LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19697, 25 July 1927, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A fine response to a collection in aid of the Auckland City Mission fund was made by the spectators at the Soccer test match at Carlaw Park on Saturday, £76 14s being collected during community singing. While the cause of the appeal was a beneficial influence, there is no doubt the large sum donated was also a tribute to the popularity of tho Rev. Jasper Calder, city missioner, who led the singing. As Mr. Calder left the field he was given an ovation, and the crowd sang "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow." In announcing the amount of the collection at half-time, Mr. Calder prophesied he would collect £176 at the AucklandCanada match next Saturday.

Tho Union Company's steamer Waipahi, which has been lying at King's Wharf since last Wednesday, is to be recommissioned in the Cook Island service. The company has arranged for the vessel to sail about Wednesday, August 3, and she will call at Rai-otonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauko and Mangaia. Owing to the very small cargo of fruit brought to Auckland on the recent voyage of tho Waipahi, it was not certain when she would be despatched for the islands again and in consequence the crew was paid off.

Diphtheria in a mild, form is somewhat prevalent in the Auckland district at present. The Health Department does not view the matter very seriously, the cases being in scattered groups of twos and threes, with no connection between them. It is considered there is no danger of an epidemic and a report that the Mount Albert School was to be closed on account of diphtheria cases is without foundation. Twelve cases were reported in the Central Auckland district last week, three in South Auckland, two in North Auckland, and two in CoromandelOpotiki.

"Ratana has done more for the Maoris than the white people have ever done," said Sister Jessie, at a special missionary service in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church last evening. The Maoris were idolaters at heart and, recognising this, Ratana had succeeded in stamping out idolatry in many districts. He had returned from abroad with the fixed belief that the Maoris must have a Church of their own. If Ratana was not all he should be, it proved the Maoris were seeking a simple religion—the simple truth of Christ.

There are no camels at the Auckland Zoological Park, but the lack is shortly to be filled, as the result of the donation of a pair by Smith, Wylie and Company, Eimited. Advice has been received that the camels are at present housed at the Sydney Zoo, and arrangements are being made for their early shipment to Auckland.

The old steamer Talune. which was sunk many months ago at Waikokopu, on the East Coast, as a protection to the wharf there, is now practically useless. The recent severe southerly gales have done considerable damage to her, and she has split in two. The bow remains in the same position, while the stern of the vessel has been shifted some distance away. The deck has been washed up on the Opoutama beach, says the Napier Telegraph, thus leaving the harbour in a worse state than it was before the vessel was sunk.

Ifc had been intended, if Sir James Carroll had been alive, to celebrate his 70th birthday at Whakaki, Wairoa, on August 20. At Lady Carroll's request the gathering will still take place, and the fine lifesized oil painting of the deceased will be formally presented to his widow by the Wairoa friends of Sir James. The Whakaki natives are making great preparations for the event, at which it is expected a large number of pakehas and Maoris will attend from all parts of Hawke's Bay and adjacent districts.

A record of attendances at the Nelson Poultry Association's show which no other members can beat, or perhaps equal, is possessed by Mr. E. B. Martin, of Nelson. He has attended every show in Nelson during the existence of the association in the past 40 years, and has also been a consistent exhibitor. Mr. W. A. Sowman, a well-known Blenheim fancier, has also been exhibiting at the same show for some 30 years.

The Tongan Government's new motor vessel Hifofua reached Tonga from Auckland on Saturday morning. The vessel is 89ft. in length, and was built in Auckland by Mr. C. Bailey, junior. She left Auckland on her voyage of 1100 miles on July 15. * <

Blasting operations at Smeed's quarry on the bank of the Waikato River below Mercer last week had an unexpected result. A large charge of gelignite was used, but it was not expected the effect would be so great. The explosion blew a large quantity of stone toward the river, damaging two engines and large hoppers near the edge of the river. No one was injured, the workmen having been instructed to leave the vicinity.

A very fine dressing shed, which will provide accommodation for about 50 players, has been erected at the Grey Lynn Park. This provision has been made necessary owing to the limited capacity of the existing shed. Three showers have been placed in the new building, which is exceptionally well appointed with pegs and locker accommodation.

There were 669 men seeking employment at the Government Labour Bureau last week, compared with 543 in the previous week. Of these 538 were classed as fit for heavy work and 131 as fit for light work. Thirty men were placed in employment, compared with 94 in the preceding week. Relief work will bo found during the coming week for a largo number of men at present on the books.

On tho ground that the car was shabby in appearance and unfit to ply for hire, the Gisborne traffic inspector recently recommended to the Borough Council that a licence be refused for a certain taxi-cab in Gisborne until the owner provided a car that complied with the by-laws. It was stated that tho car was at present in an unfit state for hire, but it was decided to grant a temporary licence for three months, on condition that the owner Eut tho car in proper repair, failing which is licence would be cancelled.

Three ingenious burglar and thief-trap devices have been invented by a resident of Christchurcli. One of these is a trap for motor-car joy-riders. It is a small metal case, which is attached to the clutch lever. The moment the joy-rider declutches, preparatory to driving the car away, an alarm bell concealed in the metal container rings lustily, and cannot be stopped until the owner unlocks the case una turns off the battery switch*