LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

" A fire engine lias no additional rights on the highway over other traffic," said Mr. Justice Stringer yesterday when giving the grand jury details of the fatal accident at Newmarket on March 19 when an elderly woman was killed through being struck by the Parnell fire engine. " Fire engines must observe all the conditions and rules of the road," His Honor continued. Of course, it was common knowledge that they took charge of the road when they were proceeding to fires and the practice was fairly reasonable provided it was kept within reasonable limitations. .

The enthusiasm sometimes aroused by queen carnivals was illustrated by Colonel H. R. Potter in an address last evening. Colonel Potter stated that at one carnival held in Wellington a man stood watching the figures going up during the closing stages of the contest. In front of him he had a blank cheque, and as the hour of midnight approached he filled it in for £SOO.

Some people appear to be very careless about their personal property. When the St. John Ambulance attended an accident at the intersection of Symonds Street and Wellesley Street East last Friday, the driver of the ambulance picked up a felt hat, dropped evidently by one of the crowd which had gathered. The hat has not yet been claimed, and still awaits its owner at the Rutland Street station.

An account of the erection of the flagstaff at Northcote Point, and the presentation of the flag by the Maoris of the district on August 8, 1908, was received by the Northcote Borough Council last evening' from Mr. George Graham, to whom it was resolved to convey thanks. Coloured photographs of the ceremony were reported to have been donated at the time by Mr. Graham, and it was decided to make inquiry concerning them with a view to hanging them on the walls of the borough chambers. A tractor caught fire at Turnbull Road, Devonport, late yesterday afternoon. The tank was burned and some of the wiring destroyed. With the aid of the chemical hand-pump the brigade managed to prevent further damage.

No change is reported in the condition of Mr. Oliver Noakes, Bellwood Avenue, Dominion Road, who was seriously injured in a motor-bus accident on Monday. Mr. James Kelly, who sustained scalp wounds in a fall on Monday, showed a slight improvement yesterday morning.

Deafness, an obvious disqualification from the privilege of being numbered among groups of " twelve goo<J men and true," secured exemption for two jurymen at the Supreme Court when the criminal sessions began yesterday. One gave quite direct evidence of his disability—thrice his name was called when the oath was being administered, and there was no answer. Eventually he was singled out and brought before the Judge. "I can hear only on one side!" he said. " Very well, you are certainly exempted," observed His Honor. " A juryman must be able to hear both sides !" • (Laughter.)

In response to the invitation of the recent mild rains and genial weather mushrooms have made their appearance in the pastures at Ardmore, near Papakura. Their proper season is ' February and March, when the soil is warm after summer suns and it is most unusual for to be seen in July, usually the severest month of winter.. The specimens brought into the Herald office by Mr. W. H. Reynolds, of Ardmore, gave evidence of luxuriant growth, the largest being lit tie less than a pound in weight.

Although cricket is not New Zealand's national game,, the interest taken in ihe present series of test matches between Australia and England .is exceptional. As soon as Monday's scores were posted on the Herald board yesterday morning an interested crowd gathered round to comment learnedly on the news and to miike the very original statement that " Macartney and Woodfull must be great batsmen." The time limit controversy was fully aired, and one could hear many small bets being made on the outcome* of the final game. Tram motormen failed to resist the temptation of seeing the latest scores, and' on several Occasions they ran across the road to glance at the board before continuing their trips.

The Dominion Road tram service was interrupted, but not seriously disorganised, early yesterday morning as. the result of the derailment of a tramcar near Valley Road. The tram went off the line at the spot where it is being repaired and it was about an hour and 20 minutes before the tramway department's workmen could restore it to the tracks. It was shortly before eight o'clock when the accident occurred, knd so the stoppage affected the residents of the district who were on their way to work. However, cars were run to Valley Road, and the service %vas maintained- by the running of two trams from the terminus to this section and the transfer"of passengers.

All the military bajids of the Auckland district are in a weak position financially, according to a statement made by Colonel 11. R. Potter,, in ah address la.st evening. Colonel Potter said that the £75 subsidy received from the Govea'nment by the bands was only sufficient to pay the bandmaster. The public of Auckland was extraordinarily apathetic to appeals on behalf of the bands. The appeals were always practically a fiasco. Band concerts were held, but they only produced £2 or £3. If they were not hindered by lack of funds the military bands would be first-class organisations.

The result of the voting of the Newmarket School Committee on the school holidays question is as follows: —That the present number of holidays be increased, 81; that the present number remain, 10.3; that the former system of one week's holiday at Easter be retained, 32.

A Maori greenstone whakakai, or drop ear ornament, has been presented to the Auckland Museum by the White Island Agricultural Chemical Company. It wis found at a depth of one foot while excavations for building purposes were b<ing made on the island. Unfortunately it is broken where the stone is pierced to be fixed to the ear, otherwise it is an interesting specimen for it supports the statements that Maoris used to visit the island for the purpose of catching and drying sufficient fish for the winter months.

The wrecking of the steamer Port Kembla is more serious for Dunedin than for any other port of New Zealand, siace that was to- be her first harbour, fihe loaded very heavy consignments to D>medin merchants, consisting largely of drapery, fancy goods, provisions and other goods that are sensitive to water damage;