LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18567, 27 November 1923, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An unusual mistake in the delivery of, a part of electrical machinery for the Auckland Electric Power Board has been disclosed. At a special meeting of the committee of the whole board tno chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, stated that the regulator of a new 5000 kilowatt set had been sent to Auckland by mistake instead of Pretoria, and the regulator \ which should have been sent to the board had been sent to Pretoria. The board decided that the makers be informed that as the board's set was installed and in running order the board required to- have the proper regulator here before the present one could be returned.

A schoolgirl named Rita Broadhurst was admitted to the Auckland Hospital shortly before five o'clock last evening suffering from cuts on the knees. She was playing and fell on some glass, which inflicted injuries necessitating an operation. The girl, who is nine years of age, and a daughter of Mr. John Broadhurst, of Hill Street, Onehunga, is reported to be progressing satisfactorily.

As showing the phenomenal growth of tramway traffic in Auckland in recent years, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, stated in his address at the Town Hall last evening that when the city bought the tramway system in 1919, the revenue was £352,000 per annum, whereas this year it would be about £590,000. In addition to this, he mentioned that when the council decided to build the Great South Road extension, it was considered that the line might not begin to pay interest and sir king fund in less than three years, but although tho route had been open only about six weeks, it was already paying its way.

Considerable amusement was caused ab the meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council last evening, by the receipt of complaints in regard to cattle wandering about the streets. The most interesting was a letter from a ratepayer, detailing the ages and sizes of the various domestic animals that he had seen grazing on the " long paddock." He said that on one occasion he had counted 25 in one week. This was supported by several of the councillors, one of whom stated that some of these wanderers had found their way into his garden, resulting in the loss of a promising lot of peas .and cabbages. It was decided to draw the attention of the ranger to these complaints.

Consistency in the high quality of the wool, produced on Waiheke Island is indicated by the fact that at the opening sale at Auckland this season, the top price ■was realised for a Waiheke clip which also topped the market at the opening sale of last season. The wool in question was half-bred, the price realised last year being 21£ d per lb. This year, with an improved market, the top price was 24£ d per lb.

The triangular "beauty spot" at the junction ef Khyber Pass Road and Boston Road, is well on the way to completion. The slope to the railway ,line has been worked into excellent order, and the level ground has been marked out with concrete borders and certain small trees planted. The ground is arranged to afford a three-cornered walk, and when finished the site will be in telling contrast to what it was a few weeks ago. Then it served as a depository for old rubbish and junk, included i?. which e was the skeleton of a motor-car that must have dated back to the early days of the automobile.

That the spirit of giving to a worthy object is still abroad in the community was borne. out by Mr. Oliver E. Nicholson at the meeting at Mount Albert in connection with the War Memorial Museum Fund. "Within the short space of 48 hours " said Mr. " I collected no less than £1300. I think that if the people are approached in a tactful, proper manner, the money will be forthcoming surely enough for this splendid object."

The Onehunga Borough Council last evening received a letter from the ActingPrime Minister in regard to the unwatering of St. John's Lake, which is causing anxiety in Onehunga and Otahuhn. Details were given of the agreement between the Drainage Board and the Department of Lands and Survey, and the level of maximum overflow was emphasised. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the Citizen's Committee, who had brought the matter before the Council, and also to the Otahuhu Borough Council.

A collision between a motor-cycle and a push bicycle occurred at the junction of the .Great South Road and Manukau Road, about 7.30 a.m. yesterday, resulting in Mr. Benjamin Leslie Hamlin, who lives in the Great South Road, sustaining a severe laceration of his leg and other injuries. Mr. Hamlin, who was riding the push bicycle, was turning into Manukau Road, on his way to the Newmarket railway workshops, where he is employed, when the accident happened. He was conveyed to the hospital in the St. John Ambulance.

The special freight charged by the Railway Department for the railage of benzine'formed the subject of an interesting discussion by the Hawera Chamber of Commerce. It was stated that the present freight was the highest rate, plus 50 per cent., plus war regulation 40 per cent. The railway freight amounted to about Is 9d per case from New Plymouth to Hawera, while motor-lorries carried goods from Is 9d to Is Id per case, and made deliveries right to the merchant's door. The chairman said he believed the drift of trade from the railways to motorlorries was due to the leniency of local bodies administering the roads. The insignificant taxes imposed on motor traffic made the roads the cheapest possible channels of transport, and under present conditions the railways would never be able to compete with them.

A five-acre block of land was sold in Waipukurau seme time ago. There was a plantation of 400 bluegum trees on the property. Apparently the original owner ✓was ignorant as regards the value of the trees, but the new owner was more shrewd. The trees were sold as they stood to the Railway Department, and the fortunate seller received enough for the trees to more than pay for the freehold of th? land. The original owner is still dazed at the thought of a lost opportunity.

Afforestation work at Oroua Downs igreatly hindered by the depredations of rabbits, and when young trees are planted the State Forest Service'officers protect them by miniature palisades of flax sticks and stakes. The Forestry Department men spread poison on a fairly extensive scale, but the rabbits* still come in thousands from adjacent properties and find ideal cover in the loose sand dunes. A noticeable feature is the great proportion of black rabbits. ,

■ A novel scheme for advertising the scenic attractions of the Dominion throughout Great Britain, has been formulated by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in co-operation with the New Zealand Booksellers Association. The idea is that a " postcard week " should be held during April, when every resident of the Dominion should forward a pictorial postcard to a relative in Britain. It is thought that this will have the effect of augmenting tho tourist traffic. The Government Publicity Department has endorsed the plan,. and 'there is a possibility that a" special postage stamp will be printed for use on the postcard. '•',■■-