LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20987, 25 September 1931, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The lifting of a small steam locomotive, weighing 11, tons, formed an unusual task for the Auckland Harbour Board's floating crane yesterday morning'. The locomotivo was being loaded on to the steamer Kiwitea, which sailed for Westport later in the day. It has been acquired by the Charming Creek Coal Mining Company, West/port, from tho Public Works Department at Okaihau, the present railhead of the North Auckland line. A fracture of the left leg was received by a motor-cyclist, Sydney Sherwin, aged 20, of Gilfillan Street, Blockhouse Bay, at about 7.30 last evening, when ho was thrown from his machino near Ennismore Road, Mount Albert terminus. The young man was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. His condition is satisfactory. Since the practice was instituted of feeding the animals at the Auckland Zoological Park with iodino salts a general improvement in health has been observed. In spite of a very cold winter remarkably few animals have suffered from the customary sensorial ailments and oven thoso monkeys living out of doors have como through the cold weather without showing any signs of distress. It is not widely known that the lions and tigers eat a bunch of green grass every day with their usual moat diet. Even in the wild state these meat-eating beasts are accustomed to chew each day a certain amount of coarse grass, which has a medicinal value. Tho erection of a properly-designed set of diving stages at the Parnell Baths, with seats for spectators, was proposed to tho City Council last evening by Mr. R. G. H. Manley, who submitted sketches of the structure and stated that the receipts from charges for admission to diving competitions would turn the loss on. the baths into a profit. The proposal was referred to the Parks Committee, with power to act. The end of Queen's Wharf, a popular vantage point for viewing harbour activities, is to be closed to the public for two or three weeks. Barricades have boen erected preventing passage past the end of the wharf sheds while the work is in progress of bracing lateral piles to minimise earthquake risks from excessive sway. A municipality's many functions sometimes involve it in rather absurd proceedings The City Council last evening had to go through the solemn form of receiving an application from itself for a renewal of the licences of the Town Hall, the concert chamber, the Western Springs stadium and the Point Chevalier Hall as places for public meetings and entertainments. The town clerk having reported that the council's inspectors had reported favourably in all cases, the application was granted. The same was done with another request by the chief librarian in respect of halls attached to five municipal branch libraries. An assertion that adverse criticism of the cost of the League of Nations was unwarranted was made by the Rev. W. G. Monckton in an address to members of the Auckland branch of the League of Nations Union yesterday. He said that in a year the maintenance of the league cost less than £1,300,000, which was only about onequarter of the cost of building a battleship like the Hood. Great Britain's share was roughly £133,000, a mere trifle compared with the huge expenditure involved in waging war. Although each budget of the league met with considerable criticism there was no doubt that the organisation was increasing in influence and doing wonderful work in helping to preserve peace. Tho hope that overseas visits by New Zealand cricket teams would not bo made too frequently was expressed by Mr. F. Earl, K.C., president of the Auckland Cricket Association, at the annual meeting of the association last evening. He said there should be a considerable interval between visits, and he did not like to contemplate the sacrifices as far as their business careers were concerned that many young players chosen were called upon to make. In tho Dominion there was not quite the same class of player as in England and Australia, and the sending of teams overseas should be done with the greatest caution. For some reason not explained there has been a definite falling-off in the average consumption of bread in the Dominion. The president of the New Zealand Master Bakers' Association, Mr. H. P. Burton, estimates that right throughout New Zealand the actual falling off is about 10 per cent, of the output of every bread baker. Careful investigation, he says, shows that this is not, due merely to shipping and tourist traffic having fallen away, but to the household consumer eating less bread. This lessened output is a further charge upon tho bakers, and adds to the overhead costs of production. Ropairs to the wharf at Motuihi Island to make it safe for use in the coming summer are to be carried out by tho City Council at an estimated cost of £250 The city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, reported to the council last evening that 16 of the piles were practically eaten through and many of the other timbers wcro broken. In its present stato tho wharf was definitely unsafe for use. As ho had previously pointed out, it was desirable to extend tho berthage by adding 15ft. to tho too on the southward. Tho cost, of this ho estimated at £450. Tho Rotorua traffic authorities liavo been endeavouring to put a slop to the prevalence of breaches of tho heavy traffic licences through the overloading of lorries, and at this week's sittings of the Court a number of lorry-drivers appeared before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., and were fined. "Why is it that you fellows cannot play the game with Iheso loads," Mr. Paterson asked of one defendant. "I do not want to keep imposing heavy fines on you, but if you keep on, I will simply havo to inflict fines ihat will put you oil the road. I hate inflicting, heavy fines in theso hard times, but I will havo to do it." Tho contretemps which occurred at tho last meeting of tho Hamilton Beautifying Society, when the chairman, Mr. W. H. Paul, after a difference of opinion with tho Mayor, Dr. F. D. Pinfold, and Mr. T. G. Reynolds, resigned his seat, was happily adjusted on Wednesday evening When the society met, Dr. Pinfold and Mr. Reynolds were absent, and Mr. Paul was unanimously requested to resume the chair. This he agreed to do, and the meeting proceeded.