LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

When playing football at Mount Albert Grammar School yesterday afternoon Terence Williams, aged 16, of 15, Wairere Avenue, Mount Albert, broke his leg. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital. As a result of falling downstairs last evening at his home at 8, Flower Street, Eden Terrace, Mr. Basil Hawkins, aged 54, suffered a fracture of the knee-cap. He was conveyed by the St. John Ambulance to the hospital.

Owing to a broken rail at Kakahi, south of Taumarunui, the daylight express from Wellington was delayed for just over an hour yesterday. The break was discovered by a ganger and the rail had to be replaced. The only other train delayed was a goods train from Ohakune to Taumarunui. The express reached Auckland nearly an hour late.

A motor-car, owned by Mr. M. A. Moody, of Palmerston North, which was removed from Palmerston North last Saturday, was recovered by the police at Auckland yesterday under unusual circumstances. A youth who was driving the car visited a suburban police station and surrendered the vehicle. The youth will be sent back to Palmerston North.

Supplies of fish are scarce in Auckland. This is due to the unfavourable weather conditions and to the fact that the fish are away from their usual grounds. Stocks have been short for some weeks. There are no alterations in the prices. A special treat for blind children will be provided at the Regent Theatre this afternoon, when 50 children of Auckland City and suburbs will bo the guests of the management. On Monday evening 150 blind adults from the Jubilee Institute will visit the theatre, and during next week it is 'expected that about 100 blind persons and their escorts will avail themselves of the invitation of the management to attend the theatre.

A grouji of aviation pupils will receive training at Waiuku by the Auckland Aero Club instructors if a suitable ground can be secured. The club requires a minimum of eight pupils and it is understood that this will not be a difficulty. The racecourse was suggested as a flying ground, but it has been declared unsuitable. A field with clear approaches and a reasonably good surface, giving a run of about 400 yds. in every direction, is required. The pupils will become members of the Auckland Aero Club, which has agreed to provide instruction away from the aerodrome only because Waiuku can bo reached by the air route in about 20 minutes. Requests from distant centres, such as Kaitaia, Rotorua and Te Aroha, have been rejected because of practical difficulties, which the club regards as insurmountable.

" A list should be made of owners of beautiful gardens who are willing to throw open their properties to bona fide visitors," said Mr. W. S. Mason, at the annual meeting of the Auckland Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture last evening. l Mr. Mason said he made the suggestion as a hint to private owners, for many wonderful gardens were at present of benefit to only a very few people.

A plea that all prize ribbons given as awards at the Royal Show be of British manufacture was made at the annual conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand in Wellington yesterday. Mr. J. 'H. (Hawke's Bay) said he had been surprised to see that the ribbons awarded were made in Switzerland. The secretary, Mr. J. Pow, explained that ribbons were ordered through a Wellington firm, which had stated that the quality of ribbon desired was not made in Britain. The cost of the • ribbon was about £25. Mr. M. E. Lyons (Christchurch) said that for years his association *had bought British ribbon, which was equal to the finest that could be procured. The conference decided that in future the ribbons should be of British manufacture.

A novel suggestion that "ghost posts" should be erected as a warning to careless motor drivers has been placed before a mooting of the Marlborough Automobile Association by Mr. F. Francis, of Wanga' nui, who was formerly a resident of Marlborough. Mr. Francis' idea is that white posts, about 6ft. in height and ornamented with black tops, should bo erected along the roadsides at the scene of any fatal accident. He considers that the sight of such posts would act as a deterrent to careless drivers. He admitted that- it might be considered that the posts would make the roadsides look like a graveyard, but he argued that it was better for tnera to look Jike a small graveyard than to bo a big one. Members expressed themselves as opposed to the particular form of sign-posting and it was decided to take no action.

It is reported that reductions in the staffs of several North Canterbury railway stations are contemplated. Investigations into the staffing and status of some of the stations are being carried out by an officer of the Railway Department in Christchurch. There is a possibility that some of the officered stations may be converted into flag stations. A family record that would be hard to excel is claimed by Mr. and Mrs. John T. Snowden, of Nelson. They aro the parents of 11 children, tho oldest of. whom is 62; there are 49 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren, comprising four generations, a total of 81 all told, all living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Snowden wont to Nelson in tho early days of the settlement. Mr. Snowden was 90 years of ago last March, while Mrs. Snowden, is several years his junior. Mr. Snowdon, despite his years, enjoys good health. An unusual incident occurred at the Supreme Court at Greymduth last week. Tho jury was being empanelled prior to tho hearing of a civil case and counsel had challenged several prospective jurors. Another name was called . and the word " Challenge!" rang out, whereupon tho juror returned to his seat. Both counsel looked surprised, however, and it was explained that tho challenge had come from someone in the body of the Court. Tho practical joker was not located. "When 1 was learning dressmaking," remarked Mr. C. Noes unexpectedly at a recent meeting of the Marlborough Agricultural and Pastoral Association, "we were great on the herring-bone stitch, but I notice that it has been omitted from the schedule for the trophy for sewing in tho schools' division at tho show. How is that ?" Tho secretary assureJ Mr. Nees that the herring-bone stitch was now hopelessly oui of fashion. Another member complained that there was no provision in tho schedule for tho Bowing on of bachelor buttons.