LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Stormy weather in the Tasman Sea during the past four days has caused delay to shipping. Tlio Union Company's steamer Maunganui and the Matson Line steamer Sonoma, which left Auckland for Sydney 011 Friday at 3.30 p.m. and 5.15 p.m. respectively, both made prolonged passages and arrived yesterday, the Maunganui at 10 a.m. and tho Sonoma at 4.40 p.m. They were expected to arrive about seven o'clock in tho morning. The Huddart-Parker steamer Ulimaroa, which left Sydney for Wellington on Friday, was also delayed, and did not arrive until late yesterday afternoon, instead of in the morning.

On a three months' cruise to southern ports, 11.M.5. Diomedo lelit Auckland yesterday afternoon for Wellington, where she will embark Rear-Admiral G. Blake, who has been on an official visit to the South. The warship will return to Auckland on December 9. H.M.S. Laburnum is to remain at Auckland and she will be joined by H.M.S. Veronica, which will return on October 12 from an extensive cruise to the South Sea Islands. The crews of the two warships arci to be paid off and they will be relieved by crews due to arrive from England on November 2. From December 3 until December 9 the Laburnum and tho Veronica will carry out exercises in the Hauraki Gulf in company with the Diomede. Interesting Maori weapons have been unearthed by men engaged in excavation work on tho slopes of Mangere Mountain, once tho sceno of inter-tribal conflict. The articles includo an axe, a club and a large piece of greenstone. An arrival at Sydney yesterday was the American yacht Northern Light from Dunedin. Tho vessel left Dunedin at 10.15 a.m. on September 20 and she covered the distanco of 1250 miles in nine days, at an average speed of nearly six knots. £ The unfavourable weather experienced during the past few weeks has had surprisingly little effect on Auckland's developing fruit crops. Strawberries are expected to make their appearance toward tho end of next month, well up to time, and they have not been affec.ted as much by blight as was feared a month ago. Stone fruit trees, particularly plums*, are blossoming prolifically, and an output considerably greater than last year's is confidently expected. Pears were not affected as much last year by the "midge," which had checked their output for several years, and as a result the trees have responded this season with increased budding. Crops are expected from trees that have not borne for years and a general increase of 50 per cent, over last year is anticipated.

A suggestion that the present time might be opportune, in view of the prevalence of unemployment, to commence operations in connection with linking the Waitemata Harbour and the Waikato River by canal was received by the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon from the Unemployment Committee at Hamilton. Tho board decided to reply that the present period of depression was not considered to be a suitable time for beginning such a work. The importance of the headlights of motor-cars being properly adjusted in the interests of safety on tho roads, is emphasised in the 28th annual report of the Auckland Automobile Association. The report states that, while the lights of hundreds of cars were adjusted by patrols during the year, and the benefit was very noticeable cn the roads at night, there wcr& still individual instances of infringement of the regulations by glaring headlights, and warnings had been issued so often against this .menace that motorists had only themselves to blame if they were prosecuted. Interest in the next bi-annual issue of the telephone directory will centre on the Post and Telegraph Department's intentions with regard to furnishing subscribers on request with the correct time. It has been authoritatively but unofficially stated that the service will be discontinued as from the publication of the next directory on tho ground of economy.* However, cancellation of tho service is unlikely before the end of next month, when the new directories, already two months late in publication, are expected to be issued. It is then probable that "396," the number to be dialled to ascertain the time, will not bo listed.

"Wo have not given up hope of acquiring a building of our own, but the timo is not yet opportune to act," said Dr. E. B. Gunson, president of the Auckland Society of Arts, at the annual meeting last evening. He expressed the opinion that in view of tho present economic position the society was particularly fortunate in not being encumbered with a heavy liability, such as would result from the acquisition of a large building. The outlook for the future was bright, however, and during tho past three years approximately £IOOO had boen paid into tho property fund, which now f stood at. £10,059. The opinion that under normal circumstances the selection of pupils for vocational training should not be attempted too early was expressed by Mr. H. R,. Rodwell, lecturer on economics at the University College, addressing tho Auckland Educational Conference last evening. Mr. Rodwell said general instruction should be continued well beyond the primary stage, when the capacities of a pupil in a particular direction could bo estimated with greater certainty. Very early in the history of Auckland, on September 30, 1842, was founded the Auckland Mechanics' Institute and Library, from which tho present city library took its origin in 1880. The original institute building stood near ' the foot of Chancery Lane, and for many years it was the only place for meetings that the town possessed. In its hall not a few of tho institutions and societies flourishing in the city to-day—the Auckland Savings Bank among them—had their origin. It was for long the intellectual centre of tha town. "There are two things which I do not like about New Zealand," stated Rev. F. H. Ross, of San Pedro, California, in an address t<? tho Palmerston North Citizens' Lunch Club tho other day. "You cannot mako coffee here any more than we can make tea in tho United States. Jam sure it is lea which_ holds the British Empire together. - Further, 1 do not liko your traffic laws. You drive on tho wrong side of the street. I am going back to advocate universal traffic laws for the whole world, because I am sure we need them."