LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21468, 17 April 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Scrap Iron for Japan An old ship's boiler, which has been lying for several years on a site near the Onehunga railway station, has been sold by tho Onehunga Borough Council to an Auckland firm, which, it is stated, intends to consign it, with other sciap iron, to Japan. Several shipments of scrap iron have been made to Japan recently. Infants Scalded Suffering from scalds, Andrew Benzie, aged two, was admitted to the Auckland Hospital at mid-day on Saturday. The child, a son of Mr. William Benzie, of 14 Allerton Avenue, Ellerslie, was not in a serious condition last evening. Tho child Albert Marsden, who suffered severe scalds upon tho chest on Thursday evening and was admitted to the Auckland Hospital in a fairly serious condition, had shown an improvement yesterday and its condition was regarded as satisfactory. Aid for Pitcairn Islander When »the motor liner Rangitata, which arrived at Wellington last Wednesday from London, was on her way to New Zealand, she received a call to render assistance to an injured Pitcairn Islander. The ship's surgeon, Dr. F. E. Graham-Bissell, and tho fourth officer went ashore, and attention was given to a man who had sustained concussion in an accident. Tho man was recovering when tho doctor arrived. Dr. Graham-Bissell states that thero is no medical man resident on Pitcairn Island, and if there were he did not know how ho would make a living, as the inhabitants are so healthy. Boat Race Spectators A continuous stream of cars, in places four and five abreast, and over a mile long, occupied almost tho whole of tho waterfront road on Saturday afternoon during tho university inter-college boat race on tho harbour. Tho race was from the Kohimarama Wharf to the eastern tide deflector, and most of the cars followed the race the entire distance. Few drivers wishing to travel in the opposite direction had the temerity to make tho attempt in the face of the army of cars moving toward the city. In addition to the hundreds of private cars there were several large buses filled with spectators, while two launches, crowded with students,, followed the competing crews. A Minister's Position " Whatever the Government agrees to I have got to agree to or get out," said tho Hon. J. A. Young, on Thursday when replying to a deputation from the Council of Christian Congregations urging the cessation of art union permits. The Rev. W. Walker had asked him to indicate the strength of the pressure being brought to bear upon •him to hold a national sweepstake and whether he himself would oppose it. The Minister added that there did not appear to bo great pressure for a national art union, but there was a decidedly strong public demand for the granting of art unions here there and everywhere to all sorts of people and institutions. Many Easter Weddings Although official figures are not yet availablo thero are many indications that the number of weddings this Easter will he exceptionally large. "I have never before seen so many wedding cars on the streets as there were last Wednesday," said tho manager of one of the largest taxi companies yesterday. He said that his taxis had been engaged for 35 marriages in the month to date and he estimated, judging from averages in the past, that a further 30 weddings had been dealt with by other firms. Tho peak day, as far as he was concerned, was last Wednesday, when he supplied cars for 11 weddings, all being at night. Ho had dealt with three on Saturday and a further four were booked for to-day. A Novel Pet A honey bear is tho mascot of the Norwegian motor tanker Osthav, which arrived at Auckland from Singapore on Saturday. Tho animal, which is about the size of a fox terrier, is a native of the Straits Settlements and was purchased at Singapore. It is a pretty little animal with a thick coat of black fur and it has very sharp claws about two inches in length, to enable it to climb trees for honey. It is housed in a kennel inside a large wooden cage and is fed on milk and any thing containing sugar. Captain S. Hansen, tho master of tho vessel, is accompanied by his wife and three-year-old girl. Tho child and bear are great friends and play together inside the cage. The bear, however, is very destructive and for that reason it is not allowed at large. Protecting Native Birds "Foremost among the society's objects is the protection and- preservation of our native birds," states the annual report of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society. "Unfortunately, all shooters aro not imbued with tho protective spirit, but any information regarding offences in this direction will bo welcomed and endeavours made to punish the offender. Now Zealand at ono time had a greater variety of bird life than any other country in the world, but through carelessness, wanton destruction and failure to preserve sufficient forest areas, the nativo bird population is fast disappearing." Tho report suggested that lighthouse-keepers should be given wider powers to ensuro tho protection of seabirds on various outlying islands, especially during the breeding season. Mechanics' Bay Raid Anniversary Eighty-two years ago to-day an incident known sometimes as tho Mechanics' Bay raid, marked a critical point in the history of Auckland City. On the morning of April 17, 1851, 250 warriors in a fleet of war canoes landed on tho beach near tho site of the Parnell railway bridgo and tho Maori hostel. Tho natives were members of tho Ngati-Paoa tribe, which lived on Waiheko Island, and their visit was to avenge an alleged insult paid by a native policeman to ono of their chiefs. The Governor, Sir George Grey, by his masterly handling of tho situation, averted a terriblo massacre in tho town. He massed strong bodies of regular troops and military pensioners on all tho hills overlooking the bay, and had tho guns of H.M.S. Fly and those of Fort Britomart trained upon tho beach. Ho met the Maoris at 1.30 in the afternoon and, addressing them sternly, told them that tho policeman had only done his duty and that it would be tho worso for them if they did not leave. After a wild demonstration the natives rushed to their canoes, dragged them to the 1 water, and departed.