LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19986, 30 June 1928, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The 83rd anniversary of the storming of the Ohaeawai pa during the Maori Wars falls to-morrow. The futile attempt of the British to captuij the pa on July 1, 1845, was the most outstanding event of Hone Heke's war in the North in 1844-46. Of the 200 solders and seamen who endeavoured to capture the pa, 40 men were killed and 70 wounded.

The new motor parking by-laws will come into force throughout the city tomorrow. The majority of the restrictions operate between 8 a.m and 6 p.m., and with the exception of Queen Street and Karangahape Road night parking is not limited. In a number of congested thoroughfares it will be a Lreach to leave a car unattended for the shortest period during the day. In sonip cases different periods apply in the same street, the intention being to keep one side of narrow roads absolutely free from standing vehicles. The 10-minutes limit will apply only during the day in Queen Street and Karangahape Road, and at night the limit will be 30 minutes. Details of the streets affected wholly or partly by the new bylaw are published in the supplement with this issue.

In attempting to jump from a ferryboat on to the ferry wharf at Auckland yesterday morning, a' man fell into the Water. He suffered no inconvenience apart from a thorough soaking. Before proceeding to work he returned to Devonport for a change of clothing. $

The result of the Rugby football test match between the All Blacks and South Africa is expected to be available at seven o'clock to-morrow morning, instead of at half-past eight, as previously announced. Special arrangements have been made to receive it at this earlier hour in order to spread the load on "information" at the Auckland telephone exchange over a longer period. The result will be broadcast from Station IYA at 11 o'clock.

That the Government ot 1908 was entitled to grateful remembrance because of its introduction of the public servants' superannuation scheme was an opinion expressed by Mr. A. V. Penn, who retires to-day from the position of collector of customs at Auckland, in addressing a gathering in his honour yesterday. "That model has been followed by most local bodies and by many companies and banks," said Mr. Penn. "It is a splendid scheme, and public servants should recognise their indebtedness to the promoters. It is far better than the old method of granting a pension, as, on retiring, you feel you have earned your superannuation as a- result of the payments made into the fund."

A gang of about 50 men was sent from Auckland to Taumarunui this week for work on the central main highway. The course of the road is being changed in many places to eliminate the numerous railway crossings between Ongarue and Taumarunui. Considerable improvement in this direction was made last winter, and further south several level crossings were cut out of the highway. The improvements are under the jurisdiction of the Taumarunui headquarters of the Public Works Department, this section of the highway being in the No. 6 Highway district.

The main road leading to the Hamilton East cemetery has been completely blocked by the collapse of a large storm-water culvert. It is estimated that it will cost up to £3OO to repair the damage. Funeral corteges have to make a detour to teach the cemetery.

The Southern Cross League has protested, to the Minister of Justice against the disuse of police uniforms in children s courts. It, holds that the change would impair the dignity of the courts and lemove all fear that the children would have.

As a result of the shoaling of the Greymouth bar the port's shipping trade has been considerably hampered lately. The Kaiapoi had to shut out 100,000 ft. of timber intended for Sydney, while the Kaponga shut out 550 tons of coal and 30,000 ft, of timber when leaving for Wellington. The Kaitangata had to sail under a restricted draught, leaving 400 tons of coal behind, while the Kartigi, which left last week for Melbourne and Adelaide, shut out 30,000 ft. of timber.

Many strange requests are made of a newspaper, and the following from a correspondent is probably a fair sample. "1 am in need of £250," he writes, "to help me to commence in business. It is my life's ambition to be able to wipe out unemployment of every kind in the whole world. Do you think you could introduce me to some person who would be willing to help me for such a noble purpose?" The usual silent day will not be observed by the Auckland broadcasting station next Monday. Uio Te Kuiti Racing Club's meeting at Ellerslie will be broadcast on Monday, as well as to-day, beginning each day at 11 o'clock- After giving out the result of the Rugby football test match between the All Blacks and South Africa at U o'clock to-morrow morning, the station will relay the service at the Auckland Unitarian Church.

A little girl, Ina Twigg, was warming herself by the fire at her home, Matamata, when her celluloid doll burst into flames, with the result that her left arm and face were severely burned. The girl was removed to the Waikato Hospital.

Commenting on the fact that the insurance companies asked for an increased premium on' policies in which mountaineering was one of the risks, several members of the Tararua Tramping Club, at the annual meeting in Wellington last week, said they considered, the Government should be asked to help in cases where trampers were engaged in searching for missing people. "I think there will be some difficulty in defining mountaineering," observed the chairman, Mr. F. W. Vosseler. "Personally, I don't call climbing the Tararuas mountaineering, although sometimes conditions really make it so." "The insurance companies call it mountaineering," remarked another member, amid laughter.

"There are many difficulties in-the way of a customs officer," said Mr. A. V. Penn, retiring collector of customs at Auckland, in speaking at an official farewell by his staff yesterday: "He has to carry out the laws and regulations of the country, and at the same time take care not to hold up business too much He even has to break the regulations sometimes, for a stickler for every point in the regulations would make it impossible for the business of the country to go on.Perhaps the best way is to use discretion, and if a regulation has to be broken, then break it gently. In case of difficulty, I would advise the younger men to ask the advice of their seniors and share in the responsibility."