LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The baby antelope that was born at the zoo early on Monday did not survive for more than 24 hours. It was found dead yesterday morning. The little antelope was not expected to live, as it was very weak at birth. Its parents have already successfully reared a fine family of three, which arrived last year and are now as healthy as could be desired. They are known as Nilghai antelopes, and thennative habitat is India. The camel which was born on Sunday is doing very well, and the large family of little emus is in a flourishing condition. A question as to the position of employees of the Mount Roskill Road Board in the event of that district's amalgamation with Auckland C'itv was yesterday raised by a deputation to the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon. He replied that the cour'.-il's policy was to take over the employees in areas which joined the city. The Auckland Harbour Board decided yesterday to instruct its solicitors to draw up a by-law prohibiting gambling in the waterside workers' waiting room near the end of Central Wharf. The chairman, Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, said there had been trouble recently over gambling in this shed, and the board was not prepared, to allow it to continue. A resolution expressing disapproval of Sunday trading was passed by tho Auckland Sunday School Union at a meeting held on Monday. It was considered by the unioa that the abuse by some shopkeepers of the privileges granted by law offered needless temptation to young people to disregard tho correct observance of Sunday and thus weakened an important religious tie. The resolution also embodied an appreciation of the r<»cent work of the police in connection with the question, and a request to the Minister to exercise his influence toward the limitation of facilities for Sunday trading and the prevention of abuses. A slight earthquake shock was felt at Opotiki shortly after 8 o'clock yesterday morning, according to a message from the Hekald's correspondent at Opotiki. In referring to the approaching visit to Auckland of J. Langridge, the Sussex professional cricketer, Mr. E. E. Nalder mentioned at the annual meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening the circumstances surrounding the engagement. The Sussex Club was paying Langridge's fare to the Dominion, and all the Auckland Association had to do was to find him employment and pocket money. Langridge would be under the direction of E. H. Bowley so far as tuition was concerned. A collision between a motor-lorry belonging to Winstone, Limited, and a motor delivery-van owned by Messrs. M. Marriott and Company, occurred at the corner of Fanshawe and Hobson Streets shortly before eleven o'clock yesterday morning. The radiator and engine of the delivery-van was considerably damaged, the other vehicle being unharmed. Neither driver was injured. The New Year's Day of the Jewish calendar was celebrated in Auckland yesterday, all the Jewish business houses being closed. A special service was conducted in the Synagogue, Princes Street, in the morning by the Rev. S. A. Goldstein, assisted by the Rev. N. S. Salas. There was a very large congregation. " When the New Zealand cricket team was chosen to go to England there was a lot of adverse criticism from this province," said Mr. G. Jackson, delegate for the North Shore Club, ?.t the annual meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association last evening. "I think, therefore, it would be fitting if this association, as representing cricket in Auckland, passed a resolution congratulating the selectors on their choice of players." The president, Mr. F. Earl, K.C., said he could not accept such a motion, as it would give rise to a good deal of discussion whether a better team could not have been got together. Soma residents of Ngatea are displaying interest in the approach of a Public Works Department's dredge to Johnson's Wharf, owing to the loss of a solid silver coffee service which now lies somewhere in the mud at the bottom of the river near tbe wharf. Many years ago, when the district was only sparsely settled, two settlers were sent to Thames to purchase a wedding present for a local couple due to be married within a few days. The two settlers purchased the coffee service, but before they disembarked from the launch on their return the present fell into the river. It was not recovered. The necessity for research in respect of the Dominion's sea fisheries was emphasised at Christchurch last week by Mr. A. S. Hefford, Government Inspector of Fisheries. Supplies, he said, were show ing signs of marked diminution, especially the sheltered inshore waters that had been intensively fished. They did not know the extent of the resources not yet tapped Tbe comprehensive survey of the marine resources of the Dominion would be a big and expensive job. Regarding poaching on the Dominion's oyster beds, Mr. Hefford said that undoubtedly poaching went on, bat not to an extent that made any appreciable difference to the output. " A properly controlled lunch is essential to the child who is taking the meal away from home," wrote the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. R. J. R. Mecredy, in a report on visits to various schools which was considered by the Taranaki Education Board. At Hawera the school lunch was controlled by a teacher, and the children were prohibited from using the playground until 20 minutes had elapsed for the meal At Eltham, while the lunch was not controlled, the pupils were not allowed on the playground until 20 minutes had passed. The doctor was pleased that soch attention was paid to the point. The senior inspector, Mr N. R- McKenzie, said Dr. Mecredy would probably find that lunches were controlled in other schools as welL Some years ago the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society imported English mallard dack, and released them on the Avon. A pugnacious breed, they tried to exterminate the grey duck, killing the young. So they were destroyed. However, they had bred with the grey dnck, and there are bow about twelve to fourteen mongrel dack which it is considered desirable to kill out. The council of the society came to the decision to kill these crossbred docks, bat it will be necessary to obtain official sanction from the Government, a* it is not the open season. Mallard dock, tn type, rather incline towards the tain® dack, anal are not nearly such good birds for eating as the grey, which probably are ansorpaaied. Tbe Auckland Acclimatisation Society, as already stated, lias deeded to import mallard*.