LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21116, 25 February 1932, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Collection of Rates. Seventy-five per cent, of the total rates of the Newmarket Borough Council had been collected up to February 16. The sum of £5973 is still outstanding, out of a total amount of £23,874. Tn Birkenhead 60 per fent. of the rates have been paid. Morality of Debts. "These rates are not at all morally owing, although legally owing," declared a defendant in the Supreme Court yesterday, when admitting arrears of payment totalling £97. "I suppose we all think that," remarked Mr.' Justice Ilerdman. Newmarket Water Consumption. In spite of the prolonged spell of hot weather Newmarket recorded a decrease in water consumption during the summer months as compared with last year. In December 6.132,000 gallons of water were used, and 8,32H,0i)0 for the same period the previous year. During January 5,372.000 was the number of gallons consumed, compared with 6,512.000 Inst year. The daily average for December was 181.000 gallons, and for January 191,000 gallons. Motor-Cyclist Hurt. As a result of a collision between the motor-cycle he was riding and a motorcar at the intersection of the Great South Road and Broadway, Newmarket, at six o'clock last evening, an able-bodied seaman on the Diomede, Mr. Frederick W. Davies, aged 21, received concussion and injuries to the left hand. Ho was taken by the St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital. His condition last evening was not serious. Less Cable Traffic. In contrast with the closing months of last year, there was a decrease in the revenue of Imperial and International Communications, Limited, in January. The receipts for the month were £404,411, against £451,831 in December. In January last year the receipts were £412,908, but in making a comparison the sum of £20,000 must be deducted* from last month's returns, owing to changes in accounting of the earnings of subsidiaries. Opossums in Botanical Gardens. There are a large, number of opossums in the Botanical Gardens in Wellington, and they annually do a fair amount of damage to young and soft growth. The roses over a summer house by the main drive in the gardens came in for a lot of attention from an opossum some time ago, the roses being eaten right back. Large numbers of opossums frequent Wilton's Bush. It is thought that, the low price opossum skins are now fetching has much to do with the many opossums to lie found of late in the vicinity of Wellington. The Yacht Vileehi. After being in port for four months the American motor yacht Yileelti sailed for Russell yesterday morning. The yacht reached Auckland on October 24, after a four months' cruise in the Pacific. The prolonged stay at Auckland was due to the fact, that the owner, Mr. Hiram T. Horton, and his family left for America on December 1 to spend Christmas at their home. The party returned to Auckland by the Mariposa last. Saturday. After a stay at Russell the Vileehi will probably proceed to .Wellington and Milford Sound before continuing the cruise to Australia. Moa Bones at Napier. The discovery at Napier of bones which are believed to be those of a moa at, the new reservoir site. Bluff Hill, is causing considerable interest, says the Hawke's Bay Herald. The remains, which were unearthed by borough workmen recently while they were excavating, were lying two feet deep in a stratum of hardpan, above which were four feet of pumice stratum and four feet, of clay. This discovery recalls similar finds in the past. Moa bones were unearthed at tho same site some years ago. A similar find was made at. the Tort Ahunri side of Shakespeare Road, while the latest find was that. at. the Napier Hospital site a few months after the earthquake when workmen were, excavating the site where the old hospital was situated. Salmon Netting Licences. Although promptly called to order by the chairman, who said that the society had no jurisdiction in the matter, Mr. P. .T. Molloy, at a meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last week, suceeded in recording a protest against tho manner in which salmon-netting licences were granted by the Fisheries Department. The secretary, Mr. C. W. Hervey, reported that four netting licences had been issued to married men, out of 18 applicants. Mr. Molloy said he regarded it. as a most unfair way of issuing the licences. He considered that everyone should bo given an equal chance of obtaining them. The chairman, Mr. C. H. Lawrence, then called Mr. Molloy to order and the next business was proceeded with. First Ascent of Mt. Cook. It. will be fifty years on March 2 since the Rev. W. S. Green and his two Swiss guides made the first ascent of Mount Cook. The anniversary is to be commemorated by tho New Zealand Alpine Club by a public gathering in Christchurch. Tho president of the club, Mr. A. P. Harper, is going from Wellington to take part, and the main address will be given by Mr. C. E. Mannering, who will describe Mr. Green's thrilling adventure on Mount Cook. Another pioneer mountaineer, Dr. Teichelmann (Hokitika), will givo a lantern lecture on his explorations in Westland. Following the addresses by " The Old Brigade," two of the present generation of climbers will show slides of recent ascents. Tho proceeds will go toward the erection of a. refuge hut at the head of the Rakaia. Power for Canterbury. The slowing up of work on the Waitaki hydro electric scheme, which is stated to be almost a certain step taken by the Government in its departmental economy campaign, is not. expected to jeopardise Canterbury's chances of maintaining an adequate supply of electricity, slates a Christchurch newspaper. At least, tho danger has been minimised by the depression and by the Christchurch City Council's installation of a stand-by plant at Lvttelton. The position at present is that the demand has decreased; a sudden return to prosperity, with its consequent increase in demand, might catch the Government with its work uncompleted, but, under present conditions Canterbury is not expected to suffer a serious handicap through the slowing up of the work.