LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21234, 14 July 1932, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Boy Hurt at Football. "Whil# playing football at the Maugere Central School yesterday afternoon, Colin Martin, aged 10, of Third Avenue, Mangare East, fell heavily and received a fracture of the thigh. Ho was taken by St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital. Home-made Skis.

Home-made skis and toboggans were very popular at Arthur s Pass last week-end and were evidence of the ingenuity of young Christchurch. Skis ate the more difficult to make, for the wood lias to be steamed and then carefully bent i to shape. Preservation of Scenic Bush.

Tho Petone Borough Council has decided to support the idea of remitting rates on bush lands of scenic valuo with the object of preserving such lands. The matter had been brought before the Municipal Association by the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.

Church Wine Stolen, Twelve bottles of wine were among a number of articles stolen from tho Methodist Church, London Street, Hamilton, on a recent evening. In a room at the rear of the building about ten cupboards were smashed, the panels being split and broken. In addition to the wine, a quantity of tea and sugar was removed, but tho intruders secured nothing of any great value. Losses From Library.

Complaints were received by the Hamilton Library Committee on Tuesday evening that numerous books and magazines in the library had been defaced, and somo books and magazines had disappeared. In three years 184 books, valued at £6O, had been lost, owing largely to subscribers discontinuing their subscriptions or leaving "the district. It was decided to refer the complaints to the police. Ffch For Unemployed.

Arrangements have been made by the Lower Hutt Relief Committee whereby unemployed can fish in the harbour from small boats. Only those men who have a knowledge of the work are being allowed to take part. Others are making nets, and it is hoped that large quantities of fish will be delivered in Lower Hutt shortly. If the project is successful larger boats will be obtained, and operations will be extended to Cook Strait.

Heavy Rain In Auckland. Very heavy rain was experienced in Auckland last evening. During the day the sky was overcast and a freshening breeze was blowing from tho north-east. Steady rain commenced falling after five o'clock and later in the evening the wind changed to the south-east and almost ceased. The threatening conditions were indicated by the barometer, which fell throughout the day and registered 29.25 in., a fall of .70in. for the 24 hours.

Stamps ol New Zealand. A valuable acquisition of wide interest in the form of a complete set of all New Zealand stamps from the earliest issues has been received by the War Memorial Museum in Wellington from the Post-master-General, Hon. A. Hamilton. As a large amount of expert work will be involved in classifying the collection and mounting it, some time will probably elapse before it is placed on view to the public. The museum has not at present an exhibit of stamps. Relief Worker's Offence.

" I cannot make any distinction between a relief worker and any other kind °"bf worker," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Police Court yesterday, when a, married man. a relief woi'ker, admitted having ridden his bicycle at night without a light. The magistrate added that defendant knew the law and what a .menace unlighted cycles were on the street. Defendant was fined 10s and 10s costs, and was given a month in which to pay.

Bally of Motorists. A decision to hold a motor rally, on the lines of that organised by the Royal Autompbile Club in England, this year, was reached at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Automobile Association last evening. It was agreed to approach other motoring bodies in the North Island to solicit their support, details of the rally being left to the sports committee. Mr. H. J. Butcher said it was proposed to make the run one of about 500 miles, the distance to be covered in 24 hours.

Harbour Bridge Scheme. An inquiry made by the Birkenhead Borough Council regarding the proposed Auckland harbour bridge was answered by the bridge company in a letter received by the council last evening. The communication stated :—" I was'instructed to inform you that arrangements as regards finance were still progressing, and that every effort was being made to expedite matters, and that it is hoped that a more detailed reply may be sent you in about six weeks or two months' time." Otaki Health Camp. Agreeing that the Otaki health camp for children merited tho fullest possible support of the committees they represented, tho members of the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation decided to take part in a forthcoming conference for the purpose of putting the finances of the camp on a firmer footing. The bodies to tako part in the conference include tho Smith Family, tho Health Camp Association itself, and probably the Wellington Education Board. Bellblrd in Northcote Garden.

A bellbird has recently been frequently seen in a Northcote garden, where ifc hne delighted residents with its melody in tho early morning. This bird, which is rarely seen in the precincts of the city during the winter months, comes to feed on an insect in tho bark of a pohutukawa tree. Last year a bellbird was heard in a garden in Epsom. Mr. R. A. Falla, ornithologist at the museum, is of tho opinion that the bird probably came from one of tho islands in the gulf, Tiri or Motuihi. Magistrate's Court Revenue.

A decrease in tho total revenue from fees and fines received at the Auckland Magistrate's Court during the second quarter of the year is shown in comparison with the revenue received for the corresponding quarter in 1931. During the three months ended June 30 a total of £4646 was received in civil' fees, compared with £5458 for the corresponding poriod last year, and £460 was paid in criminal fees, as against £396. The total amount collected in fines was £1774, compared with £1642 in 1931, the totals under the three ®heads being £6BBO and £7496 for the second quarter of 1932 and 1931 respectively.