LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21418, 16 February 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Australian Boys Returning The Young Australia League concert party, which has been touring New Zealand, will return to Sydney by the Marama to-morrow. The boys will arrive from the South in the morning and will spend the day looking around thel city. School Committee Elections The Auckland Education Board decided yesterday that the annual meetings of householders for the election of school committees should be held throughout the board's district on April 24. All committees are to be notified immediately and requested to make arrangements for the meetings. Maps In Schools Appreciation of the maps of the North Island recently forwarded by the Auckland Automobile Association to each school in the Auckland Province was expressed in a large number of letters received from headmasters at a meeting of the council of the association last evening. A number of the masters said the maps would be of considerable value in teaching geography, particularly in the upper standards. The association was also thanked for "safety first" posters forwarded to a numbefr of schools. Barometer's Fluctuations The barometer fluctuated in an unusual manner yesterday, rapid changes being marked early in the morning and again in the evening. Shortly after 2 a-m. the glass dropped sharply, steadying again and then suddenly dropping another point. Just as rapidly it climbed again to 29.80 in. at 8 a.m., and then started a gradual decline to 29.75 in. Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. it rose again in two sharp well-defined movements, steadying again at 8 o'clock at 29.80 in. At midnight the barometer showed a falling tendency, thel reading being 29.75 in. Interruption at Theatre The failure of the electric-power caused an interruption during the presentation of the Napoleonic comedy, "Madame Plays Nap," in His Majesty's Theatre last evening, the theatre being unexpectedly plunged into semi-darkness while a most dramatic scene was in progress. In the half-light the audience suddenly saw the austere figure of Napoleon Bonaparte, in the person of Mr. Lewis Casson, walk on to the stage, and not a little surprise was occasioned when "Napoleon" announced, "We are told the lights will be on in five minutes; will you kindly excuse us." Ample Water Supplies An inspection of the Waitakere reservoir and filtration plant was made yesterday by the chairman, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, and members of the Public Services Committee of the City Council. Mr. Grey Campbell stated last evening that an extensive overhaul of the filter beds had just been completed and it was found that the plant was in excellent order. So far this summer the Waitakere supply had not been called upon and the water was flowing over the spillway yesterday. Should the North Shore boroughs eventually decide to take a supply of water from the City Council it would be drawn from the Waitakere ' reservoir. Jury Panel Exhausted ! An unusual position arose in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North on 1 Monday, when, during the empanelling of ' a jury, counsel for plaintiff and defendant challenged so assiduously that the list was exhausted when only eleven jurors had taken their places. Mr. Justice MacGregor inquired of the counsel for defendants and the plaintiff if they were prepared for the case to proceed with the depleted jury and received a unanimous reply in the affirmal tive. Had they declined, the Judge, in i accordance with the law, could have had the Court doors locked and requested the sheriff to call upon anyone present to fill the vacancy. German Machine Guns The disposal of two German machine guns, which are in the town clerk's room at the Takapuna Borough Council chambers, was considered by the council at a meeting last evening. When the police authorities advised that the trophies would require to be licensed the Mayor. Mr. J. Guiniven, suggested that they should be sent back to the Kaiser. Mr. L. H. Titchener said the trophies represented a tradition of war service which meant much to many people. It was decided to ask the Police Department for permission to retain the guns unlicensed, provided they were rendered unserviceable. Church and Radio In the opinion of the Presbyterian Church committee on broadcasting, the only proposal which can satisfactorily solve the question of the church's relationship to radio broadcasting is for the church to establish its own station, as has been done in New South Wales, where similar questions were faced. There the station was established through the generosity of a prominent churchman, the cost of maintenance being borne by the Council of Protestant Churches. There also the Roman Catholic Church had its own high-power station. " This appears to be the only feasible solution of the question," states the committee, " but, while feasible, does not appear to be practicable at present." Weekly News in Nebraska From as far afield as Omaha, Nebraska, 1 comes an appreciation of the Christmas Number of the Auckland Weekly News. In a letter to a friend in Whangarei, Dr. 0. J. Melvin says:—-"I received the Christmas Number of the Auckland Weekly News, and as I did last year, enjoyed it immensely. I certainly want to thank you very sincerely for this wonder--1 ful remembrance. I will highly treasure this copy, as I have the last one. It holds a ve'rv choice place on our library table and all my friends have admired it as much as I have. These pictures are won- ' derful, and my desire to visit New Zea- ■ land becomes greater each time 1 go [ through the publication." ' "Only One Able to Swim" One of several applicants in the Supreme ! Court in Wellington on Tuesday for r exemption from service on the jury said he was in charge of the Khandallah baths, L and he had been instructed to apply to be 3 excused. In reply to the Chief Justice, the * juror said he was employed by the City l Council. "Why shouldn't they send some- - body else ?" asked His Honor. "You 3 don't object to serve, of course?" "Not a t bit, sir," replied the juror. His Honor: The corporation must send someone else. 3 There is no difficulty about it ? The juror • explained that there were four permanent t hands at Khandallah, but he was the only e one able to swim. His Honor: Well, they s shouldn't have instructed you to ask for s exemption. I am afraid you'll have to be ' sworn.