LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21392, 17 January 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Large Dahlia Grown A dahlia of more than ordinary beauty and dimensions lias been grown by Mrs. William Watson, of Thames. It is old rose in colour and is of the decorative class. The flower measured 13iin. across and was perfect in every way. Missing Hogshead ol Beer Six hogsheads of beer were delivered outside a, hotel at Waimate, South Canterbury, one evening recently. On the following morning, when the hogsheads were being lowered into the cellar, one was missing. It has been suggested that the thief could have fitted motor tyres to the hogshead and so rolled it away noiselessly during tlie night. Risks ol the Surf

The risk taken by people who bathe close to the rocks on the West Coast beaches was emphasised last evening by Mr. L. Brighton, chairman of , the Auckland Head Centre of the lloyal Lifesaving Society. As a rule, said Mr. Brighton, Iho undertow near the rocks was so treacherous that even a strong, experienced swimmer could be carried out to sea beyond all hope of rescue.

Te Aroha Landing Ground Several fields in the vicinity of Te. Aroha were inspected yesterday as possible landing grounds by Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, instructor to the Auckland Aero Club. Mr. Allan flew from Auckland to give dual instruction to pupils at Te Aroha, but weather conditions were unsuitable. He ultimately located a ground about 10 miles from the township that appeared to offer a better surface than the field at present in use, and will make further investigations on a future visit.

Magistrate and Motorist Short shrift was given to a defendant in one of the traffic cases before <lie Christchurch -Magistrate's Court tvhen lie complained bitterly at being fined £1 and costs. , " This fine has hurt my dignity," he explained, movingly, to Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. " I have driven a car for many years and have always had a clean card. I am a business man, and I would like you to send me to gaol." " If you don't pay the fine," remarked the magistrate, " you'll go to gaol soon enough. Now get out."

Newmarket Bridge Closed The railway overbridge in Manukau Road, Newmarket, will be closed to vehicular traffic from to-day for about a fortnight, while the structure is being strengthened and the decking renewed. The under-structure is being given attention by the Railways Department, while the Newmarket Borough Council is responsible for the new decking, for which Australian hardwood will be used. Ihe work will not interfere with the passage of tramcars, but motorists are advised to made a detour through Victoria Crescent.

City Bath Returns Attendances at the three city baths :n the year 1932 totalled 157,775, a decrease of 6813 on the previous year's figure. This fall in attendances, small when compared with the total, is attributed by the baths custodian, Mr. Malcolm Champion, partly to reduced incomes . and partly to the greatly increased popularity of beaches such as Mission Bay, Point Chevalier and others on the city side' of the harbour. Attendances at the different baths, were. Tepid Baths: Adults, 31,234; children, 47.621; total, 73,855. Shelly Beach: Adults, 23,585; children, 81.62; total, 31.747. Parnell: Adults, 31,455; children, 14,715; total, 46,170.

Giant Gooseberries A Mangatainoka settler, Mr. C. Woodhams, can go one better—or, to be piecise, two better-than the Stratford woman who surprised her friends recently by producing gooseberries four inches in circumference and weighing 26 to the pound. Mr. Woodhams brought into Pahiatua this week 24 specimens which, when weighed, tipped the scales at ju»t over a pound. The majority measured in circumference. Mr. Woodhams states that he makes no special effort to secure these huge berries. His bushes, which were grown from cuttings, are now about five years old, and are simply laden with the giant berries.

Teaching Boys to Milk To overcome the difficulty of finding positions on farms for a number of unemployed boys who are unable to milk cows, the Ch'ristchurch Boys' Employment Committee is arranging with some of the wholesale milk suppliers close to the city to give a month's instruction to suitable boys. During the period they are receiving instruction the boys will be given their keep by the farmers, but will not be paid any wages. It is expected that at the end of a month they will be sufficiently proficient to be able to accept positions where they are required to do regular milking. One milk supplier has taken on a boy for a month and intimated that he will take another at the end of that period. Discoloured Water Supply

Several complaints were made yesterday concerning the colour of the water supplied to a number of households from the city mains. The discolouration was particularly noticeable in homes on Remuera Road, and the unusual tint of the water was noted in one or two other suburbs. Officers of the city waterworks department were unable to account for the condition of the water, as they stated there had been no break in any of the mains and no work of any magnitude had been done to any part of the system. It was thought, that, some of the gangs in connecting cervices had allowed foreign matter to enter the mains. It. was reported that the filter plant at Titirnngi was functioning satisfactorily and clear water was being delivered to the city reservoirs. Flights to Coromandel Two leturn flights from Auckland to Coromandel were marie by Captain J. D. Hewett in his Gipsy Moth aeroplane yesterday. The airman left Orakei at 9.50 a.m. and arrived at Coromandel half an hour later. He carried as a passenger Mr. Norman Wells, of Whitianga, who had to be at Coromanrlel to attend a meeting of the County Council in the morning. Mr. C. Reakes, of Coromandel. was then taken as a passenger and the return trip, which also occupied half an hour, was begun at 10.55. Mr. Hewett left, Auckland again at 4 p.m., with Mr. Reakes on board, and after landing his passenger, returned to Auckland, arriving at 6 p.m. The weather yesterday was as near to ideal flying conditions' as Mr. Hewett has ever experienced. The landing at. Coromandel was made in a paddock about half a mile from the town, and caused great interest as it. was some years since an • aeroplane had landed in the district.