LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Notifications of infectious diseases received by the Health Department yesterday indicate a decrease in the incidence of dysentery, scarlet fever and diphtheria. Two cases of dysentery, two of scarlet fever and one of diphtheria were notified, tho figures being lower than for some days past. Tho fact that tho shooting season is now at hand was ovidenced by tho sight of motor-caTs on the Great South Road yesterday travelling toward the Waikato with small fiat-bottomed boats strapped on their sides. Ducks are reported to bo plentiful on tho lower reaches of the Waikato River and as the river is low good shooting is anticipated.

As evidence of the favourable position of Takapuna in the eyes of the financial world, it was stated by the Mayor, Mr. ,J. W. Williamson, at a public meeting at Takapuna last evening that one prominent institution in tho city had that day asked for £IO,OOO of the £15,000 of the Borough Council's new issue of sewerago loan debentures. Mr. Williamson said it was probable that the balance of the loan would bo promptly disposed of.

The twenty-eighth anniversary of the birthday of the Emperor Hirohito, of Japan, was yesterday celebrated in Japan and Japanese communities overseas as the Japaneso national day. Auckland has no Japanese community, but the occasion was honoured by tho Consul for Japan, Mr. A. B. Roberton, and the other members of (ho consular corps. The Japanese flag was flown from the consulate in Fort Street, and during the morning Mr. Roberton received official calls from the other Consuls and Vice-Consuls in the city.

" The milk supply of Auckland falls far short of what it should be in the matter of purity," asserted Dr. E. B. Gunson, a candidate for tho Auckland Hospital Board, in the course of an address to electors last ovoning. The ollicers of the Health Department were as fully aware as other medical men that the supply was not satisfactory in tlio aggregate. There were admittedly pure supplies, but Dr. Gunson considered there were also polluted supplies which seriously diminished the suitability of much of the milk. Dr. Gunson mado the point that (lie entire food supply at the hospital should bo supervised by tho bacteriologist, and that his report, particularly in regard to the purity of rnilk, should bo regularly beforo tho board. " To-night I am in the position of the boy who, when asked how he would define a vacuum, replied that he did not know how ho would put it into words, but he had it in his head." This remark by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the Navy League last evening, created much amusement. His Excellency went on to say that he knew what tho Navy Leaguo stood for, but found it was difficult to put it into words.

A party of men members of tho Auckland Alpine Club visited the Hunua Ranges during the week-end, an interesting tramp being made through the gorge and hills above the Hunua Falls. A severe thunderstorm, with heavy rain, resulted in a great flow over the falls on Sunday, and the trampcrs witnessed an interesting spectacle. Tho club is arranging a three days' tour to National Park on Juno 1, and a largo party of members and friends is expected to make the trip.

A Christchurch boy, about half a century ago, deposited £lO in the Post Office Savings Bank. Ho later lost his book, and imagining this involved the loss of his deposit, he made no inquiries until well advanced in years, when he wrote to tho authorities. Ho found that his money was still in the bank, and that tho sum had increased by interest to £6O. The bank officials also found that his handwriting had not changed since 50 years ago.

Tho wreck of the steamer Gairloch, which was a sister ship to the Northern Steamship Company's Ngapuhi, still lies on the Timaru reef at the mouth of the Tirnaru River, about three miles southward of the Oakura beach, near New Plymouth. Tho vessel went ashore there on January 6, 1903, and the fact that after 26 years of battering tho hull and bows are still holding together is a credit to her builders. The wreck can be reached from the Oakura beach.

Hidden in the gorse and broom which covers tho river bed on each side of the Ashburton rifle range, some misguided individual amused himself by firing a service riflo when the Christchurch and Ashburton Defence Rifle Clubs were firing a match recently. Several shots were registered on different targets, to the mystification of the riflemen, who did not hear any shots fired. The men in the pits below heard the shots and marked accordingly. Tho person responsible for the extr,. shots apparently was stationed close to tho targets, as two shots were registered near the bull's-eye.

Interesting information in connection with tho Wanganui Acclimatisation Society's efforts, in conjunction with tho Government, officials, to acclimatise Atlantic salmon in various streams within their district was given by tho president, Mr. H. J. Duigan, at a meeting last week. Tho work commenced in 1924 and since then intensive stocking has been carried out near Taumarunui with fry. Between one-half and three-quarters of a million fry have been liberated yearly, but tho big waters still require heavier stocking. It is hoped tho society's research will enable a true specimen of Atlantic salmon to be produced.

A visitor to a native settlement on the Parapara Road, a few miles from Raetihi, showed a Wanganui correspondent a small portion of a pig's snout, which had been boiled and had been given to a Maori boy to take to school for his lunch. There was but a little skin on tho bones and no meat, not more than two or threo mouthfuls at most. Questioned by tho visitor, the boy said that twice during ono week he had had no dinner, and that one morning his breakfast was a drink of tea. Ihe previous evening ho had somo potatoes. It is stated that, tho father of tho lad gets casual employment—shearing, etc. —and the case was ono of sheer poverty rather than neglect on tho part of the parents.

Somewhat unusual features were attached to a case that came before the Dannevirke Court recently when a man was charged with drunkenness. In consequence of complaints tho police went to the defendant's house, where they found him in bed fully dressed. Ho was persuaded to accompany the police to the station to take out a prohibition order, as, according to a statement made by the police sergeant in Court, " drink was getting him down." On getting into the fresh air the man became so intoxicated that when he reached the station he could not sign his own name and a charge of drunkenness was consequently laid. He was treated as a first offender by the Court and prohibited,.