LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

In a collision between the motor-cycle which he was riding and a motor-car at the intersection of Haydn Avenue and Manukau Road, Epsom, last evening, Mr. Retibon Wright, aged 25, was thrown to the ground, receiving an injury to one hand, in addition to shock. He was on his way to a lodgo meeting at Onehunga at the time. The injured man was removed to the hospital by ambulanco, and a slight oporation was performed.

H.M.S. Dunedin arrived at Auckland from Great Barrier at 5.30 last evening. She will remain at anchor in tho stream over (he week-end, and on Monday she will leavo for gunnery practice in the Ilauraki Gulf, returning to port next Thursday.

Strawberries and cream for the 600 patients at tho Auckland Hospital was provided by the members of tho Hospital Auxiliary last evening. Tho suggestion to give this treat was made to tho auxiliary last yoar, but it was then too late to take action. Tho auxiliary decided to mako it a Christmas donation, to bo given in advance when tho borrics wore in the best condition. It is probable tho gift will bo made every year. A cyclist, Mr. Albert Head, who lives at 18, Marlborough Street, Dominion Road, was thrown heavily on the roadway at the corner of Eden Terrace and Dominion Road yesterday afternoon when the machine ho was riding struck a dog. Tho injured man was removed by the St. John Ambulance to tho Auckland Hospital, where it was found he was suffering from concussion. His condition is not serious.

A holiday was observed on board the American steamer Golden Coast at Central Wharf yesterday to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Tho last Thursday in November is a national holiday in the United States, having been first celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrim' Fathers to mark their first harvest in the new land.

A collision between a heavy motor-lorry, owned by J. «T. Craig, Limited, and one of the Passenger Transport Company's motor-buses occurred on the Great South Road between Penrose and Church Street yesterday afternoon. The front of the bus was extensively damaged, and the vehicle had to be towed to Otahuhu, but none of the passengers was hurt. The lorry was able to continue under its own power.

A shag shooting drive, in which Sir Alexander Herdnian took part, was conducted at Waitakaruru on Wednesday. The party included Messrs. G. Herdman, H. Earle, and Routledge, ranger for the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The party succeeded in shooting 25 birds, and during a recent visit to Waitakaruru Mr. Routledge destroyed 125 shags.

A hint from his own experience an a barrister was dropped by Mr. Justice Blair during tho progress of a crossexamination in the Supreme Court yesterday. " I always think that if a thing is unexplainable it is better not to ask for an explanation of it," he said. ' If it is unexplainable, why there it is. I have learned that by bitter experience in cross-examining. Think twice before you ask a question beginning with the word 'why.'

Workmen are at present engaged cm tho Great South Road, between Penrose Road and Church Road, repairing faults which have developed in tho concrete track on tho west side of tho highway. Twelve sections in which cracks and small subsidences have appeared have to be cut and ronewed. Tho bulk cf the damage is alleged to have been the result of the operations of the Auckland Power Board, which in laying a high tension cable at the roadside, had to resort to the use of explosives, which caused a weakening of tho foundations. The board recognised its liability in this case and, following negotiations with the Mount Wellington Road Board, has paid for the damage done. It is considered that the general stability of the paving has not been affected.

"After having travelled fairly extensively, and having noted the work of the Church in many lands, I see a great spiritual improvement," remarked Archdeacon Mac Murray, at the annual mission festival in St. Mark's Church, Rereuera, last evening. "In New Zealand, particularly, there is much more earoestness with rogard to mission work than there was 50 years ago. There is, however, much room for improvement. The Church has the power to carry out its task, but it seems to lack the} will to do it."

A strong underground flow of water has again been struck in tho longer Tawa Flat railway tunnel, near Wellington, the stream being estimated at 18,000 gallons an hour. The spot is somo six chains beyond where an underground reservoir or stream was tapped recently, botween the shaft at tho viaduct and Ngahauranga Gorgo. In that instanco tho water backed up tho grado to the shaft itself and tho pumps had difficulty in keeping it down until tho flow moderated, but in tho present caso tho water has backed up tho grado only about two chains, and four pumps aro holding it at that.

A parent at the Wanganui Court a fow days ago supplied a little unconscious humour. Ho asked on behalf of his son that tho case be adjourned in order that ho might obtain a solicitor. A solicitor was appearing for tho other youth in tho case and the parent remarked: "I did not know that a solicitor would bo appearing. I thought the caso would bo dealt with on its merits."

With tho recent wet weather the disease of root rot has becomo more pronounced in strawberry beds, in tho Auckland district. While tho season's crop of fruit will not bo affected to any extent tho disease may result in considerable losses to growers. Tho rot, which attacks the roots of the plants and eventually kills them, has been recurring for a number of years. This season s outbreak is more pronounced than that of last year. Warm and sunny weather will have a beneficial effect upon the beds affected.

Bathers in tho Iluamahanga River, near Masterton, last Sunday, had an exciting oxperience when a Jersey bull took possession of the vicinity. Hie bull pawed wildly at tho ground and roared in a vehement way. Tho effect on a number of bathers who had just quitted the water and were in various stages of dressing was magical. The spectacle presented a minute or so later was an interesting one to those privileged to watch from the safe sido of a neighbouring fence. Tho bull kept the bathers at bay for nearly half-an-hour and then made ofi.