LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

A motor-car which was removed from a street in Sandringham on Saturday night was found to have been' considerably damaged when it was recovered shortly after noon yesterday, while all the tools had been stolen. Tho vehicle, a Baby Austin, was owned by Mr. A. Trembath, of Huntirigtree Avenue, Sandringham, and was left standing in Woodside Road, Mount Eden, between 7.45 p.m. and 10 p.m. It was discovered yesterday in Balmoral Road.

People who were early astir yesterday morning were favoured with clear skies and a good view of the first stages of the lunar eclipse which occurred then. The moon's first contact with the earth's shadow took place at 5.24 a.m. Within half an hour, however, the moon had set, as seen from Auckland, and the total phase of the eclipse, therefore, was hidden from local observers.

As a result of a fall on a concrete path at her home in Pukehana Avenue, Epsom, about noon on Saturday, Mrs Eliza Jervis, aged 60, received a fracture of the hip. She was removed to the Auckland Hospital, where her condition was stated last evening to be satisfactory.

The body of Mr. John Reams, who died on board the Matsor. Line steamer Sonoma shortly after the vessel left Auckland for Sydney on Friday evening, is being taken to Sydney. The relatives of tho late Mr. Kearns aro being communicated with by cable to ascertain if they wish tho body to be embalmed and taken to America for burial.

Tho 24th anniversary of the elevation of New Zealand from the status of a selfgoverning colony to that of a Dominion will be observed to-day. Although not a general holiday, all Government offices and banks, tho Supreme Court, tho Stock Exchange and many professional offices will be closed. Strictly speaking, Dominion Day was Saturday, but it is now customary to celebrate such holidays on the nearest Monday. The spring meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club will be the main attraction for holiday-makers.

Although perfumes are usually associated with the accessories of a woman's toilet, another use to which they may be put is the taming of wild and restive horses, according to Mr. A. J. Parker, who gave an address on the subject of perfumes before the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Sanitary Officers' Association on Saturday evening. " Wise ostlers of the last century," he said, " used to place oils of spike lavender or origanum on the hand and then rub the nose of a restive horse, the process producing a state of peace and affection."

There has been delay in forwarding from England the equipment for flood-lighting the War Memorial Museum, but tl]e standards and fittings are expected to arrive in Auckland within the next fortnight and the installation should be completed within a month. The equipment is being provided and installed by the Auckland Power Board, which haa already laid the mains to supply current when tho floodlights have been erected.

The spraying of suburban footpaths with a tar preparation containing waste products from the gas works is being adopted by the City Council in an endeavour 10 kill the weeds that mar the appearance of many suburban streets. During recent months a spraying equipment has been in operation in the Remuera district, and good results have been obtained, except in the case of the tenacious nut-grass, whose roots persistently send up fresh shoots after each spraying. An attempt is now being made to deal with tho nuisance by loosening the asphalt surface before spraying. It is hoped by this method to give the poison an opportunity to attack the roots at close quarters.

The small esteem in which pewter was held in England in comparatively recent years was mentioned by Mr. W. J. P. Hodgkins in an at the War Memorial Museum yesterday afternoon. Ho said there was a case on record of a tinsmith who had purchased a priceless collection of over 200 pieces of old English pewter, the property of a titled lady, and had sold the lot at so much a pound, to be sent to Bristol to be melted down for tinning fish-hooks. Tho work of demolishing St. Luke's Presbyterian Church, Remuera, is proceeding rapidly, and only portions of the outer walls and framework remain. In a few days a start will be made with the erection of a new church on the same site. The structure, which is expected to be completed within 10 months, will be of Putaruru stone, and will cost approximately £14,000. In the meanwhile services are being conducted in the Sunday school hall.

The altruism of the poorer classes was praised by Archbishop Averill, preaching in St. Matthew's Church last evening. "The most real and Christ-like work in Auckland to-day is being done by the poorest themselves," he said. "They are unknown and yet well known. Their readiness to share their little with others is wonderful."

Tho possibilities of a market in Canada for frozen New Zealand rabbits, to be used in the feeding of foxes, was one of the questions which the Department of Industries and Commerce was asked to investigate during the year, according to tho annual report of the department. Australia already has a trade with Canada in the export of rabbits for tho purpose mentioned.

One of the many interesting documents offered for sale in a Wellington auction room last week was a facsimile of the official communication of condolence sent to the people of Nelson by those of Wellington in the anxious days succeeding tho Wairan massacre. It bears copies of tho signatures of most of Wellington's leading men at that time, including Sir William Fox, Daniel Riddiford, W B. Rhodes, and George Hunter. Tho document brought 6s. In the letter Wairau is spelt Wairoa.

Youthful roller skaters equipped with neither tail nor head lights are the latest menace to be encountered by motorists at night time on some of the smoother bitumen roads of the city and suburbs, says a Christcburch paper. These performers wander at will from right to wrong side of the road, and one lad had a narrow escapo from going under the wheels of a car when he slipped while attempting somo fancy evolution and sprawled sideways in front of the oncoming vehicle. Only the prompt application of brakes saved him from injury. Whether a stop can be put to . the nightfall activities of these young citizens is a question that is concerning numerous drivers.