LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20375, 2 October 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The first section of the Auckland Aero Club's tour of the North Island will commence at 9 o'clock this morning if the weather is favourable!. The pilots, are Major G. A. C. Cowper, Captain J. Seabrook, and Mr. I. C. Morton, The Mayor of Paeroa, Mr. W. Marshall, will be a passenger from Mangero to Paeroa, and the ground engineer and one of the pupil rnombers of the club will leave Auckland by motor-car to join the aeroplanes at Paeroa. The itinerary provides for a return to Auckland on Friday and the commencement of the tour to Wellington on Saturday.

Two boys were admitted to the Auckland Hospital with broken legs as a result of being knocked down in the street yesterday. George Simpson, aged 11, a pupil at Newton West school, was knocked down by a bicycle as he was crossing the road near the school, fie resides with his parents at 20, Buxton Road, Point Cliovalicr. Macdonald Elt, aged eight, whoso home- is at 8, Parnell Road, was knocked down by a motor-car.

It is likely that the present will prove a shorter oyster, season than usual. Inspections are now being made of the beds worked from Auckland and it is probable that the end of (he season may not bo more than a fortnight away.

Tho payment of City Council rates, a sure index of the times, indicates that the money (low in Auckland this year has loosened up. The city treasury is having very satisfactory results with tho collection of the current year's rates. For the half financial year up to September 30 the collections amounted t0'11.26 pet cent, of the total as compared with only 7.03 per cent, for the corresponding period of last year. Up to last Monday 42J per cent, of the arrears in rutes outstanding on March 31 last had been collected, the position at this time last year being that only 23 per cent, of the arrears were in hand.

A half-ton truck owned and driven by Mr. It. O'Ncil, capsized near tho Glendcne Farm, Great North Road, while being driven to Henderson at about 5.30 last evening. Tho left front wheel collapsed and as tho vehicle swung off tho concrete tho back wheel on tho same sidij. also gavo way. This caused the tryck to turn over on its side. Mr. O'Ncil was shaken, but unhurt.

Thirty Asiatics arrived at Auckland from overseas yesterday. The HuddartParkcr steamer Ulimaroa brought 14 Chinese from Sydney, and 16 Indians arrived from Suva by the Union Company's Island steamer Tofua. Anotlier five Cliinese will arrive from Sydney by the Makura on Tuesday.

The Auckland "Harbour Board is still in the dark regarding the personnel ot Ihe proposed harbour bridge commission. At yesterday's meeting of the board Mr. J. B. Johnston mentioned a press message to the effect that the Prime Minister had stated that two members of tho commission had been appointed and the tlnrd appointment, would be made as soon as the Auckland Harbour Board's approval had been obtained. Mr. Johnston asked whether the chairman had any information about the matter. The chairman. Mr. M. H. Wynyard, replied that in his absence from Auckland on the previous day, the superintendent, Mr. 21. ]?. Burnett, had telegraphed to the Prime Minister, but so far there had been no reply. " I mentioned that there was a meeting of the board this afternoon," remarked Mr. Burnett. "We will receive it at the samo time as the clean receipt for unemployment," observed Mr. E. W. Itider, amid general laughter.

A change in connection with the licence to operate a bus service to Titirangi is announced. Upon application to the Transport Board yesterday, tho Auckland Bus Company was given authority to take over the service from Mr. H. H. Tolhurst.

The proposed location of a tram shelter at the intersection of Mountain Road with Kliyber Pass is giving a certain amount of concern to motorists, who find that the present tram stop on the inward route inconveniences motor traffic turning into Park Road. A deputation from the Auckland Automobile Association waited upon the Transport Board yesterday and urged the removal of the stop to a point two traincar lengths above the intersection. The deputation's views were advanced by the president, Mr. A. Grayson, and consideration of the matter was referred to the board in committee.

An adjournment of ten minutes was made in tho Police and Magistrate's Courts yesterday morning to allow the magistrates, Messrs. E. C. Cuttcn and F. K. Hunt, and Court officials to be present when the funeral of Mr. J. A. Beattie left his residence at the rear of tho Court buildings. Mr. Beattie, who was aged 51, had been caretaker at the Court for eight years. The funeral was attended by a number of clerks from the Court officii.

A conference of representatives of local bodies was held at Oneliunga to discuss street collections in tho outer districts. A resolution was passed expressing the opinion that street collections were far too numerous and were becoming an imposition upon the good nature of a willing section of the community. It was decided to recommend to the local bodies concerned that four days only in a year should be set aside for such appeals, and that of these one should be allocated to " Poppy Day " and ono to tho St. John Ambulance. ' Applications for the othoi two days will be invited and will be considered by an executive appointed for the purpose, which will make its recommendation to another meeting in a month's time.

The Auckland Automobile Association reports that the East Coast Road between Devonport and Warkworth is in bad order. The Public Works Department has endeavoured to improve the surface, but the few vehicles which have been travelling through have nullified the work. If a fortnight of fine weather ensues the road will be graded and there will bo some assurance of reasonable travelling. In the meantime motorists are advised to avoid the route.

A chain made of wooden links has been carved by a resident of Claremont Street., Newmarket, Mr. J. T. Bramley, and presented to the United Party. Sir Joseph Ward has written Mr. Bramley a letter complimenting him upon his fine workmanship. Tho chain contains 29 links, made from Canadian cedar, and tho completed article possesses remarkable strength.

It is understood that the Church of England property in Taranaki Street, Wellington—at one time reserved for cathedral purposes, and for many years exhibiting a sign to that effect —is to be disposed of. Tho area is approximately two acres.