LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18901, 26 December 1924, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wireless sets of 200 watt capacity each have been fitted on the Northern Steamship Company's coastal steamers Matangi, Rarawa, Manaia and Ngapuhi, plying to Tauranga, New Plymouth, Whang.nei and Russell respf/tively. This innovation is a result of the new regulations recently drafted, ui.der which any vessel carrying more than 150 passengers must be fitted with a wireless outfit.

A gig owned by Mr. Nelson Martin was wrecked by a collision with an electric light pole in I'a imure Road yesterday. The gig was standing in front of 1, Karetu Road, One Tree Hill, when tne horse to which it was attached bolted, and after careering for nearly a mile, collided with the post in front of the Roman Catholic Church in Panmure Road and was smashed to pieces. 1 here was no one in the vehiele at the tin.ej and the horse was unhurt.

Bleak and windy weather was experienced at Auckland yesterday. The light westerly wind accompanied by fine weather which prevailed oil Wednesday augured well for Christmas Day, but during the night the wind changed to the north-east, and freshened to a strong breeze. The sky was overcast and threatening, and some light showers of misty rain fell in the afternoon. The barometer has fallen steadily since midnight on Wednesday, when the leading was 29.85. At six o'clock last evening it registered 29.6Cin.. with a steadying tendency, but at midnight it had fallen to 29.57 in., and indications were for a further fall.

Two accident cases were admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday foronoon. The first. Mr. Frank Cooney, aged 56, of 30. Belgium Street, Newton, sustained two broken ribs through being knocked down by a motor-car in Broadway, Newmarket. Mr. Patrick Carroll, aged 65, of Ohaupo. who was also admitted, is suffering from a badly bruised back. Mr. Carroll, who is near-sighted, missed his footing and fell down the steps of a house in Wellesley Street where he was staying.

The south-eastern sector of the South Island railways possesses a number of branches, some of which are unprofitable and are likely to remain so for many years to come, states the Railways Commission in its report to the Government.

Several sparrows have made fast friends with the men stationed al- central fire headquarters in Cumberland Street, Dunedin. One bird in particular, which is now the mother of several young, has become so friendly that she accepts dainty morsels from the hands of the men. This bird has a ne.it in a wall directly opposite the Ccntial Fire Station. Entrance is obtained to the nest by means of a small hole of just sufficient size to allow the passage of the sparrow's body. At all hours of the day the bird will emerge from the opening, and should any of the men be in sight she immediately lakes a short flight and lands at the feet of the man who happens to be tempting her with food. The firemen spend some of their spare time in catching moths, of which the bird is particularly fond, and she will hop on to any of the outstretched hands in her eagerness to secure such a morsel. Once she has a moth secure in her beak she quickly returns to her offspring with the dainty titbit. The bird will fly into the watchiooni and other parts of the station i' m !"• of her benefactors are in sight. The male, bird has also become very tame. .-*»»<) conies quite close to the men in the»seai<h lor food.

'llie Coa-i Road from Uevonpori via Silv (I in Waiwera is now reported to hp in •jdikl condition for motor traffic. I'hi* r<w.l ti<» ''ently been improved by t!u.>e i f the k iider. and this has ren-j dpied the .*1.1; ... more suitable for holiday motoring.

A brief interruption in the tramway traffic in Uppei Street occurred shortly after six o'clock on Wednesday evening. The. cause was the falling of an overhead wiie on itie inward track.

A Point Chevalier branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation was formed at a recent meeting there of Eden electors. Tt is intended also to form branches at Mount Albert and Avondale.

A London correspondent, writing on November 18, mentioned that to date two shipments of New Zealand eggs had arrived, one of 500 cases, the other of 9CO cases. AH the eggs were in splendid condition, and met with a ready sale at very satisfactory prices. By the time the next shipment is landed, lie said, prices should have hardened, for eggs are always dearer as December and the Christmas needs draw near.

Complaint was made at Auckland that checking of goods into truck upon the wharves was not performed l>y the Railway Department in ordinary course, states the report of the Railways Commission. Where the Hail way takes charge of a consignment into truck direct from a ship 01 wharf there should he a check upon (lie quantities received, to the same extent and in the same manner as goods are dealt with when loaded at a station.

" A tHftercnce has arisen between two schools jii the secondary schools football competition, and although that difference is puiely a private matter for the schools concerned, we are not without interest in it," xai.l Mr. A. K. Anderson, head master of St. Andrew's College, Cnristchurch. "It might end the first grade competition, which is a very excellent conioi-tition. but v.:- are not without hope that ! e o:e next season the difference will L< !• "id •' and the competition will carry nn a< 'i A b; '' which hung on the wall at the La n-.■>. iUtago) Athenaeum mysteries sly no.eared and all efforts to re gain the iniy-ing article were of no avail. Recently tbe barometer was returned by post fii,in I la.-ting.. How it jrot there is a problem whkli has not yet been solved. A visit.,r to Wairaiapa bv motor-car stated l!o"t lc was astonished lo witness the amount oi' me;chendise thai is being conveyrd o\ er Ihe Riniutakas by motor lorri.";,. S'o !., be states, is also being •.ml. ly the i . i... rig work by motor lorries.