LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19625, 2 May 1927, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

There was a very light casualty-list for the football matches in Auckland on Saturday. Generally, several cases have to be admitted to the hospital when the first knocks of the winter are received, but the fact, that heavy rain had softened the ground was responsible for the absence of severe accidents on Saturday. One case was admitted to the Auckland Hospital, Mr. Thomas Boyle, aged 22, of 215, Hobson Street, City, being injured in a match at the Domain. The exact nature of his injuries cannot be determined until an X-ray examination is made. At Morrinsville Mr. J. Little had his collarbone broken in the WaitoaKeroone match.

The fine weather which commenced in Auckland on Friday afternoon continued during the week-end. The wind was from the south and the temperature was cold. The barometer has been rising steadily since midday en Friday and the reading last night was 30.25 in.

The passenger traffic handled, at the Auckland railway station during the Easter holidays, from April 12 to April 18, showed a decided increase over the figures for Easter of last year. The total number of tickets issued was 13,169, an increase of 578, while the takings were £12,130 lis 2d, compared with £11,369 lis 4d. There were also increases in the reservations of sleeping-berths and seats.

Few people realise the amount of work involved in counting the votes after a municipal election. Since polling-day last. Wednesday, a special staff number - ing 83 has been employed in the Town Hall concert chamber counting and recounting the thousands of votes cast in the election for the Auckland Mayoralty, City Council, Harbour Board and Hospital Board. There was a total of 91 candidates for the 31 offices, and it is estimated that over 600.000 votes will have to be checked before the final results arc announced. This constitutes one of the largest polls in the history of thes city. It is expected the official count will bo concluded this afternoon.

Mount Ruapehu has taken her winter garb, a thick mantle of snow reaching well down the lower slopes. Snow fell in Ohakune on Friday morning, but was melted by showers of rain. The weather was bitterly cold.

Many sportsmen left Auckland for country districts during the week-end in preparation for the opening of the shooting season to-day. Reports indicate that imported and native game are plentiful, and prospects for tho season are considered excellent. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society will allow pukeko to Bo shot in the district during this month only. Game in the Opotski district is reported to be scarce.

For the first time in 17 years, traffic will bo debarred from Grafton Bridge this morning to permit the laying of hotmix asphalt paving. The barriers will be erected shortly after 8 o'clock and a start will be made by lifting the existing asphalt at the Grafton end. Provision has to be made for seven expansion joints. If the weather is favourable the work should be finished on Saturday.

Inconvenience to passengers in a de luxe sleeper on the .limited express which left Wellington for Auckland on Friday evening was caused during the run to Palmerston North. An axlfl became overheated, resulting in the development of a "hotbox," and the sleeper had to be taken off at Palmerston North, seventeen passengers transferring to an ordinary carriage about 10 o'clock in the evening. The best accommodation under the circumstances was given, but there was naturally some dismay on the part of passengers in having to vacate their sleeping berths for the less comfortable seats of an ordinary carriage. However, they will be refunded the extra money paid for the sleeping berths.

A reference to the administration of the North Shore boroughs was made by the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, at the meeting of the Auckland Orphans' Club on Saturday evening. He spoke of the benefits of united administration, and f s an illustration of the economy which might thus be effected, he said the members of the Water Commission d recently beheld the of three pumping plants, erected on the she-dr of Lake Takapuna, all lifting water out of the lake for the inhabitants of the North Shore, whereas the work might lo more advantageously performed 1 v "hint. Mr. Wallace also referred e " parochialism" which had all along kept Northcote and Birkenhead t. and remarked that a great deal of this feeling had been dispelled by the activities of the Birkenbead-Northccte Orphans' Club.

Arrivals from overseas at the Port of Auckland last month totalled 864, compared with 1477 for the corresponding period of last year. The large decrease is accounted for by the arrival of an immigrant steamer in April, 1926. De partures numbered 1941, compared with 1804.

There was a slight decrease in the number of men seeking employment at the Government Labour Bureau last week. Four hundred men were classed as fit for heavy work and 120 as fit for light work, compared with 413 and 123 respectively the previous week. Last week 71 men were placed in employment, as against 60 the week before.

Tlie Wanganui Acclimatisation Society will liberate 2QOO yearling trout in the Mangawhero Stream this week. Prior to the Raetihi fire several years ago this stream was excellent for trout fishing, but the fish were killed by the excess of potash deposited in the river. The Wanganui Society ia now endeavouring to restore the Mangawhero to the condition it was ■n before" the fire. "The society is doing its best to provide fishing for its licenceholders," said the president, Mr. 11. J. Duigan, at the annual meeting of the society last week.

" The Salvation Army," said Commissioner Hay, when speaking at the Salvation Army Congress at Wellington, " is 62 years old, and there is not a sign on the horizon of spiritual abatement. Ths power of the Army is in the deeds of thj spirit, and we are going to do—may st please God—even more than we have done in the past." During the last 17 years, added Com miss; oner Hay, the Army had advanced about 50 per cent. It was expanding throughout America,

vainada, Great Britain. Europe and India, and even in the disturbed lands of the East.

A number of largo quinnat salmon have been caught in Lake Hawea, Ota go. Use heaviest specimen weighed 301b. These fish hare run from ■the sea up the Molyneux River, and across the lake, obviously intent on spawning in the Hunter River. It is somewhat remarkable tlj»t none have been caught on the v. ay in any river or stream.