LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19254, 17 February 1926, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Ulimaroa arrived iu Sydney yesterday at one o'clock, from Wellington. A Press Associatio.i cablegram from the Australian port states that the vessel was delayed for three hours by bad weather on the trip.

A firm refusal to suppress the name of a man convicted of unlawful conversion of a motor-car was made by Sir. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. "I do not see why joy-riders' names should be suppressed," he Eaid. " The men should be photographed for the information of < carowners. The practice is becoming such an evil that although one or two names may have been suppressed iu the past I cannot do it in the future." Chief-De-tective Cummings: Joy-riding is becoming a daily occurrence.

" I -would like to move a resolution placing on record this man's lack of public spirit," said a member of the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening when a resident wrote stating his intention of squaring off his boundary fence in Burnley Terrace. It was stated that a section of the footpath would be taken in if the corner was squared off. The resolution was carried unanimously. The Australian naval squadron to visit Auckland arrives here on March 15 and departs on March 24. The warships in the squadron are the Sydney, Adelaide, and Delhi. This information was received by the Harbour Board yesterday from the Department of Internal Affairs. The Dairy Produce Control Board has calhid a conference of representatives of the dairy industry throughout the Dominion for early in April. The business will be consideration of tire system of election of members to the board. A number of the members of the British bowling party, which has just concluded a most enjoyable tour of New Zealand, left for Vancouver by the Aorangi yesterday, en route for England. Mr. G. Baildon, Mayor of Auckland, and several other Auckland bowlers, assembled on the wharf to bid them good-bye. Excitement was caused "in Symonds Street, Onehunga, at four o'clock yesterday afternoon by a tar-boiler catching fire. Dense clouds of smoke rose and burning tar flowed down the gutter for thirty yards or more." The Onehunga Fire Brigade quickly dealt with the outbreak. The Auckland cricket representatives, who will commence the final match for the Plunket Shield against Wellington on Friday, will leave for Wellington by the daylight limited this morning. The team is a strong one and should give a good account of itself. Both Auckland and Wellington have already played two shield matches, Auckland having defeated Canterbury and Otago, while Wellington were victorious against Canterbury, but suffered defeat at the hands of Otago. If Auckland are defeated in the forthcoming match the teams will be level with two wins each, and the final result will then be calculated on averages. The game has aroused unprecedented interest and a keen struggle is expected. " you will have to pay the costs of adjournment as is done everywhere else," said Mr. F. K. S.M., to a. solicitor in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. " I do not agree/* the solicitor replied. " They do not do it in Wellington and they are advanced there." The magistrate stated that costs would have to be paid. u They always were in Wellington in my time," he added. The Auckland Artillery Band will leave this evening for Dunedin to take part. in the Exhibition band contest. The band will leave the Town Hall at 7 o'clock and will march down Queen Street to the railway station. The Senior Cadet Band of No. 1 Regimental District will lead the procession. A number of Auckland private schools, including the Diocesan High School and St. Cuthbert's College, Epsom, will reopen to-morrow for the New Year term.

A Queen Street shopkeeper asked Mr. Justice Herdman In the Supreme Court yesterday to excuse him from jury service on the ground that absence from the business was a heavy burden to him. " So it is to other gentlemen summoned," said His Honor., The applicant urged that when he could not personally attend to his business ho would have difficulty in paying his rent. w I cannot help that," was His Honor's final decision. " You have a public duty to perform. I am sbrry I cannot excuse you." A correspondent reports that a fine haul of trout was made at Tokaanu, Lake Taupo, last Sunday. A party of three rods trolling in Mr. Robert Mace s launch Taihoa caught 48 trout, the smallest weighing 4ilb. The fish are in first-class condition and are now running up the Tongariro River in large numbers. With the early arrival of overseas fishermen some large hauls are anticipated.

There will be no delivery of bread in the city to-day and bakers* shops will observe the day as a close holiday, to enable* employees to attend the annual picnic of the Bakers' Union at Point Chevalier.

All Insurance companies, said an expert motor-car valuer in the Supreme Court yesterday, refuse to value a motor-car after five years. Another valuer confirmed the statement, and added that the underwriters aimed at writing off the value of a car in five years. Personally, he said, ha changed his car every two yejjrs. 4 »

The almost direct railway line from Morningside to Kumeu, defined by Government survey some time ago, is being brought forward by the Kumeu District Ratepayers' Association as an important and neoessary work. In a letter received by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the association stated the line would reduce the rail distance by seven miles, no grade would exceed one in 100, trains would take 45 minutes less on the journey, and loads could be increased 100 per cent. Thousands of acres of land between Te Atatu and Waimauku would be thrown open. The association asked that a deputation should be received by the chamber. This was agreed to. Severo injuries were received by Mr. •William Downey, chief cook of tha steamer Rmra, when crossing the Manukau bar last Thursday morning, en route from Onehunga to Raglan and Kawhia. He was taking meat out of tha safe on the bridge deck when he was struck by an exceptionally heavy sea which broke on board and flooded the decks. When the ship reached Raglan Mr. Downey was examined by a dootor who found he was suffering from a broken hip and bruises on the body. The Bimu mourned to Onehunga on Sunday with Mr. Downey, mho was taken to his homo at A*Ubur Street West, Onehunga.