LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Following a week of fine north-east weather, the conditions in Auckland daring the week-end were changeable. Saturday was fine, bat daring the evening and early yesterday morning heavy rain fell, and the conditions were squally. Yesterday the wind wa3 moderate from lbs south-west. The day was fine and sunny, but in the evening there was a incurrence of showers and the outlook was threatening. The barometer, after registering 29.95 in. on Friday night, fell to 29.75 m. on Saturday night. It remained steady until last evening, when there was a s,light rise. The reading last night was 29.83. There was a heavy fail of rain in Eotorna on Saturday evening, amounting to about The weather yesterday was fine but in the evening it had again become showery.

A tally taken on the Panmure-Howick main highway last week revealed that the traffic density warrants a high-class surface and probably would justify a concrete scheme. An average of 1046 vehicles a day was maintained, the aggregate on Anniversary Day being 2622.

There was an exodus of shipping, otherwise than local coasters, from Auckland cn Saturday, seven vessels taking their deoarture. la the morning the Brunswick sailed for San Pedro and the Cumberland for Wellington. After mid-day the Golden State was despatched for Wellington, the Gabriella for Bay, the Hauraki for Wellington, the Kaiapoi tor Napier and the Canopus for Westport.

Flying in an Avro-Avian light aeroplane, Mr. G. Goodwin, of Waipukurau, arrived at Eotorua from Waipukurau early on Saturday afternoon., Mr. G. Bolt was the pilot and the journey was made in two and a-half hours against a head wind. The machine landed m Mr. G. Baughan's paddock, about two miles out of Eotorua, after circling the town. Many people visited the aeroplane on Saturdav afternoon and yesterday, and a number'of passengers, including several ladies, were taken up for short flights. Mr. Goodwin will continue his journey to Auckland to-day.

As the result of many weeks' toil two Eh ham boys lecently c: cated a sensation when they went skimming Lake Eotokare at a great speed in what appeared to be a hydroplane. It was a llat-bottomed boat that they had made, fitted with an old motor-car engine which drove a propeller mounted over it. The propeller was 6it. long and had been fashioned by the boys out of a piece of birchwood. Considerable trouble was experienced before the inventors could give their crait a trial spin, as it had to be transported to the lake in sections and then fitted up again. At first a motorcycle engine was iried, but not being equal to requirements, they obtained the car engine, which developed a good deal of power.

A dozen or so waiters were engaged to go to Trenthain recently to assist at the n.c.o camp there, the agreed rate of pay being 12s 6d a day. They, however, after working for a day or two, oecsded that their services were worth 15s a day, in view of the hours during which thev were expected to work. But the authorities held other views and neither side being willing to give way, a deadlock was reached and the waiters left in a body. Little difficulty, however, says the Wellington Post, was found in replacing them.

A remarkable motor accident occurred on a Manawatu road recently. As the result of the driver of a car applying his brakes suddenly when confronted on a hill with a mob of sheep the car skidded and rolled over the edge of the road, to come to rest perfectly balanced on the top of a fencing post, The driver made a hasty exit through tho door pointing skywards, none the worse for his adventure.

A warning to bathers at Island Bay and adjoining beaches is given by a correspondent of the Wellington newspapers. Ho says: —"When fishing about one mile west of Island and Ohiro bays, a few days ago, I was surprised to see a big shark swim right up to the rock I .was on. It was near enough for me to jump on its back had I wished to. I also noticed him make the smaller fish jump into the air about 100 ft. from the beach. Looking down from the rock I got a complete view of him from tail to snout, and I estimated him to be about Bft."

As the result of a woman teacher being appointed to take charge of a Canterbury country school tho local committee has tendered its resignation in a body to the Education Board. The committee states that it realised that methods of appointment had arrived at that stage where teachers comprised the education system, and the board was merely a buffer .or a committee to knock itself against. In connection with the remarkable observance of the extreme forms of war etiquette by tho Maoris, Mr. W. Brooke Taylor, of Wellington, relates an incident detailed to him many years ago by Mr. F. 11. White, of Dunedin. In the early stages of the Maori War the British troops were camped on the banks of the Waikato River. The native forces were not far distant, and were preparing for a grand assault, the incident occurring just before the Eangiriri fight. The British troops wero tired and hungry, being short of supplies. In the dusk of the evening a native warrior appeared at the bank near where the British troops were camped. With great dignity he approached some of the officers, and dumping at their feet a heavy sack of potatoes, saul: "Eat, pakeha. for you cannot fight without food." Ihen, with a farewell wave of bis hand, he disappeared in the gathering darkness.

Thc usual peace and quiet of a cricket match was broken at Hagley Park, Christchurch, on Saturday afternoon, when a swarm of bees invaded the northern part of the cricket ground. Ihe intruders were in large numbers and their appearance caused consternation and disorder. The players on No. 3 wicket fled and the occupants of the pavilion showed a sudden preference tor the wide, open spaces. The bees, evidently satisfied with tho easy conquest., changed their course and disappeared among the trees. Tho retreat was the signal for the return of onlookers and players.

To mention the name and place of business of a very courteous railway officer who performed an act of kindness tho other day, says tho Hawke's Bay Herald, might lead to his identification and subsequent chastisement, so it must suffice to describe his action and leave him anonymous. A passenger travelling from Dannevirke on one of the excursion trains wished to alight at a wayside station whither his parents had gone to meet, him." Tho parents, on discovering that tho train, contrary to their expectations, was not scheduled to stop again until it reached Napier, expressed their consternation to the officer in charge of tho station. "That's all right." lie said. "I'll flag it to stop." He did flag it, and it did stop; and of! stopped a very r delighted passenger.