LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20862, 2 May 1931, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The extremely cold night which followed tlie sudden improvement in the weather in Auckland yesterday afternoon was in marked contrast to the warm humidity of the previous day, when misty northerly rain made conditions so uncomfortable in the city. Yesterday the wind veered from the north to the south and brought with it late in the afternoon clear skies and subsequently a crisp moonlight night. The change was accompanied by a rapid increase in barometric pressure, readings showing a rise, of over half an inch in less than 18 hours. There was a simultaneous fall of over 10 degrees in the minimum readings of the thermometer.

The Masonic distinction conferred by the Grand Lodge of England upon two New Zealanders—Messrs. C. T. Major, of Auckland, and J. W. Jack, of Wellington—in granting them Grand Lodge rank, as mentioned in yesterday's cable news, exactly corresponds with that given by the Grand Lodge of New Zealand to many of its members and carrying the added words " honoris causa." It is the recognition conceded to members of the craft who have served well their Grand Lodge, but whom circumstances—in this case the great distance from its administrative centre —have debarred from holding substantive office in it. The Dominion Grand Lodge at present has three surviving " honoris causa " grandmasters, one such pro-grandmaster and two such deputygrandmasters, one of these resident in Auckland, also many holders of ranks of lesser degree. Mr. J. W. Jack, one of those now honoured by the Mother Grand Lodge, is secretary of the company which publishes the New Zealand Craftsman, the Masonic journal of the Dominion.

A quantity of crude napthalene which caught fire in a small brick building in the yard of the Auckland Gas Cgmpany's premises in Beaumont Street, Freeman's Bay, at noon yesterday provided a spectacular blaze, which was only short-lived. The city fire brigade, which was summoned, soon had the flames under control, and within a short time the outbreak was suppressed. Although the fire was only a small one, the column of smoke which arose from the burning spirit attracted considerable attention in the locality. ' The cause of the outbreak, which is not at present known, will be the subject of a private inquiry.

A total distance of about 100,000 miles has been flown in about 1600 flying hours by machines owned by the Auckland Aero Club in the past 12 months, according to a calculation made by the instructor to the club, Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allen. On one occasion the club had seven machines in use, but the average number had been four, Mr. Allen said. Twenty-ihree pupils, including two women, had gained their licences, entitling the club to the full amount of the Government subssJy, £SOO, which had been collected.

Primary schools in the Auckland Province will break up next Friday for the first-term holidays of two weeks. The schools will resume work on Monday, May 25.

A welcome contribution toward the cost of sending the Auckland ambulances to the relief of the earthquake sufferers at Napier was received yesterday by the secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association. This was an anonymous communication accompanying a £5 bank note, the only explanation in the letter being the brief intimation, signed "Grateful," that the money was "to reduce the cost of sending tho ambulance to Napier." The secretary, Mr. William Rattray, said yesterday that the cost of sending the two ambulance vehicles, with the necessary staff and medical supplies, was about £6O. This had placed something of a strain on the association's funds, and as no claim had been made on tho earthquake funds for the service the unexpected gift was vorv welcome.

A considerable amount of damage to slot telephone machines in the Mount Roskill and Onehunga districts was done by thieves on Thursday evening. In all, nine machines were interfered with and the contents in pennies were stolen. In each case, the entire front of the telephone was prised off with some iron instrument.

The New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League, at a meeting yes-, terday afternoon, decided to send a letter outlining the league's aims and policy to all candidates for Parliament at the forthcoming general election. A proposal that' a series of questions on land settlement should be drawn up for submission to the various candidates will be considered at a later meeting.

The executive of tho Reform League in the Auckland Suburbs constituency has arranged a garden party to be held this afternoon at the residence of Mrs. G. F. Gsvrdnor, Links Road, New Lynn, in honour of Sir James and Lady Parr. The chairman of the league, Mr. R. H. Marryatt, will welcome tho guests. Tho return of Sir James from England has been regarded with considerable satisfaction electorate, which comprises tho larger part of the old Eden seat which Sir James represented in Parliament.

" We have again to report the very large number of false alarms—l29B which have come through to the brigade during the year," states the annual report of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Police. " This is far too maoy and aggregates a lot of wasted time. There is danger, too, that while answering a false alarm, it may" delay the brigade in getting to a real firo in some other part of the city, with tho consequent risk of greater damage to property or loss of life."

Drawing attention to the fact that Mr. Richard Wall work is a lecturer of Canterbury College as well as tho director of the School of Art, the Board.of Governors of Canterbury College, at its meeting Ibis week, passed a resolution entitling him to a seat mi the Professorial Board and giving him the title of lecturer in fine arts. For two or three years past the New Zealand University has awarded a diploma of fine arts, and has recognised Canterbury College, as the University of Fine Arts. Students are prepared for the diploma examination both at the School of Art and at the college itself. To allow Mr. Wallwork a seat on the Professorial Board is to put the head of the School of Art on the same footing as the head of another adjunct to the college, the School of Engineering.