LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Except for light showers on Saturday morning the wejvther in Auckland was fine during tho week-end. On Saturday afternoon the sky at times was dull and cloudy and there was a light breeze from the north-cast. Yesterday tllfi wind changed to the soath and the sun shone out of a cloudless, sky. The barometer fell slightly during tho week-end, and the reading last night was 29.95 in. Four largo vessels were despatched from Auckland on Saturday. Three, tho ShawSavill and Albion liner Arawa, tho Federal Line steamer Dorset and the Union Company's motor-ship Hauraki, sailed for Wellington in continuation of their voyages from overseas. The fourth vessel was the Whangape, which sailed for New. castlo to load coal for New Zealand, Tempted by the delightfully fine weather yesterday, more than the average number made the ascent to tho summit of Mount Eden. Tho clear crisp air made tho visibility very good. The improvements recently carried out in the reserve were tho subject of favourable comment and the hope was expressed that the proposed tea kiosk on the summit would ere long become an accomplished fact, A collision between two motor-cars occurred early yesterday morning at the corner of Eden Terrace and Porter's Avenue. One car, driven by Mr. Bowman, and carrying three passengers, wss emerging from Porter's Avenue and tho other was being driven down Eden lerrace by Mr. Woolley. Neither car was extensively damaged, A petition is being circulated in Mount Albert and will, shortly be presented to tho Borough Council asking that a poll of tho ratepayers bo taken on the'question of rating on unimproved values. The petition is being largely signed. A resolution supporting Mr. L. MIsitt's Bible-in-Schools Bill was carried at yesterday morning's service of tho Edendalo Presbyterian Church. A large congregation at tho anniversary service voted in favour of the measure. A Rugby football benefit match in aid of C. L. Ash, an ex-pupil of the Mount Albert Grammar School; was played at tho Showgrounds on Saturday between the fifteens of the Mount Albert and Auckland Grammar Schools. Ash played wing three-quarter for tho Mount Albert team last year, but an injury to his kneo has resulted in a permanent disablement. As a result of Saturday's effort, the injured lad will benefit to the extent of over £l5O. An incipient fire in the enclosed porch of the waiting room on the Northcoto Wharf was discovered by passengers by the 11 o'clock steamer from Auckland on Saturday night. Smoko was issuing from a lockor built into tho interior wall, but the outbreak was extinguished before damago of any consequence was occasioned. Two minor outbreaks of fire last evening resulted in tho City Firo Brigado being called out. Slight damago was caused at about half past five to a toolbox in Nelson Street, belonging to the Auckland Electric Power Board, by a firo, tho origin of which is unknown. Tho second call was received shortly afterwards to a motorcar in Carlton Goro Road, the only damago being to some internal wiring which had fused. Tho steady fall in applications for employment made to the Auckland branch of the Labour Department was maintained last week, when the number was seven below the average, tho figures being 133, as compared with 200 for tho previous week. Of the total, 159 wero classed as fit for heavy work and 34 as fit for light work. Labourers again headed the list, with 59' applications, followed by clerks 14, gardeners and handymen 13, seamen and firemen 11, engineers, fitters and turners 11, cooks and hotel-workers 11, motor drivers 11, and factory hands 10. During the week 36 men, including 17 labourers and 12 farm hands, were placed ia private employment by tho department. Methods of traffic control will be discussed at a conference opening in Wellington to-day. The representatives of the Auckland City Council, Mr. A. Thompson, chairman of the Tramways and Electricity Committee, Mr, T. Blood worth, Mr. J. Stanton, city solicitor, and Mr. A. E. Ford, tramways manager, left for Wellington last evening. The conference of the Electric Power Boards' Association also opens in Wellington to-day. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of tho Auckland Power Board, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, deputy-chairman, and Mr. R. H. Bartley, chief engineer, left last evening to attend the conference. Tho Waitemata Electric Power Board will be represented by Mr. J. W. Haydcn, chairman, Mr. 8. Brittain Bull, secretary, and Messrs. W. P. Gauvain and McLeod, engineers. Tho sum of £32,000 from the sale of the museum land and buildings in Prince's Street is to be devoted solely to the furnishing and equipping of tho new War Memorial Museum in the Domain. This point was made clear by Sir James Gunson at the laying of the foundation-stono of tho now buildiflg on Saturday. Ho said that £27,000 was still required to complete tho approximate sum of £222,000 required for the erection of tho War ■Memorial and lay-out of tho surrounding area, but nono of tho proceeds from tho recent salo could bo devoted to that purpose. He expressed tho conviction that tho peopio of Auckland, who always responded generously to causes which wero close to their hearts, would subscribe tho funds required, so that there would bo no need to curtail in any way the magnificent building that would be ono of tho city's joys. "Tho outstanding need of our college to-day is an assembly hall," said Mr. G. J. Park, principal of the Seddoa Memorial Technical College, at tho first annual dinner of old boys on Saturday evening. He marvelled that the school had been carried on to its present stage without one. An assembly hall was invaluable in promoting a spirit of unselfishnoss, loyalty and honour among the pupils. Nearly £BOOO wa.3 ou call in tho bank to help to finance the work. Of tho sum £6OOO had come from bequests from the estates of tho Into Messrs. W. J. Binns and R. Hindley. About £12,000 was required to build an adequate assembly ball and it was hoped to get a subsidy of 10s in tho £ from tho Government. Tho hail would be planned to provide seating accommodation for 1000 persons and when built it would couple the workshop with the main building. Accommodation would be provided; underneath for typographical class-rooms. A resident of Sumner has presented to tho Canterbury Museum a collection of moa bones which ho discovered upon his property. They are in an excellent state of preservation, and it is expected that further bones will be found,