LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21276, 1 September 1932, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Cheaper Water at Newmarket A rebate of 2d a thousand gallons in the cost of water supplied by meter in all cases when payment was made before a certain date was authorised by the Newmarket Borough Council last evening. A special by-law to this effect was passed. Overseas Passenger Trade An increase in the number of passengers arriving at Auckland from overseas is shown in the return for which is 574, compared with 503 in July. There was a greater increase, however, in the number who sailed overseas, last month's figure being 752, as against 592 in July. Short Circuit in Fire Alarm A short circuit in the fire alarm installation in the Law Court Buildings, High Street, shortly before six o'clock last evening caused the alarm to sound. The call was answered by the city fire brigade. The lighting in the building was temporarily affected by the fault.

Emergency Disaster Fund A plan to establish a fund to make provision for future disasters was outlined in a letter received by the Devonport Borough Council at its meeting last evening from the New Zealand Red Cross Society. A request for permission to make a street appeal in the borough was declined.

Relief Workers Praised " Relief workers in Devonport are a particularly fine type," said the Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, at a meeting of the Devonport Borough Council last evening. Work being carried out in Victoria Road was progressing practically as fast as would be the case with regular labour. "Jt speaks volumes for the men," lie added. Record Low Egg Prices A further reduction of Id a dozen in the wholesalo prices of eggs, to IOAd for first grade, will bo made at the City Markets to-day. Prices have not been as low as thjs for years. This time last year values were 2d higher. The phenomenally low rates are duo to surplus supplies and the fact that some retailers are selling eggs as cheap as lid a dozen. Nightingale lor Wellington There was an unusual guest at the Grand Hotel yesterday in tho shape of an 'English nightingale. It had been purchassd in Auckland by a Wellington bird-lover and, perched in a small cage, was an object of interest to all who passed through the hotel lobby during the day. : Several people attempted unsuccessfully to persuade the bird to sing, although the majority at first thought it was a caged sparrow, owing to the sombre colouring of its feathers. The bird was taken to Wellington last evening by its new owner. The Unemployment Levy In strong contrast to what happened three months ago, there was no lastminute rush to pay the quarterly unemployment levy yesterday, the last day for payment. Many taxpayers have realised that the transaction can be carried out most conveniently at their nearest suburban post office and that by paying reasonably early in the month they can readily avoid having to wait in a queue. There was an average of only about 20 people in the bureau at any time yesterday afternoon. Manual Workers' Hearts The statement that the majority of manual workers over the age of 50 suffered from some abnormality of the heart was made by Dr. S. A. Bull, when giving evidence in the Supreme Court yester- j day. Dr. Bull was asked whether it did ; not frequently happen that a worker died from heart trouble through no apparent serious cause. He replied that there were generally some reasons and most workers over 50 had some abnormality due to the continued stress of their work. In the majority of cases the condition was aggravated by pyorrhea.

Attempted City Burglaries Efforts by a thief to enter two tobacconists' shops near the waterfront were discovered yesterday morning, when it was found that panels in the glass doors had been broken. A hole was made near the patent lock in the door of Mr. H. J. Sutcliffe's shop at 99 Customs Street, but as the door had been reinforced by bars the thief was unable to gain entrance. A similar attempt at the shop of Mr. D. Ratanji, in Quay Street, also resulted in failure. The intruder did not enter the shop after breaking a panel the lock, as he was evidently disturbed.

Level Crossing Lessons "My view is that the man who has been hit by a train has received a lesson he will remember all his life," said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court in Wanganui when fixing the amount of the fine on Thomas Shelley, who was driving a car when it was involved in a collision with a train at the Pitt Street level crossing some weeks ago. It was the man who took the risk and got away, said Mr. Salmon, who deserved tlio severe penalty. In view of the fact that the car had been wrecked, and that Shelley had been put to some expense, a fine of £1 was imposed. A " Hiking M Comedy An amusing story concerning "mystery hikes" was told in Christchurch this week by a visitor from England, who. had booked for the "mystery" train excursion which had been organised by the Railway Department. Two friends of his, he said, had gone to Aberdeen from a little village about 20 miles out to spend a much-needed holiday in the city. Among the numerous attractions that were offered them was a "mystery" train excursion and, much intrigued by the idea, they booked seals for the journey and eagerly looked forward to it. The great day arrived and the two country folk boarded the train, excited by the idea of the unknown destination. When the non-stop train was a few miles out of Aberdeen an official came through the carriage and announced the mysterious destination. The two country folk were horrified to learn that it was their own village. New Zealanders' Language How members of the New Zealahd team at the Olympic Games managed to puzzle interviewers by representing that they spoke a strange language wad described recently in a Sydney newspaper by Mr. R. L. ("Snowy") Baker, the wellknown Australian athlete, writing from Los Angeles. Mr. Baker .stated: "Local people are still under the impression that New Zealanders have a language of their own, and do not speak English. Members of the Olympic squad take great sport with interviewers. One will act as an interpreter for the others. Finally, when the interviewer makes some remark not intended for understanding ears, the group breaks out laughing and it dawns on the Californian that the English-speaking race is not limited to Los Angeles arid its suburbs. And another friend is made."