LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19143, 8 October 1925, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Prices Xor beef at the Westfield fat stock sales yesterday were somewhat lower than last week, due to the tact that beef was penned in increased numbers. Extra choice ox realised up to £2 10s per 100fi>„, and prime young cow and heifer beef,, from £2 to £2 4s. Sheep improved in values on last, week's sale, heavy prime wethers selling at from £2 7s to £2 9s 9d. Pigs were penned in average numbers, aind there was a decline in values. Choppers, made from £3 10s to £4 10s, and heavy and medium baeouers from £4 16a to £5 4s. Heavy porkers realised from £4 to £4.165. A return showing the number of entries for this year's scholarship and j free-place examinations as compared with last, year's entries, was submitted to the Auckland Education Board yesterday. A decrease of 46 in the number of entries for the 1925 senior national scholarship examination was shown, the figures being 301 as against .347 last year. A decrease of 12 was shown in the junior free-place entries, which totalled 68 this year, as compared with 80 last year. The junior national scholarship figures showed a large increase, 959 entries having been received this year, the figures for 1924 being 822. " Is Your Worship still of the same opinion regarding the suppression of names ?" asked counsel of Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. " I arn, and I agree entirely with the view expressed by Mr. Justice Alpers," said Mr. Hunt, adding, " Publicity is a better punishment than probation." The water supply question was raised at last evening's meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council, when a letter was received from a ratepayer emphasising the disabilities of owners of properties on the watershed of Lake Takapuna—they were compelled to pay rates upon properties which they were unable to utilise owing to the restrictions placed upon land in the watershed area. Mr. R. H. Greville urged the necessity for seeking another source of supply than the lake, in order to freo the lake-side lands for settlement. On his motion it was decided that the Lake Takapuna Board of Control be requested to consider the question of obtaining estimates of the cost of linking up with the Auckland city supply. Twenty-four applications were received for the position of architect to the Auckland Education Board, this number being reduced, for final consideration, to three. These three applicants were personally interviewed by the board yesterday, but no appointment was made. It was decided that the list of applications should he reviewed and a fresh list submitted for consideration. Writing to Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, in reply to a farewell message, Vice-Admiral. H. A. Wiley, commander of the battleship divisions of the United States Fleet, says: " I shall cherish memories of our meeting. I hope and feel that we must meet again soon. In the meantime please permit me to thank yoii for all you did for me personally, and for my officers and men in both your official and your unofficial capacities. And may I, through you, get a message to your delightful Auckland ? It is a simple one. To us, collectively and individually, our visit will remain one of the bright spots in our lives. Your cordiality, your friendliness, your unbounded hospitality touched us. Wo felt that you were genuine and true. You excited our admiration. You won our esteem. You captured our hearts. You may count upon each one of us, officer and man, as your firm friend. We do not forget. We, too, are genuine. And we shall cherish for the people of Auckland not only goodwill and friendship, but we shall rejoice in the blessings that 1 feel must come to you. You richly deserve them." " I passed the car twice during the hour," explained the owner of a motorcar who was charged in the Police Court yesterday with leaving the vehicle unattended for more than the permitted 20 minutes. " That's not good enough. You haven't got a lease of Queen Street;' observed Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in enteiv ing a conviction. The appeal made in the Herald last week for magazines and books for the War Memorial Library Committee's Christmas parcels has met with a most heartening response, and when the bookbins were cleared a day or two ago, a harvest of several hundred volumes was garnered. Ihey now lie in a great pile at the Town Hall, and the various committees of energetic ladies who have the work of sorting and packing in hand, will have plenty to occupy them for the time being. This work will start next week, although the parcels will not be sent out until Christmas draws near. The committee can use as many children's books, Christmas cards and calendars as can be supplied, while music is also most acceptable. The making of scrap-books and post-card albums is an important feature of the work, and it would be impossible to estimate the wealth of happy moments these books have brought to orphan children and small sufferers in hospitals. Among He latest additions to Wangariui Museum are two skins of the original Maori dog, now extinct. The dogs were shot in the Waitotara district over 20 years ago. The skins have been well preserved. They are light in colour and the hair is not unlike the Pomeranian. " The Wairarapa is not going ahead as it should owing to land aggregation," stated Mr. O. Pragnell at a meetiag of the Master ton Chamber of Commerce. The lack of closer settlement was a detriment to the district, and a handicap which should be removed. Closer settlement was a matter which vitally interested the busi ness community, because more settlement meant more business. An interesting example of the possibilities of wireless was afforded nt Pal | merston North on Monday evening in connection with the speech delivered by tho Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. S. 11. Bruce, at Dandenong. Mr. Bruce's speech was conveyed by long-distance wire to Sydney, 450 miles away, and there broadcasted. Mr. W. A. Waters, chief engineer to the Manawatu-Oroua Electric Tower Board, picked the message up at Palmers ton North about 9.30 p.m., and his loud-speaker conveyed Mr. Bruce's words through his telephone to tho Manawatu Times Office. Tho reception was wonderfully clear. Thus the message was carried over three stages, including 450 miles of telephonic line and across 1200 miles of ocean through another receiver to the newspaper offiesb.