LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20758, 29 December 1930, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Herald will not be published on Thursday next, New Year's Day. For the convenience of advertisers the Queen Street office will be open between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on that day.

The pohutukawa trees which are usually ablaze with blossom well before Christmas are exceptionally late in flowering this season, and are only now beginning to make their bright annual display. The warmth of the last few days has brought them on very rapidly and by New Year most of the beaches and many of the streets and gardens of the suburbs will be gay with their glorious colour. The appearances so far indicate that the pohutukawas will flower very profusely this season.

Retail shops opened on Saturday morning after being closed since Christmas Eve. The shopping hours this week will be similar to those observed during the Christmas period. Shops will be open during the customary hours to-day and tomorrow, and until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, New Year's Eve. Thursday and Friday will be observed as public holidays and the normal routine will bo resumed on Saturday. The banks, which have been closed since Wednesday, will also re-open to-day.

A large number of people left Auckland by train last evening. Accommodation on the limited express w(is fully booked, while the second train, with three extra carriages, carried a full complement of passengers. Although the extra express, which left at 8.5, comprised 12 carriages, there were few spare seats.

Efficient attention was given to an injured yachtsman, Mr. H. Cato, of Kohara Street, Remuera, who slipped and fell at Palm Beach on Friday evening and cut his right hand severely. The injured man was driven two miles to Mr. C. S. Butler, the resident St. John Ambulance officer at Putiki Bay. After the wound was dressed Mr. Cato was taken by launch to Auckland, and was removed to the hospital by the St. John Ambulance. After receiving treatment, which involved the amputation of one finger, the injured man was driven to his home.

An unusual experience befell the Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. W. J. Rogers, the other afternoon when leaving the Wanganui Girls' College breaking-up ceremony. The hall was so crowded that it was difficult to move. The Mayor had to attend another function, and desiring not to create any unnecessary disturbance, he decided to leave the gathering quietly by way of a convenient window. The window, however, was on the small side, and he had to receive assistance. The feat was eventually successfully accomplished.

The unusual spectacle of . a huge waterspout was seen from a farm in the vicinity of the Hawcra golf links last Tuesday afternoon by a party of haymakers. A dense black cloud hung low over the water at a distance estimated variously as from three to five miles from the land. Suddenly the dense mass was seen apparently to swoop down on the surface of the sea and, when it rose, draw up a huge funnel-shaped column of water which attained a great height and then burst. The spectacle, although common enough in tropical regions, is of uncommon occurrence in these latitudes, and is the more remarkable in that it occurred so close to land.

A whirlwind played strange tricks on a Christchurch bowling green a few days ago. On one rink a bowl lay exactly in line with the pegs dividing the adjoining rink. It was the last head and the scores were even. A player was about to put the measure on the bowl to decide the result of the game when the whirlwind came over the green. The bowl was blown hack into the head of the rink to which it belonged, and the wind then curled round all the bowls on the head and rolled them across to the other rink.

An interesting afternoon was spent by a large number of school children at a recent sports meeting at Ash burton, which also included lessons in pony riding and pony races. There were about 100 children, with about 40 ponies, present,. The children were shown how to bit, bridle and saddle the ponies; and how to mount and dismount, how to hold the reins and have the correct seat in riding. The children took a keen interest in the lessons, and a marked improvement was shown by them. It has been remarked at the different shows held in Canterbury this season how well the children riding their ponies, compared with a few years ago.

It is claimed on behalf of a Marlborough schoolgirl that she has equalled the recently-reported record of consistent attendance at school established by a North Island girl. Joyce Douglas, daughter of Mrs. J. B. Douglas, of Springlands, during a- period of eight years attended the Springlands School, the Junior High and Marlborough College and did not lose a single attendance mark until vc* bereavement occurred in the family. Olive Gascoigne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Gascoigne, of Islington, near Blenheim, also has a remarkably fine record of school attendance, for in 11 years she has lost only one day, thg,t break occurring in about 1921?. A record for her district has been established .by Winnie I, Mason, a pupil of the Brydone School, near Invercargill. Though having to travel a considerable distance efich day, she has an unbroken attendance record of seven years. The committee's presentation medal was a wellearnod reward.

For the first time in its history, Gisborne will be tho scone of tho annual conference of tho Now Zealand branch of the British Medical Association early next year, commencing on February 24 and concluding on February 28. It is expected that from 80 to 100 delegates will attend. The Gisborne division of the association is preparing for the event, which will be one of utmost importance to the town and district quite apart from the medical profession. Very few of the doctors in other parts of the Dominion, it is claimed, have any knowledge of Gisborne, and this it is felt will be a splendid opportunity for - medical men and others in Gisborno to make a good impression on men of the profession from other parts of tho country. In addition to several prominent Now Zealand doctors expected at the conference will be Professor Marshall Allan, Professor of Obstetrics at Melbourne University. Dr. Bright Bannister, of London, a promfnont obstetrician, was to have provided two of the addresses, but as he is unable to come Professor Marshall Allan will fill his place.