LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20132, 18 December 1928, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A vicious type of mosquito, of a species not yet identified, is reported to be particularly troublesome at present in the bush at Waipoua. Mr. David H. Graham, research officer of the mosquito research committee of the Auckland Institute and Museum, said yesterday that the mosquitoes emerge from the bush there in thousands and have been particularly annoying to road-workers in the locality. The insects bite by day as well as by night, a most unusual circumstance. Although not yet identified the species, Mr. Graham said, belongs to the genus Aedes, and is related to the mosquito which" carries the germ of yellow fever. This type of mosquito is also .reported from Helensville.

Through being kicked by a horse yes terday. Mr. T. 0. Crabb, aged 40. of Bond Street, Devonport, sustained hoad injuries, necessitating his removal to ,-the Auckland Hospital. His condition last evening was satisfactory.

A four-oared racing skiff capsized off the eastern tide-deflector at seven o clock last evening, and the occupants were thrown into the water. They were rescued by a passing launch, which took them to the St. George's Bay boat-shed. The capsized skiff was afterwards towed to the shed by the pilot boat, Waitemata. >

The War Pensions Appeal Board, which recommenced Auckland sittings on Octo ber 5, will go into recess for the Christ mas holidays on December 24, resuming again on January 15 On January 27 the board will leave for Christchurch. Since October 5 the board has given consideration to 159 rahes and many yet remain to be dealt with.

Considerable improvement has been effected at the Parnell baths by the laying of concrete paving for a distance of about 40ft. at the eastern end of the pool The area which surrounds the springboards became very muddy through the deterioration of the baths surface, but the concrete blocks havo resulted in a better and permanent finish. The baths are proving exceptionally popular this, season and over 2000 persons visited them over the weekend.

Tlio drone of an aeroplane is so rarely heard in Auckland just now that when Mr. D. Mill flew over the city at about 10 o'clock yesterday morning thousands of people paused and searched the sky fpr the machine. The Moth was so high that many failed to identify it as the local aeroplane and there was some speculation regarding its origin. Mr. Mill made a short flight, returning to the hangar at Hobsonville during the morning.

Tho medical inspection and the customs examination were carried out on board the Niagara, which arrived from Sydney yesterday morning with exceptional expedition. 'The medical inspection was mado by Dr. Russell, the port health officer, assisted by Dr. Boyd. In addition extra assistance was supplied to Mr. Grant, tho boarding inspector, with the result that, although the vessel's passenger list was a heavy one, she was ablo to berth at the wharf over half-an-hour earlier than usual. The expeditious manner in which the work was done was commented upon very favourably by a 'numbor of passengers after they landed.

A narrow escape from drowning was experienced by a metnber of the crew ot tho Nobel auxiliary schooner Huia,, which reached Auckland from Grafton, via Bluff, on Sunday night. The vessel left. Grafton with a full cargo of hardwood on November 22 and on the second day from port a young seaman, T. Kewley, was knocked overboard by the staysail boom. Ho was unable to swim, but two lifebuoys wero thrown to him and ho secured one. Captain ftL W. Managhan, the master, skilfully rounded the schooner close to the drifting seaman, who was able to catch hold of a rope thrown to him, and by this means was hauled on board after being in the water for about 15 minutes. A similar incident occurred recently in the Tasman Sea, when two seamen on the company's schooner Piri wero washed overboard. They were rescued shortly afterward.

"It is time a fund was established from which a grant could be made to retiring firemen," said tho Mayor of Mt. Eden, Mr. E. 11. Potter, in referring at the council ruoeLing last evening to the retirement of Superintendent John Williams, who has been attached to the Mt. Eden brigade for the past 39 years. He suggested a grant could be mado after 20 or 25 years' service. It would require only a small contribution from the borongb to establish such a fund, and it was possible other districts might bo persuaded to help. Consideration of the matter was referred to the Finance Committee. Superintendent Williams was voted £lO in recognition of his services, 'r.

Some people thought they could steer their lives and build up characters without religion, said Bishop Cherrington at the annual prize r giving ceremony at the Waikato Diocesan Girls' School, at Hamilton yesterday. He disagreed with them and felt that such people would either fail or only half accomplish what they set out to do.

Slight damage was done by a fire caused by the fusing of a feeder cable under the doonvay of the office of T. Mandeno Jackson, land agents, 9, Commerce Street, about 9.30 yesterday morning. The flames were quickly extinguished by the City Fire Brigade.

A sad page in the history of Poverty Bay is recalled by the death of Mr. J. A. Wilson, formerly Public Works engineer, which occurred in Auckland recently. According to Mr Leslie 11. Reynolds, who was acquainted with the late Mr. Wilson, deceased was a son of Captain Wilson, who wai- killed in the Poverty Bay Massacre in 1868 The remarkablo escape of the lad "Jimmy Wilson" constitutes one of the touching incidents of the tragedy The incident, as narrated by Mr. John Maynard is pnblishod by the Poverty Bay Herald. Eight days after tho massacre Mr. Maynard was engaged in a scouting expedition and at the point where the Makaraka Hotol now stands ho discovered the lad in a clump of'scrub, clasping his father's dog in his arms. Mrs. Wilson had been the victim of the ferocity o' the rebels, and for several days her fast ebbing life was only sustained by the efforts of the. lad who fed hss mother with eggs. Starting off for Turanganui to obtain 6uccour for his mother, who was.in great agony, the lad lost his way, and was located by Mr. Maynard's party. Mrs. Wilson was taken into the township on a spring cart, but succumbed to ber injuries.