LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21345, 21 November 1932, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Stowaway on Mariposa Wireless advice from the captain of the American liner Mariposa states that a stowaway was discovered on board after the vessel left Sydney for Auckland at mid-day on Saturday, The vessel is duo about 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.

Thief in City Hotel It was discovered on Saturday morning that a thief had visited the bedrooms of two servants at the Grand Hotel, apparently gaining entrance through a window leading from a right-of-way. From one room the man stolo 21s in silver, while nothing was missing from the other room, which was slightly disturbed.

Gardens Needing Rain The recent fin# weather at Auckland has considerably retarded growth in gardens and pastures. In some gardens where the hose has not been freely used, the soil is cracked where it is not under cultivation and lawns are becoming parched in patches. The rainfall for the month to dato is only .51in., the average rainfall for November being 3.30 in. Contract Cancelled

At the meeting of th« Ashburton Unemployment Committee a report was received of the case of a farmer who was emploving a man under the Unemployment Board's scheme while the employer had taken up outside work. It was stated that the employee was really acting as manager of the farm. The contract was cancelled forthwith by the committee.

Questionable Compliment Becoming reminiscent at the recent diamond jubilee reunion of old scholars of the Sydenham School in Christchurch, Mr. W. M. West, a former teacher, stated that when he met an old pupil some time ago the latter remembered him and paid him a rather doubtful compliment. " Old Bill," said the cx-scholar, "he teached me in Standard 111. and he done it well."

Eketahuna's Jubilee Preliminary arrangements for suitable celebrations in connection with the jubilee of Eketahuna were made at a largely-at-tended meeting this week. The meeting was unanimous that, the jubileo of the town should be fittingly celebrated, and many promises of support were forthcoming. It was decided to call another meeting shortly, at which committees will be set up and a definite plan put in hand. New Roman Catholic Church Good progress has been made with the preliminary work in connection with the new St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Remuera, the foundation-stone of which will be laid and blessed by Bishop Liston next Sunday afternoon. Designed by the architects. Messrs. Tole and Massey, in the Romanesque style, the building will provide accommodation for about 500 persons. The cost will be in the vicinity of £13,000.

Flying Above the Clouds "Some remarkably fine cloud effects were seen while flying at an altitude of 11,000 ft.. between Napier and Auckland on Saturday," said Captain J. D. Hewett, of Auckland, who, with Mr. R. E. B. Worth, of Stourport, England, and Mr. H. T. Merritt, of Auckland, returned on Saturday after an aeroplane tour of both North and South Islands. Captain Hewett said he flew above the clouds for over an hour, steering by compass.

Improvements on Mount Eden Tho benefits of the extensive improvement work carried out in recent months on Mount Eden by the Mount Eden Borough Council are now apparent. During the week-end, large numbers of people took advantage of tho clear weather and tho consequent fine views of Auckland to visit the mountain. Much interest was taken in the flower-beds in the rockeries near the junction of Mount Eden and Normanby Roads, and in the rustic seats constructed at suitable outlooks near the summit.

New Zealand Apples "Tasmania is feeling tho competition of the New Zealand apple trade," said Mr. G. W. Allsop, who has returned to Auckland after a long holiday, which included a motor tour of 1700 miles in Tasmania. He said that during the time he spent in Tasmania tho growers were being advised, in view of the progress being made in New Zealand's apple exports to Britain, to take more care in the production of high quality apples that would compete more successfully with the Dominion's produce.

Generosity of Maoris "If any European group had given 3000 acres of bush to the State as a scenic reserve there would have been no end of praise for tho act, but when a poor Maori tribe does so, tho fact is hardly noticed," declared Mr. G. M. Fowlds, at a meeting of the New Zealand Tourist League on Saturday, in referring to a recent gift by tho natives of land round Lako Okataina, Rotorua. This is the second gift of land that this Maori tribe has made, and the loague was partly resppnsiblo for the project. The generosity of tho natives, in this and other instances was the subject of favourable comment at tho meeting.

A Maori's Dinner A Maori's ready courtesy, allied to a senso of humour and concern for his own property, enlivened tho tedium of an uncomfortably crowded tramway ride to Avondale on Saturday. In the mid-day rush tho platform of the tram was densely packed with men who had paid for a seat but perforce had to stand. Among them was a Maori, who clutched a bulky parcel under his arm. At a stopping place another passenger achieved the almost impossible and struggled on to the platform. The Maori hitched his parcel closer to his chest. "I get my meat out of the way, eh ?" he volunteered. "You might break the sausage and I can't afford it." Remarkable Postal Anomaly

It is scarcely credible that tliero should bo a business thoroughfare in the heart cf Wellington which has no mail dolivery service. When reporting on the location of the free ambulance station, the superintendent, Mr. F. Itoffo, reported to tho Hospital Board that tho only drawback to the temporary premises was that there was no daily mail delivery in tho street, and as a consequence ho had to hire a post office box for three months at a cost of 7s 6d. Members of the board expressed tho view that it was extraordinary that there should be no mail delivery in such a central thoroughfare within half a mile of the General Post Ofllc#,