LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21146, 1 April 1932, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Air Pageant Finances. It is expected that the Wanganui Aero Club will just clear expenses incurred as the result of the recent North Island Pageant, held the Wanganui airport. Accounts have not been finalised yet. A total of 1647 cars was parked on the day and approximately 7000 people paid foi admission to the grounds.

Early Frosts. Thrco successive frosts at Aram oho (Wanganui) have ruined several promising crops of vegetables. Cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes and other perishable plants have all been cut down ruthlessly by tlio unseasonable weather and many ardent gardeners have seen their summer's work frustrated.

Flight to Whangarei. A flight from Auckland to Whangarei and back was made yesterday by Mr. K. G. Tappenden, in a Gipsy Moth belonging to the Auckland Aero Club. The journey north was accomplished in an hour and five minutes, and the return trip occupied an hour and 20 minutes. A pupil of the Auckland Aero Club, Mr. Desmond Davis, made his first solo flight at the Mangero aerodrome yesterday. Hail Reduces Fruit Output.

Owing to the unfavourable season that has been experienced and the damage caused by hail, the export of fruit from tho Canterbury Province will be seriously affected this season. Shipments are expected to fall from 30,000 cases last season to about 8000 crises. Tho second consignment of Canterbury apples and pears was shipped to tho English market by the Tamaroa on Thursday. One-way Streets.

City streets in which only one-way motor traffic is permitted still cause some confusion to motorists. In Swanson Street, where breaches of the rule are perhaps most frequent, the position has been improved by painting tho white indicator further up tho incline, where it is more readily seen by motorists attempting to proceed up the roadway.

Ulimaroa for Overhaul. The Huddart-Parker steamer Ulimaroa will leave Auckland to-day on her last trip from New Zealand to Sydney for some months. On her arrival in Sydney on Tuesday the vessel will undergo an extensive overhaul, and it is not expected that she will resume her running for about four months. Her place will bo taken by the Zealandia, which will leave Sydney for Wellington next Friday.

" April Fools' Day." Until noon to-day, practical jokes will be licensed in accordance with the usual " All Fools' Day" custom. However, incorrigible jokers should remember that the community allows them only half a day and any jokes perpetrated after the noon-ban can be turned upon the originE.tor. There is evidence nowadays that the " April Fool" custom is passing away in common with others, and the jokes of " yester-year" seem to have lost much of their appeal. Modern life is frowning upon many old traditions, which have had no active champion since Charles Lamb.

Good Friday Observance. " Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?" asks a writer in St. Marvs Merivale (C'hristchurch) Parish Magazine, and, replying to the question, wrote: 'lo thousands Good Friday seems to mean nothing. A holiday, that's all. A picnic with an ample supply of " hot cross buns"! Possibly some think they honour the day by eafing half-a-dozen of these, monstrosities. Beware of hypocrisy and blasphemy. Surely the least we can do, the rational thing to do, is to attend church and join with others, all over Christendom, in thinking of the significance of the day.

Activity of Geysers. Increased thermal activity has been shown at Whakarewarewa. during tho past two days after a period of quiet for some time past. Waikiti geyser commenced playing on "Wednesday, and, steadily increasing in activity, has given some spectacular displays. which continued at frequent intervals throughout yesterday. At the present time Waikiti is the most prominent of the geysers in tho vicinit\, and has been a source of much interest to visitors. Piria, a smaller geyser, has also been very active and the cauldron oi boiler pool, known as Pau lau, has shown greater activity. When the Bride was Late.

At an Ea.st.ej- wedding in Wanganui recently, the cars conveying the bridegroom, best man and near relatives of the happy couple arrived at the church well on scheduled time. It was intended that one should return for the bride and her maids. Some instructions must have gone astray, however. The vehicles remained parked at the church and the drivers were as curious as any in the crowd to see the bride appear. Minutes wore into half an hour, before a frantic telephone call reminded the best man of his duties, and a late car was despatched for an almost hysterical bride.

Petrol in Drainage Sewers. Notwithstanding the warning notices issued by the Dunedin Drainage Board last year relative to the penalties under the board's by-laws for discharging petrol and similar substances into tho sewers, there is evidence that the position has not improved, and that, as a matter of fact, it is growing worse. During the past few months th« sewer cleaners have had to evacuate the sewers hurriedly on at least six occasions owing to the presence of strong petrol fumes. It is now intended to follow up tho warning previously given with further action with a view to apprehending some of tho offenders and putting an end to the menace. It is believed that, not only petrol dealers and users of petrol in connection with industry. but also private householders may be implicated.

Flight In Small Aeroplane. Tho Compel- Swift aeroplane, a tiny single-seater owned by Mr. 11. L. D. West, of Whakatanc, which has been housed at tho Mangero aerodrome for some months, made its first flight for a considerable time past recently with Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, the Auckland Aero Club's instructor, at tho controls.' The machine is so small that tho upper part of (ho pilot's body, projecting above the cockpit, deflected the slipstream from tho rudder, with tho result that the aeroplane would not steer properly. Mr. Allan thereupon removed the cushioned seat and sat on the floor, it being found in a later flight that (he difficulty had thus been overcome. Adjustments carried out to tho electrical system proved satisfactory and Mr. Allan looped and rolled the Comper in the course of a short test flight.