LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19279, 18 March 1926, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The electric street lights over a large portion of Remuera failed to function last evening. The absence of illumination was the more noticeable owing to the darkness of the night. Under these gloomy conditions the crossing of the busy Remuera Road was dangerous for pedestrians except where motorists had switched on high-powered lights. Officials of the Auckland Power Board were not aware of any trouble, but, when informed of the lighting failure, expressed the opinion that the time switches on the circuit had failed. They promised investigation to-day and, if necessary, repairs to any fault.

An instance of the miner's luck, such as was not infrequent on the Auckland goldfields at one time, was mentioned in the course of a civil case at the Supreme Court yesterday. It was the experience of two men who took up a tribute in a claim at Coromandel 25 years ago, and met with a patch of gold that, in the course of a few months, gave them a return of £SOOO. The net proceeds to them, after deducting royalties, amounted to about £4OOO

Beef was penned in average numbers at the Westfield fat stock sale yesterday and sold practically at last week's rates. Extra choice ox realised £1 9s per 1001b., choice and prime bringing from £1 4s to £1 ss, and ordinary and plain ox from 18s to £1 3s. Prime young cow and heifer beef brought from £1 2s to £1 5s per 1001b. Sheep were yarded in large numbers and the market showed an easing tendency, although prices dropped very little. Heavy prime wethers sold at from £1 7s to £1 9s 6d and medium and light at from £1 3s 6d to £1 6s 9d. There was a large yarding of pigs and values remained firm with a rising tendency.

A legacy of £IOO has been received by the Jubilee Institute for the Blind from the estate of the late Mrs. W alter I. Nathan, of Wellington. Last December a donation of £5 5s was received from the same source, in pursuance of a wish expressed by Mrs. Nathan in her will, that all her donations to local charitable institutions, to which she subscribed during her life time, should be continued for one year after her death.

During the course of the prosecution of Thomas Smith and James Moyne at Senior-Detective Hammond demonstrated how a locked bedroom door could be opened with medical forceps found in possession of the accused. Other exhibits found were quicksilver for loading dice, some dice with double sixes, fives, etc., for playing hazards, powder for manipulating the quicksilver, and blind keys, which were stated to be skeleton keys in embryo.

A request from the Auckland City Schools Committee for permission for children to sell tickets for a concert in aid of the hot cocoa fund, was refused by the Auckland Education Board yesterday on the ground that such a procedure would be against the general practice of the board. The suggestion gave rise to considerable discussion, Mrs. Ferner and several others members strongly supporting the request on the ground that the cause was a very special one, and one of direct benefit to the children themselves. Mfl6srs. v H. 8. W. King and J. Boddie opposed the application, maintaining that under no circumstances whatever should school children be allowed to beg for money. The voting for and against a resolution that the committee's request be granted was even, and the'matter was decided on the casting vote of the chairman.

The headquarters of the Auckland Education Board will be- transferred to-day from Williamson's Chambers, in Shortland Street, to its new premises in the Training College Building, Wellesley Street. Reference was made by tihe chairman at yesterday's meeting to the fact that it was the last occasion on which the board would assemble in the old room. He suggested that a social evening might be held after the next meeting, which would be held in the Training College, 'in order to mark the board's entry into its new home. Country members would perhaps like to invite their relatives to accompany them on their next journey to town, and with the addition of town members and office staff, a very pleasant social evening might be arranged. The suggestion met with the Cordial approval of all present. While working on the Auckland City Council stone quarry at Mount Eden yesterday afternoon, Mr. R. Capel, a quarryman, sustained injuries' to the legs through a piece of rock falling on him from the face of the cliff. He was removed to the Auckland Hospital, where he was treated in the casualty ward. He was then able to proceed to his home.

The equipment of the students' block at the new University College buildings in Px-inces Street was brought one step nearer completion with the opening of the cafeteria yesterday. The full menu is not yet provided, as the kitchen fittings are still incomplete, but light refreshments are being supplied. The cafeteria will seat about 100 students.

The Dodge motor-car, No. 4674, owned by Mr. W. N. Purdy, of Reimers Avenue, Mount Albert, which was removed from Belgium Street on Tuesday evening, had not been recovered at a late hour last night. The car is painted dark blue and has a black hood.

The question of establishment of a maternity ward at the Auckland Hospital is to be reported upon by the chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. W. Wallace, and the medical superintendent, Dr. C. E. Maguire. The matter will be - considered at next month's meeting of the board.

Dissatisfied with the treatment by the Fire Underwriters' Association, following expenditure of the loan for a new fire station and fire-fighting equipment, the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce is moving for the establishment of a Fire Board for the town.

The R-odney County Council is not opposed to the. bridging of the Waitemata Harbour, but does not consider the present an opportune time to carry out such an undertaking. It passed a motion that it would support the proposal when the opportune time arrived.

"The Cashmere Sanatorium is the best. I have seen in all my inspections of any country." stated Dr. MacEachern, the Canadian expert, in Christchurch. "I was particularly impressed with the preventive work the institution is carrying out in providing a hospital home for young children exposed and predisposed to tuberculosis. The condition of the new school is a unique feature. "-