LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19447, 1 October 1926, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A proposal that penny-in-the-slot gas rings should be installed on Auckland beaches for the convenience of picnic parties formed the subject m a letter received by the Auckland City Council last evening from the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women. It was stated the Auckland Gas Company was prepared to instal such gas rings at Point Chevalier and Shelly beaches. Tho Parks Committee recommended that permission be granted, but as Mr. T. Bloodworth said he desired to make some further suggestions, the matter was sent back to the committee for further consideration.

New premises for the official assignee in bankruptcy and his staff have been secured in Wright's Buildings in Fort Street, and tho removal will take place on Monday. Tho department has hitherto occupied rooms in tho Government Building in Customs Street, but tho accommodation has never been sufficient for tho growing needs of the office. Tho new premises, which aro situated on the second floor of Wright's Buildings, aro more commodious and should considerably facilitate the handling of business.

Finding that it cannot levy rates on land used by tho Railway Department as sites for houses for its servants, the Auckland City Council decided last evening to forward a remit to the next conference of tho Municipal Association urging the passing of legislation to overcome the difficulty.

Prospects for trout fishing in the Waikato aro stated to be bright. Numerous fish of fair size and good condition have been seen in the Waikato River at Hamilton, Horotiu and Horahora, and high expectations of securing satisfactory hauls are entertained. The difficulty of locating positions along the banks of tho river near Hamilton has been removed to some extent by tho construction of tho Roose Shipping Company's new wharf. Reports from fishermen who frequent tho Waihou, Orako, Puniu and Mangatutu streams are encouraging. It has been noticed that the trout fry liberated in streams at Whatawhata and To Awamutu last season have done well, and aro now healthy yearlings.

Tho Government has agreed to the provision and maintenance of a permanent war memorial by the Rotorua Borough Council. The monument is to be erected in the sanitorium grounds. Fewer travellers than usual arrived at Auckland from overseas last month. They numbered 913, as compared with 1494 in August, a decrease of 581, and 1510 in September of last year, a decrease of 597. Departures totalled 1029, as against 1010 in August, an increase of 19, and 825 in September, 1925, an increase of 204.

A suggestion that if there are to be name boards on only one side of intersecting streets they should be placed on the far side from the oncoming traffic and on the kerb at an angle slightly inclined toward the mam roads was made to the Auckland City Council last evening by Mr. F. E. do Guorrier, tramways and city electrical engineer. The suggestion was the outcome of a complaint from the Auckland Automobile Association that since electric lights had been installed in the streets it had become difficult for motorists to locate side stroets owing to the lights in many cases not being placed at the street corners. The association said tho position was particularly bad on the Mannkau Road and it suggested that lights should be placed over the street names or that drop lights should be erected in the centre of the sida street entrances. Mr. do Guerrier's suggestion was referred, to the "Works Committee of tho council for a report.

Tho night steam rail car service inaugurated by tho Railway Department between Franki and Thames has received very satisfactory patronage during the few weeks it has been in operation. Tho average number of passengers carried on each trip has been 30. On Sunday nights, particularly, the demand for accommodation had been heavy, and on several occasions the car has been full. While a new crew was being trained during a trial run of the rail car between Frankton and Ohaupo a few days ago, the car broke down. A steam box was broken, and the car will be out of commission for about 10 days until a new box has been cast and fitted. The service is being carried on with an ordinary engine, carriage, and guard's van.

Free using of the playing areas in the parks of Auckland is to bo granted to primary school children between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturdays. The grounds or pitches arc to be booked prior to the day on which they are to bo used and the children must be under the control of a teacher. This concession was made by the Auckland City Council last evening on the recommendation of tho Parks Committee, to which had been referred a suggestion from tho Auckland Labour Representation Committee that tho charge of 6d per player against all players on the parks should not be levied against players under the ago of 18 years. Adoption of the ' suggestion for a complete removal of tiie charge, it was stated, would mean a decline in revenue of from 50 to 75 per cent, and would, result'in juniors monopolising the grounds day and night. Where a small charge was made, the report added, it created an interest and gave a better prospect of good order and discipline being maintained.

The reconstruction in concrete of the Great South Road from Otahuhu to Papakura entails the closing of portions of tho road for various periods whero alternative route roads are available. Motorists, however, are experiencing difficulty in finding their way round the alternative routes, and the Franklin branch of the Auckland Automobile Association has therefore suggested to the council of the association that direction signs be erected along these, routes to indicate clearly the right way for through traffic.

There has been much adverse comment on t-ho condition <>f the road paving at the intersection of Queen Street and Customs Street, where the surface is badly broken. The matter was recently brought under the notice of the City Council by Miss E. Melville, who asked that repairs should be effected. Reporting to the council last evening the city engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, said (he present state of disrepair was due to a breakage in tho sewers, tho reason for repairs not having been effected earlier being that it was necessary to givo the ctaep trench beneath the roadway tirm to consolidate. The necessary repairs now bo carried out. It was anijounced that tho repair work would bo (libraeneed, at once.