LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Through his clothes catching alight when ho was working over an open fire, Mr. Gordon Wiggins, a labourer, residing at 66, First Avenue, Itingsland, sustained severe burns to the back early yesterday afternoon. Ho was removed to tho Auckland Hospital. His condition is not sorious. Mr. Wiggins, who is aged 22, is single.

The purchase of "Cintra," Sir Arthur Myers' old residence in Symonds Street, is still being considered by the Auckland Hospital Board. The Finance Committee recommended yesterday that all members of tho board should be given a chance to visit the premises. Discussion on the question is to bo held in committee in the meantime.

Applications to run private bus services between the city and Waikowhai Park, via Buckland Road, were received by tho Auckland Transport Board yesterday from two sources. The manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, opposed tho granting of any service running via Buckland Road, but said he had no objection to a private operator running via Hillsborough, Mount Albert, Three Kings 1 and Mount Eden Roads, subject to certain conditions. A decision was deferred.

Alterations in the names of Wiri and Takanini were suggested in a letter received by tho Manukau County Council yesterday from the Department of Internal Affairs. ,It was proposed to alter Uioin to Waiwiri and Takaanini respectively, as these wore the correct Maori names. No objection to the proposal was made by the council.

No steps are to by the Auckland Hospital Board to accommodate mental patients for observation. Following a letter from the Minister of Health, I)r. T. G. Grey, director-general of mental hospitals, wrote urging tho board to provide six beds for the purpose, to be under tho direction of llio medical superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital. The board decided yesterday to reply expressing the opinion that this was the function of the Mental Hospitals Department.

The 89th anniversary of the hoisting of tho Union Jack at Fort Britomart, on tho shores of tho Waiteinata, to mark the establishment of Auckland as the capital of New Zealand, falls to-day. Governor Hobson had made two abortive attempts to establish settlements, first at Russelltown, some four miles from Kororareka, tho present Russell, and then at Churchill, on the Hokianga River, beforo lie made the happy selection at tho Waitemata. He named the new site, which was then uninhabited, after Lord Auckland, than Governor-General of India. The removal from the Bay of Islands was completed early in 1841, and the first sale of town sites was held in April. Auckland remained tho capital until February, 1865.

The Auckland Aero Club has received acknowledgments from a number of local bodies who are anxious to discuss the organisation of landing grounds with the club representatives during the aerial tour which starts on October 2. The Mayors of To Aroha, Paeroa, Cambridge, Te Awamulu, Wanganui and Gisborne have signified their willingness to arrange conferences. The, New Plymouth and Wellington Clubs have extended invitations to tho Auckland Aero Club to use the new aerodromes. Morrinsville has had to be eliminated from the programme as pilots report that no convenient lapding ground is available.

A proposal that places of historic interest in and around the city should bo marked by brass plates has made by Miss Alice Bastcn at a meeting of the Auckland Town Planning Association last evening. Miss Bastcn said she had in mind sucli places as the old high-water mark in Shortland Street, Fort Britomart., the Albert Barracks, Jacob's Ladder in Beach Road, where people used to land from boats and ascend the cliff, the old St. Paul's, the old Supreme Court in Queen Street, now the City Chambers, and the old Parliament Buildings. Ib was decided to go into the question and locate other historic spots. Some humorous sidelights on the work of a trustee were given by Mr. R. F. Ward, late district Public Trustee, in an address to the Auckland Credit Men's Club yesterday. tyr. Ward mentioned the case of an old farmer who'had come to him to prepare a will. It was explained to the testator that some "machinery" clauses would be necessary, giving the trustee certain powers. "Oh, that is alright, mister, there .is no machinery 011 our farm, we milk by hand," was the> reply received by hfr. Ward.

Two insurance companies made a joint roquest to tho Auckland Harbour Board yesterday that it should agree to pay half the amount, £39, of damage caused to two . motor-lorries through the lip, or apron, of the western, vehicular ferry stage rising suddenly and striking the undercarriage. The companies stated that the Devonport Ferry Company had agreed to pay half the damage. The letter also stated that the amount of £39 included £lO, costs of investigation. The chairman, Mr. M. H. Wynyard. said the board had already, disclaimed liability for one such claim. Ho moved that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee, the engineer to report. " What is that £lO for?" asked Mr. Campbell Johnstone. Tho superintendent, Mr. H. B. Burnett, replied that it was the fee of an engineer who had been asked to report, "He's getting a third of the damage," remarked Mr. Johnstone. The chairman's motion was carried.

Tho black cage beacon marking tho end of tho reef off Kohimarama Wharf was recently knocked down by some vessel unknown. Ihc harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, recommended to the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday that as the beacon had been erected for the benefit of tho now discontinued ferry service it bo not replaced. Messrs. G. R. Hutchinson and C. G. Macindoo disagreed with tho suggestion that tho beacon was no longer needed, and said that they, and other owners of pleasure craft hail found it most useful. Mr. Macindoo added that many boats used tho inner passage, especially in southerly weather, and at least 75 per cent. of those returning from week-end cruises did so. The board decided to reinstate the beacon at a cost of about £SO.

"I once showed the late Richird Soddon a scheme to find employment fur several thousands of people," said Mr. 11. Cock to tho Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last week. "Why not, I pointed out, compel all wines and spirits to be imported in bulk and bottled in New Zealand itself. We would then blow our own glass, print our own labels, make our own corks, do everything ourselves—" "Even drink it," added a member.