LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18710, 16 May 1924, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Several recent interruptions' to electric light power supply in the suburbs were the subject of a report by the engineer, Mr. A: WyHie, to the Auckland Power Board yesterday. These had occurred between 6 and 7 p.m., when the evening load came ■' on. ' The trouble had arisen, said the engineer, owing to the very unsatisfactory character of the high-ten-sion transformer fuses supplied. Although carefully selected and guaranteed, the fuses had proved unequal to the work. The contractors had landed an improved tyne of fuse, and, if satisfactory, these would replace those giving trouble. -

A witness who had alluded in the Supreme Court to certain perks allowed to tradesmen by their employers, was asked for particulars of the expression. " Don't they, for one thing, put up a white flag as soon as the roof is on?" suggested Mr. Paterson. " Yes," replied the witness, " that is one of the perks; but now-a-days it doesn't produce much result." "■

A question regarding Bible in schools was asked at the meeting of the Auckland branch of the Educational Institute yesterday! Mr. A. Murdoch asked if the committee had any further information. Certain circulars, had been distributed among teachers, ,he said. It would be a burning question, at the .Dominion conference next .week, and. the delegates should have some, definite lead in- the matter. The president, Mr. W. H. Newton, replied that there was no information on the matter at all. He thought the literature referred to had been sent out by a private individual on his own behalf.

The officers and men of the visiting British Squadron are deeply appreciative of the comprehensive and attractive municipal souvenir issued by the City Council in honour of the occasion. This illustrated little history of Auckland from its early days to the present time, which was printed by Messrs. Wilson and Horton, has been issued in large numbers to members of the various warships. No doubt many copies will find their way to the Old Country, and the" souvenir has therefore an added value in that it will in no small measure'bring' the progress, beauties and attractions of Auckland under the direct attention of many people 'in Britain.

The question of lighting the safety zones in the city is engaging the attention of Tramways and. Electricity Committee of the ; City s Council, and the tramways manager is experimenting with ;various itypes of lights. , When this mat-, ter was mentioned at Jihe meeting of the council last evening, Mr. J. A. C. Allum said the council should determine that the lights should be affixed to the zone platforms themselves. This met with general approval, and the council formally authorised the lighting of the zones.

An application by the provisional Franklin Power Board asking the Auckland Board to forego the area of Papakura- in the fanners' favour was refused at the board's meeting yesterday. The engineer, Mr.. A. Wyllie, had reported that the Manukau County was going to be a thin and poor area compared with that on the north side of Penrose, but Papakura would be one of the best places in it. It was recommended, therefore, that the area be regained.

The report of the Departmental ..Investigation Committee of the Wellington City Council, regarding the salaries of the chief officers in the city engineer's department, has been adopted by the council. The salary of the assistant city engineer, Mr. J. Brigham, was increased from £600 to £625 per annum. The city engineer. Mr. A. J- Paterson, Will receive £1000 per year, rising to £1200 per year in two annual increments. The salary of the streets and inspecting engineer, Mr. K. Luke, will be £600 a year. ,

"It is impossible for a man to live in our district with a milking herd of 23 cows," stated Mr. . H. B. Burdekin, of Hawera, when speaking at a R.S.A. conference the other day. He followed up his remark by, quoting figures showing the small profit to be derived. . "Well, ac;cording to : you, the dairy industry is doomed,'* interjected another delegate. " On a basis of 23 cows— was the retort of Mr. Burdekin: "

In addition to the alteration in the running of i the Rotorua and Thames expresses, as mentioned in a telegram from Wellington published yesterday, the Railway Department announces a. slight change ,in the Auckland-Helensville service," that the present 7 a.m. ..train will leave' Auckland at 7.10 a.m., arriving at Mount Albert at .7.35. a.m., and ' from thence will run to the present time-table.

The value of clay put on roads in conjunction with metal to keep the latter in place was referred to at a meeting of the Manawatu County Council last week. It was decided to endeavour to secure about two acres of. land, suitable for a clay ' pit. which would ' give supplies of clay for roads which at present were somewhat too-far distant from available supplies. ~ ~..;.:• ■;.■■..,•,.••■,',.-: -. ■~.■:.. ■ '

The story goes, relates " the Lyttelton Times, that a Canterbury devotee of Rugby is far more at home in the scrum than in the ballroom. At least so his fair partner at a recent dance found. He had seized her in an enthusiastic grip, whisked her round the room at furious- pace, nearly tripped her 'once or twice, and trampled ,; heartily on • her silver brocade shoes. "Oh, Mr. —," she gasped weakly when she had recovered her breath, "do you mind if we try 'soccer' for a change?" ;■■'"'

That electricity will shortly be available in Central Hawke's Bay is very evident. The Government is now calling tenders for the erection and cartage of the necessary poles for the line from Oringi to Onga Onga. Current promises to be available in Central Hawke's Bay well before the end of the present year.

It was announced •at a meeting of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute last week that the Admiralty ships Laburnum and Veronica were going on a cruise of the Rarotonga group, and were prepared to take a limited party of scientists. . The president, Mr. M. H. Godby, said that the understood . that four was the -maximum number..

; The collection of rare fishes in the Wellington Museum has received another addition. The fish is known as Ray's bream, Brama raii, and has now been taken from the coasts of practically all countries of the world—from Eprope, North America, Chile, Indian Sea. and from Japan. Ray's -bream appeared in considerable numbers on the coast of Victoria in 1884, and was then regarded as a great delicacy. The species is almost unknown in New South Wales, and has not been recorded from South Australia. Two specimens of this fish have been received in Wellington, during the last two years, but so far Ray's bream is not included in published material on New Zealand fishes. '■>•-■--'.'■■■■-'- ' ■■ .-.•>"