LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Two operations were performed at the Auckland Hospital yesterday 011 Mr. Gladstone Mahon, of Takapuna, who sustained a fracture of the leg and internal injuries in the collision between a motor-car and breakdown tramcar in Anzac Avenue on Thursday night. The condition of tho patient was reported last evening to be still serious. The condition of Mr. Herbert Francis Helming, of Mount Eden, who sustained fracture of the ribs in the accident, was stated to be fairly comfortable. There Was an exodus of large overseas steamers from Auckland yesterday, five taking their departure. Tho Canadian Prospector for Wellington and the MatatVia for Antwerp sailed in the morning, and in the afternoon the Ruahine and the Walchereu left for Wellington and tho Marama for Sydney. The Port Albany was also to have sailed for Wellington, but owing to some £)f the members of tho crew being absent her departure was postponed until daybreak to day. The supply of whitebait this season from the Lower Waikato River is now increasing, the quantity railed from luakau this week being considerably greater than in any previous week this year. However, the season seems backward, this being attributed to a largo amount of flood water keeping the river cold and discoloured. The two whitebait-canning factories' on the river are not expected to start operations this year for some time, there being a ready sale outside the district for all the whitebait at present being caught. An exceptionally large cargo of oranges will arrive in Auckland on Monday hv the steamer Waipahi. Consisting of 22.000 cases, it will bo tho largest consignment of the season, and the largest the Waipahi, a comparatively new vessel on the Islands run, has vet carried, exceeding her previous record by 5000 cases Most of tho fruit was taken on board at Aitutaki and Mauke, while At in , Mangaia and Rarotonga were also visited. Packed and consigned in the middle of the season, the oranges should be of the highest quality. There is an excellent market for citrus fruits at present, and, if the fruit arrives in good condition, tho rate of sale should be rapid. The growers i were well prepared for the Waipahi's visit on this occasion, one or two even ■exceeding their quota. In addition 1000 cases of tomatoes, 500 cases of bananas | and some cocoanuts were also carried. " This man had a pea-rifle with him and was after rabbits," said SeniorSergoant Edwards in the Police Court yesterday when J. Richardson was charged with taking a firearm into the sanctuary for game at Lake St. John. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M .. said he did not think much harm could be done to duck with a pearifle. " I have shot them myself with one, sir," said the, senior sergeant. "Have you?" replied the magistrate. " Did you land any ? " Mr. Edwards admitted having had some success. " Good shooting," said the magistrate before proceeding with the case. Advice was received in Auckland yesterday that the two British motor-cyclists, Mr. J. P. Castley and Mr. B. R. Cathrick, who are completing a world tour, expect to arrive at Hamilton this afternoon and to spend the week-end at Cambridge. The journey will be resumed on Monday morning and the two riders are scheduled to arrive in Auckland at 3.30 in tho afternoon. Civic receptions were accorded the tourists at Wanganui and Palmerston North. Tho chaotic situation in which the Avondale Borough Council finds itself as a result of the resignation of the Mayor and three councillors may be relieved next week by the holding of a meeting at the bedside of Mr. W. Manning, the member whose illness has prevented the assembly of a quorum of five to attend to vital business. The returning officer for the borough has already invited nominations for the four vacancies, and a byelection will be held on September 1 if more than the required number of candidates are prepared to step into the breach for t,he brief term of office before amalgamation with the city is effected. A decision to establish a committee to co-operate with the Land Settlement Development League was reached at the annual meeting of the Auckland Real Estate Institute last evening. Mr. C. F. Bennett said the Government had ot kept a promise to appoint a Royal Commission to deal with the subject. The move was, however, not dead, and Auckland citizens were organised and were meeting weekly with the object of evolving a settlement scheme. The assistance of land agents would be helpful in the formulation of a policy and those interested in the movement would appreciate any constructive proposals. The speaker's suggestion resulted in a resolution to appoint a special committee being adopted. In promising consideration of the "off side" rule in amended traffic regulations to be introduced, the Minister of Public Works is only following a lead given by the Auckland City Council over a year ago. Immediately the by-law was adopted in Auckland, suburban bodies and several southern municipalities added it to their traffic codes. The Auckland Automobile Association advocated this rule for the precedence of vehicles at intersections over three years ago The automobile organisations of Great Britain have been appealing unsuccessfully for it during a much longer period. Local motorists have had tho importance of the regulation impressed on them through the publications of the Auckland Automobile Association, while tho Newmarket Borough Council took the precaution of erecting signboards at intersections urging observance of this bylaw. " It strikes me as a fool of an Act and one which badly needs revision," said Mr. D. E. Wilkie, after being elected chairman of the conference of Fire Boards at Wellington yesterday. Ho was referring to tho Fire Brigades Act, which, ho said, provided for tho holding of the conference, but which had been read so narrowly by the Department of Internal Affairs that no money could be spent on renting a hall for the conference or on tho reporting and printing of the proceedings. "Don't put that to (he jury in a serious vein," remarked Mr. Justice Ostler, in the Napier Supreme Court the other day, when counsel was asking a young girl if it was not a fact that she had been chastised by a neighbour for stealing fruit from an orchard. "Goodness mo," remarked His Honor, "did you never rob an orchard when you wera a boy.?"