LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19195, 8 December 1925, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Another large overseas mail, the second this week, will arrive in Auckland from Sydney by the Maunganui, which is due at half-past seven this morning. The mail consists of 518 bags from England and Australia, and it is all for Auckland. " I understand that next week the Auckland Court at the Dunedin Exhibition will be opened," said Mr. J. A. C. Altiim at a meeting of the Auckland Industrial Association yesterday. ' There is no doubt that Auckland is not properly represented," lie added. "Auckland manufacturers need not be blamed as much as they have been." Mr. J. W. Collins, Government commissioner at, the exhibition, in referring to secondary industries, said that so far Auckland had nine exhibits, Wellington 11 Canterbury 27, and Dunedin 156. He felt sure the Auckland Court Would receive a very cordial welcome. When Mr. T. Scott, general inspector for the Tamaki Road Board, was driving a lhs>rse and gig out of the board's stables in The Avenue, St. Heiiers Bay, shortly after eight o'clock yesterday morning, the horse bolted and dashed into the plate-glass window of the board's temporary office in the Peerless Theatre building. Mr. Scott was thrown out when the gig wheels struck the kerb and escaped without serious injury. The horse was so severely lacerated about the head and neck that it bad to be destroyed. The window was insured for £ls. A letter from Mr. George A. Wenige, Mayor of London, Canada, was read at the Auckland Rotary Club luncheon yesterday. The letter stated the centennial celebrations of London would be celebrated from July 31 to August 7, 1926. The Mayor wished that if Londoners residing in other parts of the world could net attend the celebrations they would send messages. A resolution thanking the Government for bringing into force the regulation requiring imported goods to contain not less than 50 per cent, of British labour and material before enjoying the benefit of the British preferential tariff was passed bj the Auckland Industrial Association yesterday. " While I wish the 75 per cent, basis had been decided upon, I am quite satisfied 50 per cent, is a step in the right direction," said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman. A special service for members of the Auckland Rotary Club will bo held in St. Mark's Church, Remuera, next Sunday evening. At the Rotary Club luncheon yesterday, the president, Mr. J. F. Ewen, asked all members and their families who could to attend the service, which was an annual one. Wool from Hawke's Bay sheds continues to come into the Waipawa railway station in great quantities, the stream of motor-lorries loaded up with bales being continuous, says a Napier paper. Though the weather does not suit agriculturists, on account of being so dry, it is very favourable for the shearing, and work is going on in the sheds without any interruption whatever. The wool sent in so far has been in good condition, but has been rather light on account of the season. The homing instinct of the Muscovy duck has been exemplified in a striking way. A resident of Fairlie, Canterbury, recently sent, three of these birds by train to Christchurch. Two days later he was surprised to see one of them back in his poultry yard, tho duck having found its way home, an air-line distance of about 100 miles, on the wing. It is reported that a roadman on the Wairoa Road, says a Napier paper, has received cable advice from England notifying him that in consequence of the death of a relative he has become possessed of a fortune sufficiently large to keep him in comfort for the remaining years of his life. The fortunate man will leave by an early boat for England. "I think I will start a society for the suppression of piano playing. I hesitate to think what it will be like in twenty years' time. In these days anyone seems to be able to play the piano, and any-, one seems to be able to teach it," said Mr. Wesley Roberts, examiner to the Associated Board of Music, at Christchurch. A man charged at Hamilton with driving a motor-cycle without a driver s license produced the license papers he received when he registered the machine. The magistrate explained that it was necessary for all motorists to have personal licenses giving them authority to drive as well as papers showing that their vehicles were licensed. He remarked that it took a long time to educate people regarding the requirements of the Motor Vehicles Act. A very surprised motorist played an unpremeditated part in a little street incident at Dunedin. Ho was approaching tho Octagon up Stuart Street in a handsome car and was about to turn. He sounded his horn vigorously and swung out his right arm to indicate his intention. A genial gentleman visiting the city noted what he thought to be a preferred hand of friendship. He stepped out promptly, seized it and gave a cordial shake. Tho look of surprise on tho one face and of mild, inquiring innocence on the other, was highly diverting. The release of merchandise recently held up by the shipping strike has now begun to affect the working hours of those engaged in the carriage of goods in Southland. Tho railway authorities report, that the shunters are working practically 24 hours a day to cope with the avalanche of business which has descended on tho port of Bluff. Tho goodssheds hands are also feeling the effect and arc working at full pressure, as in addition to large volumes of shipping business, they have had to deal with specially numerous consignments of fertilisers. There was an outbreak of fire at the Wellington City Council's Petone paving plant last week, and as a result the machine is out of action for a week at least. Damage done amounted to about £2OO. It is presumed that the fire began from a spark which flew to the roof of the plant, and lodged there, setting up a slow combustion. When the nightwatchman discovered it the flames had a good hold, and the Hutfc and Petone fire brigades wore called. The plant is located on Gear Island, quite close to both stations, and tha fire brigade w°as about to turn hoses on the machine when they were prevented. Several hands who lived near-by showed the brigadesmen how to use wet sand to extinguish the fire and thus saved the plant, the roof and flooring of which were destroyed.