LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Primary and secondary schools in the Auckland education district will close today for tho fust term holidays. The primary schools will resume on Monday, May 27, and the Auckland Grammar Schools on tho following day. The Seddon Memorial Technical College closed on Wednesday, and will resume on May 27. With the closing of the schools-there will bo a rush on trains leaving Auckland for the South this evening. There are heavy bookings on all lines.

A motor-car disappeared from the yard of the Globe Hotel, Papakura, about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, and was found on lire iD a ditch on the Great South Road at Runciman about half-an'-hour later. It was totally destroyed. The owner, Mr. W. Hamilton, was using it at Papakura during tho evening and parked it in tho hotel yard about 10.45 p.m. for tho night. It was a fairly largo car and was insured for £3OQ. Tho police have tho matter in Land.

A boy, Ernest Bassett, aged 15, living at 18, Raymond Road, Point Chevalier, was admitted to tho Auckland Hospital yesterday morning suffering from slight concussion of tho brain. His condition last evening was regarded as fairly satisfactory. Bassett is employed as a message boy by Mason Brothers, engineers, of Freeman's Bay.

A tin of paint, accidentally upset on a lighted candle in a house at 86, John Street, Ponsonby, was responsible for a call to tho City Fire Brigade early last evening. No damage was dorio to the house, which is owned and occupied by Mr. G. H. Katterns. Tho city brigade was later called to a city hotel by a false alarm given by telephone.

"You have appointed as an assessor a man whoTtas. been dead for 20 years," said Mr. J. R. Lundon at tho meeting of the Auckland City Council last evening, when tho report of the Works Committeo was considered. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, asked Mr. Lundon to what he was referring. Mr. Lundon said that by a resolution "Mr. T. Mandeno Jackson" had been appointed an assessor for tho council in pending negotiations concerning a piece of land. "Tho name should bo that of Mr. John Jackson," said Mr. Lundon. "No, Mandeno Jackson is tho name pf the firm," said tho Mayor, calling the next business. Mr. Lundon did not pursue his point further.

An unusual position lias arisen concerning tho election of a member of the Rodney County Council to represent the Ann riding. When nominations were called several weeks ago, thero were no candidates for the riding seat. Fresh nominations have been called, closing at midday to-morrow, and again no one has coma forward so far. The principal reason discouraging competition for tho honour of riding member is stated to bo that of distance, as in tho past representatives have had a long journey over difficult roads to reach Wark worth, where tho meetings are held. Unless someone comes forward it would .appear ,that the county clerk will have to continue to advertise for nominations in accordance with law until one is received.

Fish, which was scarce last week, is fairly plentiful now. Tho increase is due to the improved weather conditions on the west coast and north of the Bay of Plenty. Stormy weather is still being experienced in the Bay of Plenty, but a good yield of fish has been obtained from the other areas.

A query as to why the number of votes credited to him in the first and final counts of the City Council election poll showed such a discrepancy of some 2000 was put to tho Mayor by Mr. T. Bloodworth at last evening's meeting of the council. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said he understood that a block of votes for one of the candidates had temporarily gone astray in tlio first count. It must have been Mr. Bloodwortli's. "Did any other packets go astray ?" asked Mr. Bloodworth. "Not in the mayoral election," said the Mayor with a smile. "Is thero any chance of any more being discovered ?" Mr. Bloodworth pursued, also smiling. "No," replied Mr. Baildon. "Thero is no chance now."

Tho fourth anniversary of the death of tho Right Hon. William Ferguson Masscy, one of New Zealand's greatest political figures, and Prime Minister for more than 12 years, falls to-day. Members and supporters of the Reform Party, including the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, together with many of Mr. Massey's old personal friends, will assemble at Mr. Massey's tomb, Point Halswcll, Wellington, to-day to pay homage to his memory.

Au effort to eulist tho support of the Hamilton agency of tho Auckland Automobilo Association in a request that the road between To Kuiti and Mangapehi bo declared a main highway was made by Mr. J. G. Williams at a meeting of tho agency this week. Mr. Williams said there wore 300 people engaged in tho milling industry at Mangapehi and a reasonable road connection with To Kuiti was desired. It was decided to ask the Auckland Automobile Association to urge that the road be put into a passable condition.

" It would be a good thing if ihe traffic control officers could control pedestrian as well as vehicular traffic," writes a correspondent of a Wellington newspaper. " It is by no means an unusual occurrence when tho signal has been given to proceed and cars aro on the move for a pedestrian to step into tho road and carelessly loiter across, often compelling motorists to pull up suddenly, possibly stalling tho engine. Surely pedestrians should bo compelled to heed the signals of the traffic officer and give way to tho traflic when the signal has been given to proceed."

Tlio interest in flying of about a dozen of Gisborno's younger sportsmen promises to furnish tho initial impetus for the formation of a branch there of tho Hawke's Bay Aero Club, and arrangements are in hand for the inauguration of the branch at an early date. Captain White, organiser and instructor for tho Aero Club, is to visit Gisborne this week, and a public meeting will bo called to discuss the advisability of putting Gisborne on tho air map of tho Dominion. Enthusiasm for flying has been increased immeasurably during the past few weoks, and it is anticipated that no difficulties will arise to check tho formation of the branch club..