the Public Works Department cannot relinquish control. .

A number of ' guns from the battlecruiser H.M.S. New Zealand, which is being demolished in accordance with the armament treaty, have arrived in Wellington, and are to be used for defence purposes. They are 4in. weapons of the _ anti-aircraft class. Seven have been shipped to Auckland, and six others which reached Wellington about V: fortnight ago are lying at the general defence headquarters building in Buckle Street. The guns are to bo installed at ,: the forts at Auckland and Wellington. > They will not be : used as war trophies' as has been suggested. , ."'',"' ' "

There was unusual slackness on the Wellington wharves last week. Very few boats were in port. In consequence of the absence of cargoes, to work,'■.'Water-' siders experienced a dull and unprofitable week. The president of the Waterside Workers' Federation, Mr. L. Glover stated yesterday that the ;, week ; was the dullest that has been experienced for some time, the number of men employed being about 800. '~ The nay roil for. the week amounted to roughly £1700. The depression was to some extent the result of- the inactivity in. the West Coast coalmines. ,v, . ...v.; ■■'; ;■.■- ::',;•■■'•-'-,•-■/•<

A story was told by Dr. P. H. Buck at the Auckland Museum last evening of an apt answer given at the recent Pah-Pacific Science Congress held in Australia. Dr. Haddon had told the congress thai; nature had played , a . dirty trick on the Australian aboriginally placing him in such a country. When the outburst of 'protest had subsided he justified his view by : asking.what'native plant there was ; that the aboriginal could cultivate, and what native animal he could 'domesticate. r . Who.*' asked Di\ , Haddon, " could ride » kan- ; Igaroo px milk a waljaby %"- ■