LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

No trnco has yet been discovered of tho two men who perpetrated the thrilling hold-up on the Great South Road, near Westfield, at ono o'clock on Tuesday morning, when they surprised a

motoring party and committed robbery under arms. Detectives aro conducting an investigation which is covering a wide field, bub tho fact that tho men were completely masked is making tho progress of tho search difficult.

A collision between a new closed motorcar and a touring car occurred yesterday afternoon at tho corner of Carlton Gore Road and Park Road. TIIO closed car, which was driven by a lady, was turning from Carlton Goro Road qn its way into tho city, while tho other vehicle was proceeding along Park Road also toward tho city. After tho impact tho closed car continued on tho turn in a circle, crossing the footpath and striking the iron fenco outsido tho Domain. Tho bumper of the car was torn off, whilo several fret of masonry was dislodged from the fence. The drivers escaped injury.

Fire damaged one room of .in old fivcrooined house at tho top of Parncll Rise, owned by tho Fletcher Construction Company, shortly before six o'clock last evening. Tho Parncll and City tiro Brigades quickly extinguished tho outbreak. Tho building was used by workmen on a neighbouring building as a lumber room.

The return of tho godwits to New Zealand is recorded in an interesting letter received from a pupil of the Silverdale'School. This boy, C. McCutchan, says several flocks were to be seen circling overhead above the beach at Orowa last week. Since April tho birds have been spending tho winter in Siberia, and their migratory habits aro the subject of keen interest among tho school children in tho North.

A ceremonial march by a detachment of men from tho New Zealand Division of tho Royal Navy will take place this morning, when a company from H.M.S. Diomcde will march through tho city. The column, which will include the Diomede's band, will be commanded by LieutenantCommander G. C. Harper. Leaving the Admiralty steps at 9.45, the company will march up Queen Street, along Karangahapo Road, down Symonds Street and Anzac Avenue, along Customs Street and back to the wharf steps to return to the ship.

By tho will of Mrs. Mary Jane Davey, late of Newmarket, who died on October 2 last, tho residue of her estate after payment of legacies will be paid to (ho Ophthalmic Eye Hospital, London. Tho estate is being administered by the Public Trustee.

Over 18,000 tons of phosphates will bo unloaded at Auckland within the next few days. Tho Danybryu is at present discharging 6600 tons at King's Wharf from Ocean Island, while the Antonia is duo from Mokatca Island to-morrow with 3500 tons for this port. The steamer Larnaston is expected from Nauru Island early next week and will unload 8200 tons at Auckland.

A suggestion that, in order to meet competition by motor services, the railway department should reduce the ordinary suburban fares was made at ,tho halfyearly conference of chambers of commerce in tho Franklin district at Pokeno yesterday. Some speakers said the same conditions would apply to many longdistanco runs, where service-cars operated. It was decided to forward a remit to tho department suggesting that ordinary fares in general be reduced as a means of competing with motor services.

A remit that the constitution of the Highways Board should be altered and that tho board should bo an entity separate from the Public Works Department was carried at tho half-yearly conference yesterday of tho chambers of commerce in the Franklin district. In proposing the remit, Mr. H. Curd said that although the funds for tho board wero provided by taxation on motorists, there was only one motorists' representative on tho board. There wero two country representatives, and all the other members, including the chairman, were representatives of the Public Works Department. This gave the department the deciding voice in the pvork of the board. The speaker contended that better results could be obtained if the constitution of the board was altered to give better representation to tho people who provided the money.

A minor point in connection with the defeat of tho Coates Government is that five membors of the Cabinet—Messrs. Hawken, Yonng, F. J. Rollcston, Wright and Williams—not having been Ministers for tlueo years, will relinquish tho title "honourable" when tho Government goes out of oflice—that is, assuming that it does so this year, and tho general expectation is that it will. Messrs. Hawken, Young and Rollcston wero appointed to tho Ministry on January 18, 1926, Mr. Wright ou May 24, 1926, and Mr. Williams on June 12, 1926. Mr. Rollcston, who was defeated at the polls, has already resigned his portfolios.

Found in tho toe of tho boot of a man arrested at Marton, an engagement ring has been restored to its owner at Feilding. Tho man was arrested on a charge of fraud at Palmerston North, and on being searched tho ring was found as stated. Asked about it, the man said ho had seen a woman at Feilding drop it in the street, and ho picked it up, intending to return it. Ho changed his mind, however, and kept it. The woman informed tho police sho had not* been wearing tho ring,'but kept it in a jewel box at homo, and had seen it thero tho day beforo sho was supposed to have lost it. Whoever took it out of the box left some other valuable pieces thcro.

In tho past when sheep have left Poverty Bay for other adjacent districts they havo been sold beforo they leave tho district, but recently a line of wethers was sent to Hawko's Bay to face the public market. They wero offered last week, and brought satisfactory figures. Tho lino was ono of 2600 two-tooih and fourtooth wethers, and they sold from 25s to 27s 6d each.

That tho Hutt railway lino at Wellington will bo again washed out by angrywaves hurled against it by a boisterous southerly galo is very unlikely. Sinco tho catastrophe of August last a protective rampart of largo bouldors and substantial concreto blocks has been placed along tho bottom of tho embankment, and against this tho waves should in future break with impunity. This work has been necessarily slow for tho many actual breaches in tho embankment Jiad to bo repaired first, and work can only bo carvied on at times when traffic is at a minimum. However, it is nearing completion, and when finished should allay any anxiety as to the future.