LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21454, 30 March 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Damage to Plate-glass A piece of wanton mischief was committed in Martinborough last week. Fifteen plate-glass windows were scratched by some irresponsible armed with a glass cutter. The damage amounts to £IOO.

Hand Crushed in Lift When working on a lift at the premises of Milne and Choyce, Limited, yesterday, an electrician, Mr. W. E. Leach, crushed his hand severely. Mr. Leach, who resides at 166 Great South Road, Green Lane, was taken to the Auckland Hospital by a St. John ambulance. Loud-Speakers on Trams

Loud-speakers to warn passengers of approaching stops aro to be carried on tho new "one-man" trams in Christchurch. The object of the loud-speakers is to minimise delays in alighting. The driver will be able to use the voice amplifiers without turning his head.

Profit From Arapuni It was staled by the chairman, Mr. J. Dean, at a meeting of tho Franklin Elec-tric-Power Board that in spite of the heavy expenditure involved in repairing the head race at Arapuni, the plant was showing a profit of 6 per cent on the capital involved. The board was discussing the charge for bulk supplies of electricity, it being decided to ask the Government to make a reduction.

One-Day Travel Tickets Tho increase in tho price of "travel tickets " on tho trams from 9d to Is for 10 rides affects a class of ticket which is a comparative innovation in Auckland. The tickets aro available for one day only. Originally they were accepted only during certain hours and simultaneously with tho increase in price tho board has withdrawn tho limitation and they will now bo accepted at any time during a day.

Wanganui's Windfall Tho misfortunes of back-country residents through tho recent floods came as a windfall to Wanganui residents, who lined tho river banks to gather in supplies of firewood. Not for many years has such a variety of timber been washed down. It included picket fences, pontoon logs ready for milling, bridge timber and fencing posts. Thousands of cords of firewood havo been deposited in the vicinity of Landguard Bluff. Contrary to expectations, very few dead sheep or cattle were noticed in the flood waters. Few Breaches of the Law No charges of a criminal nature have been heard in tho Police Court since Monday morning. The only matters to engage tho attention of tho Court yesterday were charges of drunkenness against two men and several prosecutions for various minor breaches of traffic regulations. The past few days have been unusually light for the city and suburban police, no arrests for any offences having been made between 3.15 p.m. on Sunday and 1 a.m. yesterday, when two men were taken into custody by a constable for drunkenness.

A Penny Collection In appealing for a penny collection among school children of Christchurch, tho Mayor, Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., has impressed upon them that thousands of fathers are unable to find steady employment, and, as a result, there is a great deal of distress and suffering. So serious is tho position that hundreds and hundreds of children have not enough food to cat or clothes to wear. The present appeal is to raise money to provide food and clothing. It is emphasised that if each child contributes a penny a large sum will bo raised.

Schoolchildren at Motuihl A recent inquiry by the Auckland Education Board regarding the position of schoolchildren while they were in the health camps conducted at Motuihi Island, and attending the special school there, was the subject of a communication received from the Education Department. The department said pupils at Motuihi obviously could not be regarded as "present" at their original school and at the special school. They could be marked "present" at the original school, should the board prefer, in order that their attendance there should not bo prejudicially affected by their temporary withdrawal.

Duty of Motorists Under the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act it is laid down that immediately after an accident a motorist must acquaint the insurance company concerned with the facts of the case. In the event of a motor owner failing to give the required information he becomes liable for any damages which the insurance company may have to pay as the result of the accident. A report from Gisborne states that there is a growing tendency on the part of motorists to ignore the requirements of the Act, and with a view to issuing a general warning an insurance company has decided to take action against a motorist who, it is alleged, failed to notify the company of an accident.

Whale Feed and Albatrosses An unusual sight was witnessed in the outer harbour at Lyttelton on Sunday afternoon. When yachtsmen were returning from Port Levy they saw numerous largo shoals of whale feed, through which thoy passed. These visitations are fairly rare, but Sunday's occurrence was even more interesting on account of the fact that it was accompanied by a visit from three albatrosses, which very rarely come so close inshore. For some reason, one of the albatrosses alighted on the water and shortly afterwards died. The other two birds which accompanied their mate wheeled about as if mourning its death. The reason for tho proximity to tho shore of the huge birds was given by a mariner as being probably due to a storm off tho coast.

Shipping at Auckland With the exception of local coastal vessels there were no arrivals at Auckland yesterday, but the port will be fairly busy during the next few days. Vessels now in port include the motor-ships Forthbank and Wanganella and tho steamers Port Curtis and Karetu. To-day's arrivals will be the Port Hardy from Napier, the Mataroa from London, the Waihemo firom Los Angeles and the Port Waikato from Newcastle, while to-morrow the Golden Coast will arrive from Ix>s Angeles, the City of Cambridge from New York and (he Huntingdon from Opua. On Sunday the Tainui is duo from Wellington and on Monday tho Aorangi \vill arrive from Sydney, tho Waipiata from Southern ports, and the Middlesex from New Plymouth. The Waipahi is due from Suva on Tuesday and on Wednesday the Sydney Maru is expected from Japan, the Kia Ora from Liverpool and the Canadian Leader from Halifax.