LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Discouraging Hoardings "We do not want to encourage unsightly hoardings; in fact, I woulcl liko to see them eliminated," said the chairman of the One Tree Hill Borough Council Finance and Legal Committee, Mr. W. G. Mulholland, at last evening's meeting of (ho council. On the recommendation of the committee, a request that the council's charges for hoarding space should bo reduced was declined.

Zealandia From Sydney The Huddart-Purker steamer Zealandia was to have left Sydney for Wellington at midnight last night, the repairs to the engines having taken longer than was expected. The vessel reached Sydney from Auckland last Wednesday evening, having made the passage with only one engine working, owing' to a defect in the other one. The Zealandia is due at Wellington on Friday and sbo is scheduled to sail tho same day.on her return trip to Sydney.

The Granting of Bail Before granting bail to a motorist charged in the Police Court yesterday with being found in a state of intoxication tho magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean, inquired of the arresting constable whether he considered accused would be worth £SO after the payment of all his debts. " Yes, sir, 1 should certainly think so," replied the constable. "It is very difficult to say that of anyone these days," rejoined the magistrate. Accused was granted bail of £SO in his own 'recognisance.

Market Road Corner Traffic A statement that tho City Council was considering placing a traffic officer on duty at tho intersection of Great South Road and Market Road was made by the Mayor of One Tree Hill, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, at last evening's meeting of tho Borough Council. Attention was drawn to the frequency of accidents at this point. "I have noticed no instances of speeding on Farmer's Hill," said the traffic inspector, Mr. P. H. Ilollingsworth, in reply to complaints from a resident. Counterfeit Half-crown

A spurious half-crown dated 1929 was detected by an Aucklander in the course of business yesterday. The counterfeit, which was of soft white metal, had been very indifferently moulded, although the milling of the edge was consistently fair. It rang fairly well, but was considerably lighter in weight than a genuine coin. In appearance it was bright arid might easily have passed detection when handled by anyone but an expert among a number of half-crowns. Very little close scrutiny was needed, however, to disclose the fraud.

City Windows Smashed During th 9 week end three panes of glass in a window of the Commercial Grill Rooms, at the corner of Chancery Street and Courthouse Lane, were broken by stones, thrown, it is believed, by larrikins. Tho broken panes were in the window furthest from the intersection on tho Courthouse Lane side, in a dark locality. The rooms were closed last week. Yesterday morning several large pieces of road metal were found on the floor inside the dining room, while other stones were discovered lying on the footpath below the window. How Racegoers Travel

Considerable amusement was caused at a sitting of tho No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority yesterday when a taxi-pro-prietor, giving evidence, observed that " more people walk away from race meetings than to them." Although witness was intending to show the demand for taxi-cab services on tho North Shore during the progress of races on the Takapuna course, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the authority, commented that the fortunes of those who bet on horses probably had a great deal to do with the inquiry for taxis at certain times-

Price of Politics An interesting sidelight on the political life of Australia was given by Mr. S. W. M. Stilling, New Zealand representative of the Australian National Travel Association, in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday. He outlined the political structure of Australia, consisting of Federal and State legislatures, and mentioned the salaries paid to the members of various chambers. "Altogether there are 643 politicians in Australia," he said, "and their combined salaries total £1,193,191, which works out at 4s 4d per head of population."

Retired Sergeant's Hobby " I do not know what Sergeant Rowell proposes to do in his retirement, but from his frequent expressions in this court I cannot visualise him becoming a motorist," remarked Mr. F. H Levien, S.M., in tho Magistrate's Court at Otahuhu yesterday at an official farewell to Sergeant A. E. Rowell, who is retiring after 40 years' service. In his reply Sergeant Rowell admitted that lie would never be a motorist. " There is an uncommon amount of curiosity as to what I intend doing when I retire. I will tell you confidentially that I intend to grow onions," added the sergeant, who is noted for his horticultural pursuits. Early Fruit Season

An indication of the mildness of the past winter and tho earliness of spring is afforded by the fact that locally-grown plums and outdoor tomatoes are now appsaring in small quantities at the City Markets, from a week to a fortnight earlier than usual. Naturally the fruit is not in first-class condition and bears signs of weather-beating. The plums are realising approximately 3s 6d a case and the tomatoes, the first case of which was offered yesterday, sold at 6Jd por lb. Typical of the generally early spring is the presence already of New Zealand cherries on the market. Grown in Greytown, they are bringing Is 9d a chip. Accident Victims' Condition

Improvements were reported by the hospital authorities last evening in the condition of three peoplo who were admitted recently suffering from serious injuries. Mrs. Julia Mundy, of 34 Prospect Terrace, Ponsonby, who fell down a cliff at Waiheke Island on Sunday, had shown an improvement, while Wallace Evan William Girven, aged 13, of 22 Wilson Street, Grey Lynn, who was admitted on Sunday with head injuries, was no longer serious last ovening. There was also an improvement in the condition of the glider pilot, Mr. H. G. Pointon, aged 26, of 55 Middlemore Road, Otahuhu, who was injured seriously when his machine crashed at Muriwai Beach on November 13. Tho electrician, Mr. Leslie Graham Fyfe, aged 29, of 95 Station Road Penrose, who was severely burned when he touched a conductor carrying 50,000 volts at the Penrose sub-station on November 14, was still in a serious condition yesterday; > \