LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21099, 5 February 1932, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Completing Tamaki Drive. The final section of Tamaki Drive, formerly known as the waterfront road, is expected to be completed in about six weeks. There will then be an unbroken stretch of marine parade from Queen Street to St. Heliers. A house which has been preventing the carrying out of, the uncompleted work at Kohimarama has been shifted back and the construction of the final gap will probably be commenced within the next few days. Higher Price for Eggs. Prices for eggs have advanced 4d a dozen, from Is 2d to Is 6d, in the past week. The wholesale price has shown an increase of about 2d at each of tbe last two auction sales, with the result that retail values have been affected. Old Takapuna Trams. Three of the carriages formerly used in the Takapuna steam tram service were sent by rail on Wednesday night to Wanganui, where they are to be utilised by the City Corporation tramways. In 1929 four of the old trams were sold to the tramways department of the Dunedin Corporation, which fitted them with undertrucks and electrical gear, while in March, 1930, a similar number were sent to Wanganui for the same purpose. When the business of liquidating the company was ended in May,'l93o, the remaining eight carriages were sold to a resident of Takapuna, and several have been utilised as "baches" on the North Shore. Benefactor of the Children. The gift of equipment necessary for a children's playground at Grey Lynn Park, made by Mr. John Court on the occasion of his 86th birthday, was accepted with thanks by tho City Council last evening. As a mark of his interest in the young people of Auckland, Mr. Court offered to defray the cost of the equipment up to £250. In expressing its gratitude, the council decided to extend to the donor its wishes for many more_ years of happiness. Poor Apricot Season. Very few eating apricots of first-class quality have been available in Auckland this season, owing to the ravages of the dry rot, which has played havoc with tho Thames crops. Quantities of the fruit have come from Otngo, but they have been the cooking variety. Mr. Norman Smith Again Delayed. On ficcourit of reports on the condition of the Ninety-Mile Beach being unfavourable Mr. Norman Smith will not leave Auckland to-day, as he had intended, if tho beach showed any likelihood of permitting hhri to attack either the world's five or one mile land speed records this week-end. Mr. Smith's party will probably return to Waipapakauri on Tuesday and it is not likely that the next attempt will be made before February 20. Burglars Disturbed. Two men who were in the act of entering a tobacconist's shop at Park Road, near the Auckland Hospital, occupied by Mr. L. Newton, were detected by Constable Carson, of Mount Eden, at a late hour on Wednesday night. When the constable first saw them they had broken a pane of glass in the door of the shop and were releasing the lock, 'fchile a padlock bad been forced. They rushed off through the ground of the hospital and made their escape through tbe Lower Domain, the constable being unable to capture them in the darkness. Nothing was stolen from the shop. Interest in Sailing Ship.

Great interest is being taken in the Finnish full-rigged ship Grace Harwar, which is unloading guano from Juan de Nova at King's Wharf, and although the air is thick with guano dust people are to be seen at all hours of tho day making as close an inspection as they possibly can. The unloading of tho Graco Harwar is expected to finish about the end of next week, when she will probablv sail for Australia.

Shoes lor Unemployed. To help lighten the cost of living of Takapuna unemployed workers the Borough Council has established a shoo repair shop near Hall's Corner. The work, is being done by an unemployed shoemaker who is being paid under No. 5 scheme. Fifty pairs of shoes have already been mended for needy families, the only expense to them being the cost of materials.

Bellbirds Liberated. Several bellbirds secured from Little Barrier Island, which is a native bird sanctuary, were liberated yesterday in the Waitakcrc Ranges, in the vicinity of the ITtiia Dam, bv members of the Auckland Zoological Society. The secretary of the society, Mr. T. W. M. Ashbv, said the birds stood their transference well and seemed thoroughly at home in their new surroundings. Members of the society visited tho island last week, when the birds were caught. Tlies 3 birds are numerous on the island, and appear to be very tame. Numbers of them inhabit the vicinity of tho caretaker's residence and regularly enjoy titbits from his t able. Tho opportunity was taken to photograph with a movingpicture camera various aspects of bird life. Besides tho bellbird views were taken of tuis, kaka, pied shags, young penguins, Cook's petrels and the stitch bird, all in their natural haunts. The stitch bird is not known to exist except on Little Barrier Island. Driver's Excessive Speed.

A fine of £4 was imposed on a defendant in tho Carterton Magistrate's Court for driving a horse# float at from 35 to 38 miles an hour. Tho maximum speed allowed this typo of vehicle, stated the traffic inspector, was 14i miles an hour.

Fishing in Southern Rivers. Tho rivers in South Canterbury have been fairly low for some time, and fishermen have had a fairly lean time. In tho lower part of the district, the ojSihi has been the only river which has offered any sport at "all. Reports from up country, however, indicate thaU some good bags have been secured. Salmon arc now making their appearance ill the Rangitata River. 1

Weeds That Grow Apace. Speaking on noxious weed matters at a meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board last week, Mr. F. C. Raikes mentioned that wherever plantations had been cut down throughout the district, of late—and there had been a considerable amount of this during the past year—noxious weeds were springing up and threatening to become a serious menace unless checked. Hagfrort and blackberry were tho most plentiful in the Oroua plantations. It was decided to have the areas mentioned inspected.