LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20424, 28 November 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

'After a two months' visit to Southern ports, H.M.S. Dunedin, flagship of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, will return to Auckland at 5.30 this evening. Since last, Monday the warship has been at Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier. An inspection of the ship's company is to lie made by His Excellency the GovernorGeneral on Saturday, and on Monday the Dunedin will leave for gunnery and torpedo exercises in the Hauraki Gulf, returning to port next Thursday.

A striking aerial photograph, illustrating the commanding position occupied by the War Memorial Museum, which is to bo opened to-day by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusso;n, is published as a whole-page feature in this week's issue of the Auckland Weekly News. It is a magnificent panorama, showing the classic white building surrounded by the heavily populated districts of Newmarket and Parnell, with the background dominated by Rangitoto and North Head at the entrance to the Waitemata Harbour. Although taken from a different angle, the picture gives an excellent idea of the impressive picture the museum makes when viewed from vessels entering the harbour.

In a collision with a motor-car in Great South Road, near Market Road, yesterday morning, a cyclist, Mr. A. Watson, grocer, whoso shop is at 97, Great South Road, received injuries to the head, including a number of deep cuts. When he was picked up hj« was unconscious and was bleeding freely, and the St. John Ambulance was summoned. He was conveyed to tho Auckland Hospital, but after treatment was discharged.

The Tourist Department's new launch for service on Lake Waikaremoana will be put into the water next week. This handsome vessel has been built by Mr. B. J. L. Jukes, of Wellington. It has seating accommodation for 50 passengers, is 35ft. long, 9ft. in beam and sft. deep. It is propelled by a 40 h.p. petrol engine, which will develop about nine knots. Electric lighting is provided and the comfort of travellers is catered for as far as is possible in a launch of such dimensions. The craft will be running on tho lake in time for the Christmas holidays.

The running of Sunday excursion trains by the Railway Department was severely criticised at tho meeting of the Hamilton Ministers' Association this week. It was decided to send letters of protest to the Minister of Railways, the general manager, and also to Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. for Hamilton. Local churches were urged to record their disapproval of the excursion trains in tho same manner.

"I venture to predict that next year will see ono of the most phenomenal rises in city rates that has ever been seen in New Zealand," declared Mr. W. 11. Murray, a member of the Auckland City Council, at a meeting of suburban local bodies last evening. Tho conference had been convened to discuss transport problems, in connection with which Mr. Murray also predicted that the ratepayers in the transport area would shortly have to put their hands in their pockets for a substantial rate, unless some drastic changes were made.

An audience is often blissfully unconscious of what is going on behind the scenes. To a crowded house at Timaru last week supper was to be supplied at the close of the entertainment. The gas meter was found to be out of order, and gasfitters who were hurriedly summoned installed a new meter. As the entertainment drew to a close, ten more minutes were required before the urns could be boiling. The minister stepped into the breach and, in moving a vote of thanks which ordinarily would take a minute, occupied the ten minutes. The hissing of steam then that the troubles of the commissariat were at an end.

In a speech at Gisborne the other day the Governor-General said that he was rather limited in what he was able to say. For instance, he might be terppted to talk on immigration. No thinking man could look at New Zealand and say it was developed to one-tenth of what it might be. Further development depended on population, with which immigration was linked, but comments from him on a matter such as that were barred. Both ho and Lady Alice Fergusson, added Sir Charles Fergusson, had tried to make themselves acquainted with all industries, and in thinking over all thoso activities one came to tho question of how these were to be developed in future. Then one came round yonce more to the vicious circle on which one must not talk. He always felt that the Governor-General was sent to be a representative of the King, but he also felt he should be more than that, and as well should bo an interpreter of the people at Home to the people here, and an interpreter to His Majesty of tho people overseas. He was informed by His Majesty of tho lines on which he might work, and when he returned he would inform tho King of the aims and aspirations of the people here. That was one of the ways in which the Empire was linked up.

It is understood that when the new Wellington railway station—a five-storeyed structure —is completed, which is expected to be well within the next four years, tho whole of tho head office staff of the Railway Department at present housed in tho head office, numbering toward 300, will be accommodated in tho new building, tho upper storeys of which are planned with that end in view. The old office, rendered vacant by the removal of this part of tho railway staff, will then be availablo for the accommodation ot other Government departments, several of which aro at present using privatelyleased offices in various parts of the city.

A defendant in a case called in the Magistrate's Court in Christchurch the other morning came forward and explained at considerable length to the magistrate, Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., that the claim against him was an unjust one. However, since the plaintiff was not represented, the case lapsed, but the defendant said he thought he was entitled to expenses. " I've had to come along here to-day and it's not very nice having my name in the papers," ho added. "It won't be, as the case has lapsed," said the magistrate, " besides, this is quite a respectable place." " I know that," replied the man, anxious to have the last word, " but it's a bit narking to bo callod here." He did not get his expenses, as he was not in employment.