LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19028, 27 May 1925, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tito fifty--eighth anniversary of the birth of Queen Mary was celebrated in Auckland yesterday by the firing of a .saluto of 21 guns from North Head at

infill, "flags were flown at (lie. Government and consular offices. The warships in port displayed appropriate, bunting.

Tito Pacific Cable Board's steamer Iris, which has been repairing a break in the Pacific cable near Norfolk Island, is expected to leave on her return to Auckland this afternoon.

A llama was born at the Auckland Zoological Gardens on Thursday of last week, bringing the total of these interesting animals at tho Zoo to four. Originally the City Council secured a pair of llamas and just a year ago a male was born. Tliis event occurred on May 21 of last year, and it is a coincidence that tho latest arrival, also a male, first saw tho light of day at tho Zoo on May 21, 1925.

A donation of £l7 10s from the Kwong Chen Club was received by the Auckland Hospital Board last evening. ]n acknowledging the gift, which carries a £ for £ subsidy, the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said the Chinese were very grateful for anything done in tho way of hospital work. The board had received many donations from them in the last few years.

" Auckland should take seriously the hazards of tho street," said Mr. Will J. French, in an address on accident prevention at the Leys Institute last evening. " Speed regulations are frequently broken, drunken motorists are too numerous, and driving in front of safety zones is a crime against the safety principle." Ono of tho most noticeable facts about prevention work in tho United States was its extension to public accidents. Courtesy in and out. of cars, observance of speed laws, rules and regulations and educational efforts were reducing tho daily toll on the street. A school safety movement had been started and pupils were schooled in the prevention gospel so that the tuition given in youth would fit them to face the risks of life in workshop, factory, or in the street.

In conseqnenco of the temporary suspension of tho Melbourne-New Zealand steamer service as a result of the layingup of the Manuka at Wellington through continual trouble with the stokehold section of her crew, many Southern people who had booked for the vessel's next trip to Melbourne have been considerably inconvenienced. Altogether close on 60 passengers had booked at the Union Company's Duncdin office by tho Manuka and a number had also booked at tho Invercargill office. After being informed that the Manuka's future movements aro indefinite, several intending passengers from Duncdin decided to travel to Auckland and proceed to Sydney by the Niagara. It was expected that other passengers booked by the Manuka will make arrangements to proceed to Australia by the weekly steamers from Wellington and Auckland.

The somewhat unusual happening of a rail breaking ill two pieces ocurred in the Wanganui railway station yards last Saturday. The rail was not only fractured, but bent right out of alignment. Tho circumstance is serious enough indeed, says a local paper, when the possible consequences of a similar break on tho Main Trunk line, should such occur, are imagined. The break in the present instanco was remedied by the railway maintenance branch immediately. The broken portion of this rail will be forwarded to tho authorities in Wellington where tho texture will bo made tho subject of a test.

"I don't know where tho boys and girls aro going to land within the next fow years," said Mr. ,T. C. Thomson, M.P., at a meeting of tho Invercargill High Schools Board last week. "The term for their secondary education now extends over four years, and it has to bo remembered that a quarter of that time is spent in holidays. Now that the ago for matriculation has been extended it will mean that children will spend all their lives at school." "And a poor look out for the parents," remarked another member.

"Ono farmer has killed 8000 rabbits in ono year exterminating them with poison, gun and trap," said a member at tho annual meeting of the Rangioiu branch of tho Dairy Farmers' Union. "Ho deserves a vote of thanks for tho service ho has dono us," remarked another.

A quick exit from tho New Plymouth courthouse was mado last week by a young man who entered to see what was going on and forgot to remove his hat until tho usher told him to. Instead of letting that end the matter, Mr. Justice Alpers remarked: "Usher! Tell that youth to leave the Court until he learns manners." The usher did not have to repeat the words to produce the desired effect. The Nelson Cathedral Erection Board has decided to go on with the erection of the first portion of the new cathedral—the navo at tho west end, having seating accommodation for between 700 and 800. As the Bishop of Nelson is leaving on a vist to England at the end of August tho board felt that it would bo better to make a start with tho edifice beforo his departure. Tho lato Miss Marsdon left a sum of £IO,OOO for the spire, but this portion of tho work cannot enter into tho present contract. Tho Trust Board has invested the money, and it will accumulate until tho remaining portion of tho cathedral, including the transept and tho spire, is built. Tho new cathedral will be erected in concrete, cased on tho outside with Nelson marble. Fairly heavy losses of hoggets havo been recorded on the Poverty Bay flats this season, some farmers having lost as many as 30 per cent. The losses were mainly experienced earlier in the season, after tho wet spell of weather, and lately very few sheep havo died, Tho troublo is mainly attributable- to lungworm. Consternation was caused in a Christchurch household a few days ago, when preparations were being made for tho marriage of ono of tho daughters of tho house. Tho wedding cake had been purchased and all arrangements made for the reception and tho ceremony, Tho brido was dressing when tho bridegroom-to-be arrived at tho house and calmly announced that he was no't going to bo married. Without any further explanation he departed, and tho wedding arrangements were hurriedly cancelled.