LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21249, 1 August 1932, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Novel Birthday Party Over 70 children qf unemployed workers were entertained by a resident of Waterview, Avondale, on Saturday, in celebration of his birthday. A liberal spread of delicacies and confections was provided and the children were kept amused by games and novelties, including an exhibition of juggling. No Sale for Debentures Tho fact that it had proved almost impossible to sell debentures at 5£ per cent was brought to tho notico of tho North Canterbury Hospital Board last week by its Finance* Committee. Since it was imperative that money should be raised, tho board decided to make further representations to the acting-Minister of Finance for permission to increase the rate offered. More Arrivals from Overseas An increase in the number of passengers arriving at Auckland from overseas is shown by tho figures for July, which aro greater than those for the previous month and for July, 1931. The number of passengers arriving was 503, compared with 457 in June and 376 in the corresponding month of the previous year. Persons leaving Auckland totalled 592, compared with 773 in June and 607 in July, 1931. Equipment Stolen from Lorry A light motor-lorry, which was stolen from Devonport early on Saturday morning, was found in St. Leonards Road, Takapuna, in tho afternoon, with the tyres, lamps and magneto missing. Tho lorry was taken between midnight on Friday and eight o'clock on Saturday morning, and it is not known whether the equipment was stolen by the person who removed tho lorry from Devonport, or whetlior it was taken after the vehicle had been abandoned in Takapuna. Grafton Gully Improvements The work of clearing portions of Grafton Gully has extended to the Grafton side, near the bridge, and relief workers have been engaged in the past few days in removing many trees in a tangled thicket. During recent months, men employed under the No. 5 scheme have effected considerable improvements to the paths on the city side. In tho past week or so, the iron railings of the Upper Symonds Street portion, have undergone overhuul and repainting. Samuel Marsden's Records It was reported at a meeting of the New Zealand University Council that the letters and journals of Samuel Marsden contained in the Hocken Library would be published toward the end of the present month. The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and the Lady Bledisloe have consented to the volume being dedicated to them in recognition of their interest in the early history of the Dominion and their gift to New Zealand of tho site on which the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

Bitten by Alsatian A lady visitor had cause to regret her visit to the dog show on Saturday night. While admiring a spaniel she was bitten on the arm by an Alsatian which was in the next pen. The Alsatian caused a painful wound. Tho victim slated subsequently that there was nothing to indicate that tho Alsatian was savage. In the interest of children, particularly, she considered that Alsatians should either be excluded from the next show or be displayed in such a way that they could not harm the unwary visitor. Condition of Accident Victims There was no improvement last evening in tho condition of Mr. Ray Allan, aged 21, who was admitted to tho Auckland Hospital on Friday with severe internal injuries after being run over by a motor-lorry near Helensville. William Neill Kidd, aged 17, of Wood Street, Papakura, who was admitted to the hospital on Thursday with head injuries and a fracture of the leg, was still in a serious condition last evening, according to the hoppital authorities. He was injured when the motor-van in which he was riding was wrecked by a train. Presentation of Shield During an interval between the junior and senior schools' Rugby games at Arawa Park, Rotorua, on Saturday, Colonel J. E. Duigan, officer commanding the northern command, presented the Jellicoe Cup for the highest New Zealand team in the Empire Challenge Shield competition to the Rotorua voluntary cadet team. Mr. G. Urquhart, on behalf of the Mayor, presented the members of the team with a silver medal each, donated by the public of Rotorua. The team was not only first in New Zealand, but first in the Empire in a competition with open sights. The public showed its praise by giving tho team three hearty cheers.

Relief Works and Schools Appreciation of the work carried out in school grounds since the inception of tho No. 5 relief scheme was expressed by Mr. J. W. McGechie, president of the Auckland Headmasters' Association, at a social held on Saturday evening by tho Auckland Primary School Committees' Association. Ho mentioned the interest taken bv school committees in arranging for improvements to be effected under tho scheme. Mr. McGechie said tho circumstances which mado a relief scheme necessary were to be regretted, but there was no doubt that the consequences of tho employment created were of advantago. Heavy Traffic on Limited Express Two additional fust-class carriages were placed on the limited express which left Auckland for Wellington last evening, on account of unusually heavy passenger traffic, caused to an extent by tho number of visitors who saw the first Rugby Lenguo tost played in Auckland between New Zealand and England. More than 200 people left by the limited, which consisted of four first-class carriages, two second-class, two sleeping cars and a van. The departure platform presented a particularly busy appearance and tramcars running to tho station wero well filled. The traffic on other trains was also heavy during tho week-end. Taught Three Generations A remarkable record of servico is cluimed by Mr. W. Bassett,-Smith, who has just retired on superannuation after 38 years as headmaster of tho Castlocliff School and 41 years as a teacher under tho Wanganui Education Board. When Mr. Bassott-Smith took charge at Castlocliff in 1894, tho school bad 42 pupils. To-day tliero are 244 ic tho main school and 49 in a sido school, making a total of 293—an increase of 690 per cent. At a valedictory gathoring this week, Mr. Basset t-Smith whs presented with a wallet of notes and an album containing photographs of past and present scholars. Mrs. Bassott-Smith wa<? presented with a bouquet by two children, representing the third generation of her husband's pupils,