LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Injuries to tho head were received by Noel McGrath, aged five years, whoso parents reside at 2.1 A, Graham Street, City, as a result of falling from a chuto at the children's playground at Victoria Park yesterday afternoon. The boy was taken to tho Auckland Hospital. His condition last evening was not serious.

Increasing supplies of early summer fruits and vegetables are now coming forward to tho City Markets. Green peas are offering freely and vegetable marrows have started to como in. Larger supplies of strawberries and gooseberries liavo resulted in lower prices. No New Zealand plums or cherries are available, but tho first aro expected within tho next three weeks.

Authority to proceed with the reconstruction of tho Tamaki River Bridge on tho Great South Road has not yet been received by tho Manukau County Council from tho Main Highways Board. Tho engineer, Mr. J. R. Page, reported at the council meeting yesterday that the last communication he had received stated that tho plans and specifications would bo dealt with in readiness for the time when funds became available. ,

" The increase in the consumption of brandy is duo to tho largo number of pneumonia cases in tho hospital," said tho chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday, when referring to tho fact that 811oz. had been used last month, compared with 805oz. during September. Tho returns showed a decrease from 3490z. to 2370z. in the consumption of whisky during tho samo period.

Tho flower beds in Albert Park now provide ono of tho best displays of tho year. On the Princes Street side masses of slock of different colours aro blooming in great profusion. Tho roses arc out and scores of the best varieties may be enjoyed in all tho beauty of their form, colour and perfume. Anemones and ranunculi are still very bright and gay and pansies and violas aro adding their charm to tho scene. Tho gladioli liavo been somewhat disappointing, probably on account of tho excessive moisture, but nevertheless thero are some magnificent blooms among thern. The bird of paradiso flower, of which there are many large clumps, is now coming into bloom.

A report on the intended uso of the donation of £3747 from tlio Auckland Trotting Club for the relief of unemployment was made by a joint committee at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday. The committee recommended that ten men should be employed immediately at gardening, painting and other work and that the Minister of Health should bo approached as soon as possible for authority to proceed with alteration work at the hospital, it being clearly understood that no portion of the money was to bo used for any purpose other than the payment of wages. Pending iatisfactory arrangements being made with the Minister, as many men as possible would be given work.

In view of the restricted funds which are available for distribution by the Main Highways Board during the current year the Auckland Automobile Association recently made representations to the actingPrime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, asking that the Government should make available sufficient money for the completion of an all-weather route from Auckland to Whangarei during the coming summer. A reply has been received from the Minister stating that he has referred the matter to tho Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Tavcrncr, for consideration.

Strong exception to the action of tho associated banks in increasing their halfyearly charge for keeping accounts was taken Ut a meeting of tho Auckland provincial branch of the Farmers' Union last evening. "If you do not liko it you can take your overdrafts away," said Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., amid laughter.

A meteorological phenomenon of rare occurronco in temperato latitudes has been reported to tho Government meteorologist by Mr. Lloyd Mandeno, who observed it at Russell last week. The conditions of tho upper atmosphere were somewhat unusual, as the phenomenon known as

" mock moons" was then observed in Auckland and the corresponding daytime effect of "mock suns" was reported from Capo Palliser. The phenomenon seen at Russell is known as a circumzenithal arc and was seen shortly after 5 p.m. while the ordinary sun halo was also very noticeable. It consisted of an arc about 60 degrees in diameter, with the zenith as its centre, and displayed the colours of the rainbow, with the violet innermost.

It must bo an uncommon occurrences For a man to be sentenced to a term of .mprisonmcnt to the strains of tho ' Wedding March." But that is what

happened in Nelson last Saturday, when a young man was being charged with false pretences, a sentence of five months' imprisonment on two charges being imposed. The sounds of tho well-known tune wero wafted through the courthouse from a gramophono in tho registrar's office, where a wedding was being celebrated.

That it is possible for a man to leave Dunedin after business hours, attend a meeting in Ghristchurch the same evening, have a good night's sleep in Christchurch, and return to Dunedin in lime for work the following morning, was demonstrated by Mr. H. E. Barrowclough, president of the Otago Aero Club, last week-end. Mr.' Barrowclough loft the Taieri Aerodrome after completing his day's work on Friday, attended the meeting of the council of the New Zealand Aero Club at Christchurch that evening, and returned tho following morning to commence work at tho usual time.

A sale was effected recently through medium of wireless communication between Oantaru and Ellice Islands, in tho Pacific. Mrs. D. C. Kennedy, of Qamaru, is ono of tliifc women amateur wireless transmitters in the Dominion and each evening communicates by morse with her husband, tho only white man stationed at Ellice Islands. During one of tho communications the namo of the representative of a well-known musical firm was introduced and Mr. Kennedy intimated that an organ was required for the natives on tha islands. Quotations and descriptions were communicated by morse by Mrs., Kennedy, with the result that in due course acceptance of tho quotation and instructions for shipping were received by wireless.