LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18678, 7 April 1924, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Main Trunk express that left for Wellington last evening consisted of ■ 16 passenger carriages, including three sleeping cars. About 300 passengers travelled and the express left the station a few minutes behind schedule time. A statement was made by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, on Saturday, regarding the imminent declaration of . main roads of the Dominion by the Main Highways Board. Speaking to a gathering at the opening of the Waimauku Post Office, Mr. Goates said that the main roads, as decided upon by the board, would be gazetted very shortly. The delay in making any announcement, the Minister slated, was due to the fact that some of the local bodies consulted had recommended stretches of road which were considered by the Government to be too long. * These local authorities were now engaged in bringing their recommendations more within the compass of the department's desires.

The needs of settlers in several of the districts served by the Auckland-Helens-ville railway line were placed before the Minister for Public Works and Railways, the Hon." J. G. Coates, during his journey by train from Helensville on Saturday. The Kumeu Ratepayers' Association asked that the status of the local railway station be raised in view of the increases in the export of produce from the district, particularly fruit. Other requests related to improvements to the post office and mail services. At Taupaki, representations were made with the object of procuring a greater length to the railway platform and the institution of a money order office. The Minister's attention was promised in each case.

The capsize of a dinghy in Little Shoal Bay was responsible for some exciting moments at Northcote about 6.30 p.m. on Saturday. . The laundh Olive Branch, owned by Messrs. Rees G. Davies "and Frank Ryan, of Northcote, had returned to her moorings from an afternoon's cruise. Mr. Davies remained on board, while his three companions, Messrs* Frank Ryan, Eric Mullon, and James Gill, put off for the shore in a flat-bottomed dinghy. Before it had pro* ceeded far the small boat swamped, precipitating its occupants into the sea. The men endeavoured to swim back to the launch* which Mr. Gill succeeded in boarding. Mr. Ryan, however, got into difficulties, being hampered by some of his clothing becoming twisted round his legs. Mr. Davies dived from the launch ,to his assistance. Mr. Mullon also swam back from tfte launch with the obect of rendering h\ilp, but not being a strong swimmer, was .considerably spent by this extra effort. The three men, though greatly exhausted, managed to keep afloat) until the arrival of Messrs. J. and G. Edmonds' dinghy to their relief, and olso, a moment later, of the dinghy from Mr. J, Hazl email's launch MeChinia. Reßcno parties from l , all parts of the bay promptly responded; to the men's calls for help.

An unmarried woman, Caroline Agnes Hawkes, aged 72, of 62, Williamson Avenue, who was knocked down by a tramcar in Ponsonby Road on March 23, died at the hospital on Saturday. As a medical certificate was furnished that death was due to natural causes, no inquest will be held.

Anxiety was felt last year on account of the reported scarcity of toheroa on the West Coast, North' Auckland. It is therefore interesting to learn that expert advice is now to hand that supplies are more plentiful than for many years past. Parts of the beach lire said to be literally swarming with young toheroa.

The ceremony in connection wifh the opening of the new St. Joseph's Convent in the Good Shepherd Parish, which was to hft-ye been performed yesterday by Bishop Cleary, was postponed an account of the unpropitious weather. The ceremony will take place next Sunday afternoon. ; Mariners trading in the Hauralri Gulf will be wise to keep a sharp look-out for floating obstacles for the next few days. The floods in the Wade, Waiwera, Pufcoi, and Mahurangi rivers have washed out to sea an enormous quantity of logs, besides boats and launches, all of which will be a serious danger to navigation until they are secured. , A tramcar accident occurred in Queen Street on, Saturday evening shortly before half-past seven o'clock, when a seaman, Mr. James McKenna, was struck by a slowly-moving city-bound car. He was crossing Queen Street at the intersection of Wyndham Street and apparently walked fight into tho car, which caught him by the shoulder and threw him to the ground. The promptness of the motorman in applying the brakes undoubtedly prevented a more serious accident. Mr. McKenna received injuries to his head, and was admitted to the hospital. Applications for employment at Auckland during the week were slightly more than those in the previous week. The number of men on the books of the Labour Department on Saturday was 135, against 120 for the preceding week. Of last week's total, 88 men were classed as fit for heavy work, 41 being labourers. During the week 23 men were placed in private employment. ,

It was reported last week that arrangements were in hand for the construction of a new fire brigade station at Mount Albert. Owing to the renovations just completed at the old station, there is now no possibility of the erection of a new building being undertaken at present.

A rather fearsome addition to a case of lemons was discovered by Mrs. A. Galland, a Dunedin fruiterer, when she found a fine centipede sprawling languidly at the bottom of the case. The desire to end the creature's existence was.no doubt very strong, but instead of reducing it to a pulp by means of a cold chisel Mrs. Galland communicated with Mr. W. Goodlet, of the museum staff, who decided that the unwelcome stranger was worthy of a better fate.

A lawyer, who appeared on behalf of one of many sheep-owners and sheepdealers who were fined in the AJtigis. trate's Court, Christchurch, by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., for exposing liceinfected sheep for sale in the Addington saleyards, suggested that the sheep might be infected with lice while at the saleyards, and that the Stock Department should consider with the Saleyards Company the matter of spraying the sheep pens. -

The Eketahuna police station building, which was inspected last week by Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P., was found to be in a very bad condition owing to the borer. Such a condition is the building in, says the local paper, that Mr. Sykes was advised not to lean against the wall. The Minister for Justice has promised to examine the building, and if it is in the condition stated, to authorise the erection of » new; station,