LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mishap to Scow Echo The magisterial inquiry into tho mishap to the scow Echo, which struck a rock near Pcncarrow Head in Wellington Harbour on November 26 and subsequently capsized, will commence in Wellington next Monday morning. Milford Track Opens The Milford track was opened last, week for the 1932-33 season. A fortnight ago Mr. L. C. Cheriton, manager of the track, took in tho staff and supplies for the season. The track is reported to be in excellent order and a heavy tourist season is anticipated. Too Many Onions Shippers of Canadian onions to New Zealand have rather embarrassed the market, at any rate so far as Dunedin is concerned, by sending more than are wanted. It seems probable, says a Dunedin newspaper, that getting rid of tho over-supply will mean a somewhat heavy loss to tho senders. Man Injured on Vessel Concussion was received by a Norwegian steward, A. Thorgersen, a member of the crew of the oil-tanker South Africa, at Western Wharf, last evening, when he fell from an elevated gangway about 12ft. to the steel deck. He was taken by a St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital, his condition being described later as not serious. Police as Lila-savers Members of the police force are taking an active interest in life-saving methods as laid down by tho Royal Life-saving Society. A special award, available only to police officers, has recently been allotted. Over 30 members of tho city force are taking advantage of tuition in classes of instruction conducted at the central station by Messrs. R. Moor and G. Cameron, instructor-in-chief and swimming instructor respectively of the Takapuna Surf Life-saving Club. Books for Schools During November tho 14 schools which have been supplied with books during the current year by the Dunedin Public Library were visited by the librarian. The headmasters of the various schools were consulted, and without exception they were all highly satisfied with tho selection of books. The consensus of opinion was that tho library formed a most valuable adjunct to the school system, and that, from the scholastic aspect alone, it was most helpful to both scholars and teachers. Chinese Pakapoo Material A bland request for the return of materials for playing pakapoo, which had been confiscated by the police after a raid on a gambling house last week, was made by an elderly Chinese, who had been fined £SO for keeping a common gaming house. When detectives refused to return the squares of paper, coloured inks, brushes and stamps used for pakapoo, the Chinese appeared surprised, and refused to be comforted by a remark from one of the detectives that the material was no longer of use to him. "Well, it is no use to you, either," was his parting shot.

English Alpinist Making his sixth visit to New Zealand in 10 years, Mr. H. E. L. Porter, the celebrated English alpinist, arrived in Wellington by tho Ruahine last week. He was last in the Dominion three years ago. There were still three 10,000 ft. peaks he was anxious to climb, Mr. Porter said, in an interview. They were Mount Dampier, Douglas Peak and La Pcrouse. He had succeeded in climbing the. other sixteen big peaks, but those three had so fatbeaten him on account, of weather and oilier conditions. All were difficult propositions, and unless favourable conditions were experienced ho would probably be unsuccessful again. Dominion Press Praised Appreciation of tho reports in the New Zealand press on the Eucharistic Congress was expressed yesterday by the Rev. Father H. F. Ilolbrook, of Auckland, who returned by the Monterey after an extended trip abroad during which he attended the congress. 'On this occasion the New Zealand Press Association seemed to excel itself," he said. "The reports and descriptions in the New Zealand papers I have seen since and the illustrations, especially in the Auckland Weekly News and the Month, were equal to anything I have read or seen in any other part of tho world." Barrackers at Speedway

Some small idea of the keenness with which speedway enthusiasts in England support their "home" teams was afforded at Western Springs last evening, when among the crowd were two English barrackers, one obviously a West Ham enthusiast, and the other an ardent Stamford Bridge supporter. Whenever "Tiger" Stevenson, captain of West Ham, and W. Phillips, the Stamford Bridge leader, appealed in the same event, feeling ran particularly high between the two supporters and barracking amused tho crowd. Stevenson was implored to "Bring him back alive, 'Tiger'," while Phillips was urgently requested <o "show him the way home."

Business in Fiji During a discussion nf New Zealand's trade prospects in Fiji, before the Auckland Manufacturers' Association yesterday, Mr. L. C. Miller, who recently returned from the Islands, commented on the excellent stocks in shops in some of the smaller towns. Mr. Miller stated that, outside Suva, a visitor would be surprised by the variety and quantity of goods offering in almost out-of-the-way places. Lautoka was a centre of importance, but in such places as Ba and Nadi the goods in the stores were impressive in amount and range. Indians, who were in large numbers in the group, were engaged in the commercial life in these centres of population.

Apprentices' "Wages " I should bo very sorry to see any boy —who was a good stamp of boy—getting less than 15s a week," said Mr. H. Kitson, chairman of tho Christchurch Domains Board, when the question of the scale of wages to bo paid to apprentices in the Botanic Gardens came up for discussion. Mr. W. H. Winsor held the view that the scale, rising from 15s in the first year to 50s at the end of the fifth year, was too high when compared with wages in other trades. Mr. Lyons joined issue with Mr. Winsor, stating that the type of boy they had in mind was not a " clod," but an intelligent boy who would learn quickly and do a fair day's work. Mr. Kit-son remarked that it was not a liberal wage they were offering, but that it afforded some littlo inducement to a good type of boy. It was decided after discussion not to establish a fixed scale, but to start the boys at 15s and rpview the position from year to year.