LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21463, 10 April 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Mosquito Pest The warm humid weather experienced during the week-end encouraged a recrudescence of the mosquito nuisance in several Auckland suburbs. The insects were of a large size and their bite, as many people knew to their sorrow, was of a particularly vicious character. Cheques for Wheatgrowers About £20,000 is being paid out to Canterbury wheatgrowers this week by the Wheat Marketing Agency, which was established to deal with this season's crop. The payment represents a return of the penny a bushel levy deducted by tho agency. Any balance remaining will be distributed later. Influenza Sufferers A mild epidemic of gastric influenza has made itself felt in Auckland, and as a result, school rolls and the staffs of offices and factories are suffering depletion to a minor extent. In some schools approximately 10 per cent of the pupils are absent on account of colds and influenza. Chemists report that there has been a heavy demand for cold prevention mixtures during the past two weeks. Knee Dislocated at Beach A painful accident belel a youth, Kenneth Fletcher, of 22 Selwyn Street, Onohuuga, at Brown's Bay on Saturday afternoon. He was running along the beach when ho stepped into a hole, falling and dislocating bis left knee. Tho boy was taken by a St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital and, after attention in tho casualty ward, ho was able to proceed to his home. Iheft Irom Grocery Store The grocery store of Hutchinson Brothers, Limited, Klivber Pass Road, was discovered yesterday afternoon to have been broken into and ransacked. Only a small quantity of goods was taken and little damage was done. It is thought that young boys were responsible, and that they gained entrance to the building by climbing up a spouting lead and through an opening in the roof. Intercolonial Shipping The Marama, which is due from Sydney this morning, will bo withdrawn on arrival and will be laid up at Auckland for about six weeks. The Monowai will continue in the intercolonial service until May 18, when tho Marama will resume running. Tho Monowai will then be transferred to the Vancouver service, relieving in turn the Aorangi and the Niagara, which will be withdrawn for overhaul. Minor Fires Suppressed Two minor fires occurred in the suburbs during the week-end. The Northcote brigade was called to an extensive scrub fire on tho Waimana c-stato on Saturday afternoon, the outbreak being suppressed before damage to property resulted. At mid-day on Saturday the back steps of a house at 12 Patey Street, Remuera, occupied ' by Mr. T. N. Holmden, caught fire, but the outbreak did not spread. The call was answered by the Remuera brigade. Salmon Fishing Visiting anglers from the North Island have had some good luck in the Rakaia River, one landing a 27-pounder and another 20 and 16-pounders, says a Christ-church newspaper. Local anglers have had some excellent sport further down the river, past the Clifton and Cabbage Tree estates, the heaviest salmon landed being a 29-pounder. The main run is now well on, but when the river was dirty, many big salmon went up to the head waters. Flounders aro at present very plentiful at Lake Ellesmcre. Cooking in Earth Ovens Tempting morsels prepared in the traditional Maori fashion in a hangi, or earth oven, agreed definitely with the appetites of European adults and children who were present at a carnival held at tho Mount Roskill school on Saturday. The cooking was in the hands of expert women, whose demonstration of primitive catering was arranged by the Akarana Maori Association. Pork, kumaras and pipis were offered in small plaited flax containers and, .although the service was strange, the youngsters did not have their keenness to sample the food impaired in any way. No Parents An amusing story was told by Dr. J. Hight at a meeting of the Canterbury College Graduates' Association. Two college presidents in America were discussing the most pleasant positions they could occupy when they retired. The first said that he would like to take charge of an orphanage. "Why?" asked the other. "Because I should not be troubled with letters from parents," was the answer. Tho second president said he had a much more enjoyable post in mind. His desire was to be warden of a penitentiary or reformatory. His reason was that in such institutions the alumni did not come back on visits. Capsize in Harbour Tho 14ft. T class boat Sybila, owned by Mr. C. Clare, capsized in tho harbour on Saturday afternoon while taking part in tho final combined yacht races. Sybila was attempting to jibe round the mark off King's Wharf when she suddenly overturned. Several beats offered to pick up the members of tho crew, who, however, declined assistance and remained in tho water with their craft until she had drifted into Mechanics' Bay. An attempt was made to place the boat on an even keel, but this was unsuccessful, and she was towed to her moorings in St. Mary's boat harbour in a partly submerged condition. New Keel Yacht A start on tho building of a new keel yacht has been made by Messrs. Lowe and Son, of Freeman's Bay, to the order of Mr. I. H. Larriatt, of Devon port. Tho new boat will be 28ft. in length with a beam of 9ft., and will have a draught of 3ft. 6in. She will have short overhangs forward and aft, find will have one ton of lead on her keel. The boat will have a Bermuda mainsail and will be fitted with a 6 horse-power engine. She is now in frame, and a start on planking her will be made to-day. In design and appearance, she will be somewhat similar to tho Kcreru, built some years aiio for Mr. A. T. Jamieson,.