LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19041, 11 June 1925, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Motorists assembled in force in the Folico Court yesterday on the occasion of "by-law day." Two magistrates were omployed hearing the 82 cases for a total period of nearly seven hours. Of the ; prosecutions 66 were laid by the police |and 16 by the city traffic department. | The fines imposed amounted to over £7O, and costs exceeded £36. Prices for beef at the Westfield fat stock sale yesterday showed a decided improvement. Extra choice ox made 33s per 1001b., as compared with 31s last week. Prime young cow and heifer beef ranged from 27s to 295, as against 26s to 28s last week. Sheep were penned in average numbers, and sold readily at late rates. Extra heavy prime wethers brought £2 3s to £2 ss, and best heavy prime ewes £1 16u io £1 18s. A small yarding of pigs sold under keen competition at advanced rates. Heavy and medium baconers brought £3 15s to £4 12s. Calves were again penned in small numbers and sold readily at late quotations. The danger of the practice of boys riding on the backs of .carts was illustrated in Uuion Street yesterday, when Alexander Lee, aged seven,, fell and broke his right leg. The boy, who is a son of Mr. Hugh Lee, of 11, Fernleigh Street, was admitted to the Auckland, Hospital. The Commonwealth and Dominion Line steamer Port Melbourne, which arrived at Auckland from London yesterday morning, took to England the largest cargo of meat, dairy and other produco despatched from New Zealand during the past season. The cargo consisted of 18.750 crates of cheese, 69,- 375 freight carcases of meat, 16,490 bales of wool, 1000 sacks of copra, 749 casks of tallow, 2156 sacks of casein, 958 cases of dried milk, and varibus general lines. The whole cargo was discharged at London in 54 working hours. The annual capping ceremony of Auckland University College will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow afternoon. The Hon. George Fowlds, as representative of the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, will preside, and present the diplomas. A welcome is also to be extended to Professor C. R. Knight, "re-cently-appointed Professor of Architecture. ' Other speakers will be Professor R. M. Algie, chairman of the Professorial Board, and Mr. A. J. Gray, president of the Students' Association. The students' graduation ball will be held in the even-, ing. / _ ■ The inquiry regarding the site for the proposed new bridge over the Wairau Creek, Milford, will be opened this morning,' and it is hoped the differences between the Takapufla Borough Council and the Waitemata County Council in the matter will be finally settled. The morning will be occupied in inspecting the rival sites on the spot, and later evidence will | be heard in the Native Land Court room, , Government Buildings. Those conducting the inquiry are Mn G. C. Godfrey, Secretary of the Marine Department, and Mr. A. J. Baker, inspecting engineer for the Public Works Department and formerly district engineer in Auckland. "It is too young,", said Mr. J." W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday in referring to the age when, under the Motor Vehicles Act, a person is entitled to hold a driving certificate. "It is only natural that children get | into a car ind lose their heads through excitement," the magistrate added. The age entitling anyone to a I driver's license is 15 years, the magistrate saying this was too young by several years. The natives residing around Lake Rotoiti have received instructions to fence off . all scenic, reserves in the vicinity of the lake liable to be spoilt or damaged by wandering cattle or stock. This will entail four or five miles of fencing. It is seldom that a magistrate is requested to increase a fine eleven-fold, but this happened in the Police Court yesterday. For permitting a horse to wander defendants in a caso were fined 10s and j costs,, but counsel asked Mr. Hunt to fix security for appeal. " Then I must fine you another £5 and costs,", the magistrate said. "Yes, please," replied counsel. -' All right, then, I will fine you £5 10s and costs, .eh?" ■ Counsel: Thank you, Your Worship. Among the numerous Auckland bodies that are offering to assist in entertaining the ■ officers and men of the American warships, which will arrive in August, is the Auckland Automobile Association. It was decided by the council of the association last evening to arrange for cars to take parties from the warships for trips round the city.: , . The question of wireless installations on coastal steamers was further examined yesterday at the conference of Government officials in the departments concerned, and •representatives of Auckland shipping interests. Most of the day was spent in an inspection of coastal vessels in port, so that the difficulties of equipment in particular cases could be gauged. The proceedings in Auckland concluded with yesterday's session. . In view of Auckland being better lighted than most places, it has been decided by the Licensing Committee that in future hotels will not havo to provido external lighting after closing hours. This decision was made known by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the annual meeting of the committee yesterday. i "In this case we had the refreshing I experience of the licensee pleading | guilty," remarked Sub-Inspector Rawle | yesterday ■in referring to the conviction of a local hotelkeeper in the Police I Court for a breach of the licensing i regulations. The sub-inspector, who | was making his report to the Auckland j Licensing Committee, did not oppose tho renewal of the license in question. The caretaker on the Little Barrier sanctuary reports that bird life is increasing there. " There is hope that the white kiwi is still alive," ho adds. " While travelling in one of tho gullies about two miles from the west landing place I saw a young kiwi. I got time to notice that its legs Were light yellow. The feathers on the head were nvhito and the back and breast brown like the North Island species. The hind part above and below was white. It would appear that the white' kiwi has mated with one of the North Island species." The financial membership of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association was 1031 at May 31, as compared with 968 at the same date last year. The membership of the cash purchase society has increased from 807 last year to 877, on May 31 last.