LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

An incipient fire occurred in a dwellingj in Dundonald Street, occupied by Mr. F. D. Morris, shortly after 9 o'clock on Saturday evening. The City Fire Brigade extinguished the outbreak after minor damage had 'been done. The ignition of the shingled roof of a honse owned by Mr. A. Rolfe and occupied by Mr. W. Campbell, situated at 23, Cobden Street, Newton, necessitated ths attendance of the City Fire Brigade at 6.31 o'clock last evening. The ceiling was damaged, but not seriously. The fire was due to a defective chimney.

About 3QO passengers left by the Main Trunk express for Wellington last evening. The train consisted of 15 passenger carriages, including three sleeping cars.

A tribute was paid to the memory of ths late Mr. T. Henderson at the gathering of the Auckland Orphans' Ctub on Saturday, all present standing and observing a reverent silence. Mr. Henderson was the first president of the club, holding the office from 1892 to 1894, and again from 1897 to 1898.

Cabled information from Greece to Auckland district representatives of the Save the Children Fund shows that there is still clamant need for assistance. The fund at present is supporting no fewer than 27,000 children, while refugees in great numbers arrive daily, thus creating a difficult and dangerous situation. The latest appeal last month to London headquarters disclosed urgent necessity for rations for 4000 adults and 2000 children. There is also need for medicaJ supplies and a travelling clinic to combat increasing disease. A contribution from Thames has been acknow lodged by the Duke of Atholl, the president of the council of the fund, which is affiliated to the International Union at Geneva. More funds are required for the work.

The Soldiers' Mothers League has ceased to function as such, having been incorporated under the title of the Auckland Women's Southern Cross League. A decision to this effect was reached at a meeting of members, when it was stated that all matters of public interest would be voiced in the new league, as well' as any business connected with the dependents of soldiers. Appreciation was expressed of the helpful attitude of the members of the Chamber of Commerce toward the work of the Soldiers' Mothers League.

Applications for employment at the Auckland office of the Labour Department last week numbered 201, an increase of seven on the previous week's figures. Those classed as fit for heavy work numbered 164. As usual, labourers headed the list with 71 applicants, with oooks and hotel workers 18. motor-drivers and mechanics 17, and seamen and firemen 14, next in point of numbers. During the week 26 men, including 16 labourers and six farm hands, were placed in private employment.

Serious injuries to his face were sustained on Saturday by Mr. John Harris, aged 38, of South Lynn Road, New Lynn, as the result of the explosion of a carbide generator with which he was experimenting at the Lion Brewery, where he is employed- Mr. Harris was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Saturday evening.

A coincidence in tho time of departure of several vessels from Wellington on Friday resulted ir. a curious spectacle round tho wharves. Tb.e New I Zealand Shipping Company's Turakina, bound for London, had just begun to cast off, when the Ulimaroaifor Sydney left the wharf, together with the Havre which iis going to Newcastle* The Wainui, a couple of ooastal boats, the Harbour Board launch, and the tug Terawhiti made up a large complement, so that tho area near the wharves was decidedly congested for some time.

Deer came in for unpleasant mention by Mr. L. Macintosh Ellis, Director of Forestry, in the course of his address to the Farmers' Union conference. Y" The deer menace," he said, " to the roresta and to pastoral lands has been tackled, and a beginning made in bringing this vermin under reasonable control.'' He had a good word, however, for the native birds, and summed up his views in a plea for " the complete elimination of the deer and wild pig pests, and the conservation of our bird life so eissential to the perpetuation of the indigenous forests."

Another daring burglary was ) perpetrated in Wellington on Wednesday night. On this occasion the premises of Hood Bros., drapers, Lambton Quay, were entered and silk frocks to the value of £20 were taken. When Mr. V. Joseph, the manager, passed the shop at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, all apparently was in order, but between that hour and early the next morning an intruder ha,d made hiß presence felt in the large side windows facing the alleyway to St. Andrew's Steps. An examination showed that with the aid of a diamond he had cut an entrance in one of the windows, and had proceeded along the spaces where articles of clothing are displayed until he reached the front window. The goods were strewn in every direction, and the impirints of soft rubber shoes still remained in some of the windows. He was unable to gain access to the shop, and it is thought that he either lost his head or was disturbed by the time he had gathered up the few frocks with which he decamped.

Further details of the motor accident in Wanganui last week when a motorcar was wrecked as the result of a col-< lision with the cart of a Chinese show that the car crashed into the axle of the cart which, it is said, had only one light, The Chinese escaped without a scratch but the five occupants oi! the car were hurled to the roadway and two had to be sent to the hospital.

A middle-aged, well-dressed man, whose evident intention was to secure a free trip across the Tasman Sea, received a shock in Wellington on Thursday evening, when he was found in the crew's quarters on the steamer Hollywood, about to leave Wellington for Mebourne. The ship's officers who made the discovery lost no time in parleying with the man, and told him in forceful language beloved of the American to show what his legs were capable of in getting him ashore. He had the good sense to accept his humiliation with apparent calmness, and, watched by the alert officers, picked up his large portmanteau and walked ashore, where he quickly disappeared in the darkness.

A horse died under peculiar circumstances at Walton the other day. The animal, which belonged to Mr. .Kenneth McCardle, discovered a bag of washijpgsoda on the side of the road, became curious as to what the, contents tasted like, and started to lick the soda. It did not prove good horse feed, and shortly afterwards the animal was found dead near the locality of its repast. v.<-