LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

As the north-bound express was about to leave Tailiapo on Saturday evening it was discovered that the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe, who was passing through to To Ivuiti and had alighted for a brief stroll down tho streets, was not on board. Consequently the train was delayed while railway officials searched the town for His Excellency. He was eventually discovered standing in front of a shop window. When Lord Bledisloe was informed that the train was waiting for him ho ran as fast as lie could to the station, so anxious was lie to cause no further delay. Tho official party laughed heartily as tho Governor-General entered his carriage breathing heavily as tho result of his exertions. His Excellency and the Lady Bledisloe joined in the laughter as the train resumed its journey ten minutes behind schedule time. It appears that His Excellency was misinformed as to tho length of time the train .stayed at Taihape, being told that it stopped for 20 minutes, whereas it is only due to stop for ten minutes.

A decision to discontinue providing free water on tho existing scale for primary schools in Mount Albert after October 1 was made at last evening s meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council. It was agreed to provide free 500 gallons a. child and above this quantity to charge the cost rate of Is 3d for each 1000 gallons. The decision is part of the council's programme in reducing water expenses.

The work of inscribing in marble the names of I lie 7000 Aucklanders who fell in the Great War is about to be undertaken by the contractors, who have had the slabs prepared. The architects have approved the style of letters, but the sculptors are seeking a quicker method of lettering the marble than the usual system of drawing with pencil. It is hoped the roll of honour will be ready for unveiling next Anzac Day.

The yacht Arethusa reached Suva from Auckland yesterday, according to cabled advice, tho 11-ton vessel having made the passage of 1145 miles in 11 days. The Arethusa left Auckland on tho afternoon of September 17 and it was expected that she would take from 10 days to a fortnight to reach Suva, but in case she was prolonged on the passage sufficient provisions were on board to last the crew for two months. The .Arethusa was recently purchased by Mr.. A. Hereward Pickmere, who took the yacht to Suva, assisted bv Mr. Mervyn Robinson, Mr. J. Robinson and Mr. R. Widdicombe. Mr. Pickmere is a surveyor employed in Fiji by the British Government and he will utilise the yacht in his visits to outlying stations in Fiji.

Now en route from the Clyde to Now Zealand the Union Company's new turboelectric steamer Rangatira is due at Port Chalmers about October 13. It was formerly intended that the vessel should proceed direct to Wellington, but it has now been decided to dry dock her at Port Chalmers for cleaning and painting before sho is commissioned in tho Well-ington-Lyttelton ferry service in November. She will probably relieve the Maori.

The commencement of summer time on tho morning of Sunday, October 11, will mark the fifth season in which daylight saving has been followed in New Zealand. When tho original measure was carried by Parliament in 1927 an extra hour of daylight was provided for, but similar legislation was defeated tho following year. A Government bill making the additional time a period of half an hour was, however, brought into force and this measure was made to apply permanently in 1929. At the end of tho approaching summer, normal time will be resumed on Sunday, March 20.

The annual term <*xaminatio»s at tho Auckland University College will commence on Monday, October 12, and continue until Saturday, October 24. The examinations are all of three hours' duration, somo being held from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., others from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a few from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The fact that tho old Mount Albert Road Board's offices consisted of a single unlined room, 12ft. by 20ft., was mentioned by Mr. 11. Utting, who has retired from the position of town clerk in Mount Albert after 23 years' service, at an informal farewell at the borough council chambers last evening. Mr. Utting said that when he obtained his position in 1908 there wero fewer than 1000 ratepayers in tho district. There were now over 5000.

Determined efforts are being made to promote the growth of grass 011 the Stanley Bay Park in preparation for the coming cricket season. Sinco the former mangrove swamp was reclaimed a few years ago it, lias proved a difficult matter to grow grass 011 the area owing (0 the presence of large quantities of salt in the sandy soil. Last year intensive top-dress-ing of the central portion resulted in a fairly good pitch being put down, but the outfield remained bare. Quantities of suitable earth have been spread during the past week or so and a vast improvement is expected. The adjoining croquet lawns will also benefit from recent topdressing.

The opinion that the Government should refrain from changing tho text-books used in schools was expressed by Mr. J. R. Fow at a meeting of the Board of Governors of tho Hamilton High School. Mr. Fow said that when text-books were changed it was on the instructions of the department, and not at the whim of the headmasters.

Tho fall in the level of Lake Rotorua recently commented upon seems to be by no means peculiar to that, lake, says the Rotorua Morning Post. During the weekend reports were received indicating that there has been a fall in the levels of many of the other lakes in tho district, particularly Rotoma and the Blue Lake, both of which are considerably lower than they have been in recent years. Okataina also has fallen considerably since the beginning of the year.

A magnificent specimen of a hoeroa ("long paddle"), a fighting weapon of the Maori, has been received by Mr. W. H. Skinner, of New Plymouth, from some people in England, where it has been for some time since it was first taken from New Zealand. Mr. Skinner handed it to the New Plymouth Museum. This particular hoeroa, which is made from the jawbone of a whale, is about 6ft. long arid vory heavy. It is beautifully carved at, the handle end, and Mr. Skinner says he does not know of a finer specimen.