LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20275, 7 June 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tho twelfth anniversary of the Battlo of Mossiucs falls to-day. The action was ono takon by tho Second Army, under General Phnner, with tho Second Anzac: Corps on tho right opposite tho village of Mossinea, to cloar tho Germans from the high ground which dominated ono side of tho Ypres salient. With tho accomplishment of this task tho way was cleared for the attacks north-west through Belgium, the object of which was to remove the enemy from tho coast and prevent the nso of Belgian harbours as submarine bases.

Arapuni again supplied Auckland with a portion of its electric-power yesterday. Tho supply was available from 3.30 p.m., and ran in conjunction with tho King's Wharf station until about 10.30 last overling, when it took practically tho whole of the diminishing load. It is expected to bo available until 9.30 this morning.

The plans for tho Civic Theatre were passed by the Auckland City Council s building officials yesterday, and the necessary permit for the structure was issued. Tho possibility of a hold-up with the work has thus been avoided.

The chief steward of the steamer Port Nicholson was left in Australia when the vessel was forced to take a hurried departure from Port Kcmbla last Saturday owing to al severo galo arising suddenly. Tho steamer was moored in the harbour, Avhich is formed almost entirely by a breakwater. Tho force of the gale caused two mooring lines to snap and had it not been for tho quick uso of tho engines the steamer would have been driven against the quay. It was deemed advisable to leave for tho open sea at once, and departure was taken, although the chief steward was not expected to return from Sydney until tho next day. Ho will rejoin the ship in New Zealand.

The belief that all hospital boards would endorse his congratulations to the Prime Minister on his proposal for providing institutions for the care of " down and outs" was expressed yesterday by Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, when speaking to Sir Joseph Ward. All engaged in relief work would welcome the proposals, Mr. Wallace said, and ho hoped that effect would bo given to them during the next session of Parliament.

Tho work of erecting a telephone line to connect Matakana Island with Katikati is proceeding, says tho Herald's Tauranga correspondent. There is at present no telephonic connection between Matakana and tho mainland, and the Katikati connection will prove a boon to the native and other residents on tho island, which is assuming importance as a dairying, maize-growing and afforestation area.

Two simple solutions of a difficulty were suggested by the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, to a deputation from tlm Papatootoo School Committee which waited upon him at tho school yesterday. It was stated that tho school was on a dangerous corner, and the chairman of the committee said that it might be possible <o move tho school to another site. The Minister said that to obviate tlie danger of children rushing out on to tho road at the corner, where the entrance stood, the committee could either close the front entrance and open two side entrances or could erect a on the footpath immediately outside the entrance.

If tho weather is favourable and suitable landing arrangements can bo made, Dr. Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, will uso ono of tho Auckland Aero Club's aeroplanes to keep an appointment in Te Aroha on Sunday. The bishop will officiate at tho Onehunga church in the morning and has also arranged to participate in the laying of tho foundationstono of a Roman Catholic school at Te Aroha later in tho day. When tho old flying school was operating at Kohimarama, Bishop Cleary occasionally travelled to remote parts of his diocese by seaplane, and during his travels overseas he made extensive trips by air.

"The number of building permits issued in Takapuna borough in tho last six weeks has been larger than at any time in the Inst three years," said tho deputy-mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. W. Hayden, at a public meoting last evening. He added that tho value of tho new buildings proposed was nearly £BOOO, and it was evident that Takapuna was once more coming into it 6 own.

At a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Bridge Association last evening it was decided to submit to tho Primo Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, tho personnel of a tribunal to niako tho preliminary inquiry as to tho site, cost and other particulars of the proposed bridge. It was proposed tho tribunal should comprise tho director of town-planning, Mr. J. W. Mawson, the ongineer-in-chief of tho Public Works Department, Mr. F. W. Fnrkort, a Judge of t 1.0 Supreme Court, and a prominent business man.

Australia has been tho first country in this part of tho world to coino into the field with an official air stamp. Tho air mail service in tho Commonwealth has becoino an established factoi in tho business lifo of tho community, so much so that a special postage stamp has been deemed a necessity. In Europe and in tho United States air mail stamps have been in use for some timo. New Zealand actually had air mail stamps years before aeroplanes flew. Paradoxical as this may sound, saj's tho Wellington Post, it is nevertheless true, tho stamps referred to being issued 111 1898 and 1899 v for a pigeon post between the Great Barrier Island and Auckland. Two companies established a private pigeon mail service between tho island and the mainland, each having its own stamps. Stamp collectors until recently have not paid much attention to theso private issues, but as forerunners of aerial stamps they are now recognised by air stamp collectors, of whom cjuito a number have sprung up during tho last fow years, and tho demand for them is increasing. They are not easily obtained, however, and command quite good prices.

A number of farms within 15 or 20 miles of Wanganui have been offered to tho Government for closer settlement purposes. Mr. J. T. Hogan, M.P. for Rangitikei, has brought under the notice of the Government five or six properties which the owners are willing to dispose of, including ono of 5000 or 6000 acres. The Government's attention has also been drawn to large areas in tho Waitotara and other districts.

According to the annual report of tho Otago Education Board there wore 252 schools under its control in 1928. There were 758 teachers, and the average roll total was 20,862. The average attendants was 19,269, a percentage of 92.36.