LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Following the Shaw, Savill and Albion rnotor-sllip Karamea, which left Auckland for London on Thursday with over 12,000 tons of New Zealand produce, tho Federal Lino stoamor Hertford was despatched from Auckland for London on Saturday afternoon with another 14,900 tons of produce. Tho Hertford's cargo consists of large quantities of mutton, lamb, . quarters of beef, carcases of pork and veal, butter, cheese, 15,000 bales of wool, flax, tallow, hides and other general cargo. Auckland hotels report excellent bookings for tho Christmas period. Inquiries for accommodation have been received from all parts of tiro Dominion and from overseas, and tho indications aro that the city will be full of visitors for several weeks. Probably on account of the attractions provided, chief among which are tho races, Auckland is tho most popular holiday city in tho Dominion. The influx is expected to commence from to-day, when the Niagara will arrive from Sydney with a number of Australian tourists. Over 1000 bags of mail from overseas will bo delivered in Auckland at the beginning of this week. Tho Royal Mail liner Niagara, which is duo at Auckland from Sydney at six o'clock this morning, has 479 bags of English, Eastern and Australian mail, all for Auckland, and the Royal Mail liner Makura is duo at Wellington from San Francisco this morning with a largo quantity of English and American mail, including 483 bags for Auckland. Tho letter portion of the Makura's mail is expected to roach Auckby train to-morrow morning, and the socond-class mattor, including parcels, on Wednesday. A further quantity of overseas mail will reach Auckland from Sydney by the Marama to-morrow morning. Replies to European letters received by tho Niagara's mail can bo posted before one o'clock to-morrow afternoon and will bo despatched, via Vancouver, by tho Niagara, which is scheduled to sail at 2 p.m.

Representations that railway shunting yards should not be established at Hobson Bay have been mado to the new Minister of Railways, tho Hon. W. B. Tavorner, by Mr. H. R. Jenkins, M.P. for Parnell, who has been identified with the Hobson Bay preservation movement. Mr. Jenkins, who returned to Auckland on Saturday, said tho Minister proposed to visit Auckland at an early date, and would inspect the looality to itco tho position for himself.

After the heavy rainstorm in Auckland on Friday the conditions improved and fino weather prevailed during the weekend. The barometer has been rising since Friday afternoon and registered 30.00 in. last night. .

The fresh south-westerly breeze on Saturday accounted for mishaps to a number of the boats taking part in the Akarana Yacht Club's harbour and cruising races. Tho largo koel yacht Nga-Toa broke her spinnaker boom near Bean Rock lighthouse and had to bo brought head to wind before the remains of tho spar could bo picked up. The 22ft, ceutreboard boat Marie not only blew out her spinnaker, but also snapped the boom in three places. Tho M cjass boat Maratea broko her cross-tree, while the 16footer Mistral, which was leading tho fleet in her class, lost her bowsprit near the Bastion beacon. Several of the smaller class also carried away standing gear, compelling them to rctiro.

The new vehicular ferry wharf at Mechanics' Bay was opened for public use on Saturday morning and proved most satisfactory over the week-end. Although there was no noticeable increase in the amount of traffic carried, the usual week-end congestion was considerably lessened as, under the new service, the trip occupies only about ten minutes, and 37 trips are now run daily, an increase of 10 on the old service. The new wharf is exclusively for the Devonport service, and the Hobson Street vehicular wharf is still used by tho Northcoto and Birkenhead traffic, although provision has been made for the futuro construction of a new landing on the north-west portion of the Freeman's Bay reclamation.

That salaries of headmasters of schools had not shown adequate advances in recent years is tho opinion hold by Mr. D. R. F. Campbell, headmaster of tho Morrinsvillo District High School, who is retiring from tho teaching service at tho end of tho year. He said salaries of head teachers had not shown anything like tho samo proportionate increase as those of teachers in lower grades.

Tho 78th anniversary of tho landing of tho first immigrants at Lyttelton fell yesterday. Tho pioneer fleet consisted of four ships, tho Randolph, Charlotte Jane, Sir George Seymour and Crcssy, and leaving London early in September, 1850, the ssis arrived at Lyttelton on December M>, <l7 and 27. Tho new arrivals formed s> dliurch of England settlement.

An animated scene is presented at the railway camps which havo been established between Whakarcwarowa and Waiotapu, on tho route of tho Rotorua-Taupo railway. Over a distance exceeding five iftiles half-a-dozen settlements, consisting of numerous small hutments havo boon formed and tho population of the settlements runs into hundreds. A surprising amount of excavjrtion and railway construction work has been done since the undertaking was commenced in September.

Unseasonable weather is deflaying shearing on tho east coast. Heavy thunderstorms havo been experienced, and 5.51 in. of rain fell in Gisborne in five days, 3.38 in. being registered in tho 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Tho rivers aro running high, but no damago has been reported.

Tho appointment of a committee to suporvise the scheme for the consolidation of interests in native lands has been approved by Cabinet, states a niessago from Wellington. Tho members of the committee aro tho Chief Judge of thja Native Land Court, Mr. R. N. Jones, Mr. H. H. Carr, Judge of tho Land Court, and Mr. F. L. Primrose, of tho staff of tho Lands Department, Gisborno. Receipt of several sums of conscionco money has been acknowledged in tho Gazette by the Secretary of the Treasury. They comprise 15s and £5 8s forwarded to the Customs Department; 4s 4d to the Railway Department, and £1 and £2 to the Treasury.

In his capacity as Minister-in-charge of tho Prisons Department, tho Hon T. M. Wilford, when lie visits Auckland shortly, will meet a deputation on Rangitoto Island. Tho Hon A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, stated yesterday that Mr Wilford bad agreed tp hear representations from tho Devonport Borough Council concerning relief work on the island.