LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21480, 2 May 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

No Fire Calls for Month The Hamilton Fire Brigade did not receive one call last month. In April. 1932, it attended fivo fires. It is many years since the brigade had. an absolutely free month. Pups Born at Sea The steamer Port Hunter, which arrived from Liverpool yesterday, brought three dogs for Wellington, two Irish terriers and a sheep dog. During the voyage the sheep dog had a litter of seven pups, one of which died. " Ball v. Batt " Coincidences in the association of names are sometimes very remarkable and the list of civil fixtures for the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Auckland contains a curious instance of this. " Ball v. Batt " is the official title of a case that has been set down for hearing. Only One Bankruptcy Only one bankruptcy petition was filed in the Hamilton district last month. This was the lowest figure recorded for some years. In April, 1932, there were 11 bankruptcies in the Hamilton district. So far this year there have been 21 bankruptcies against 38 for the first four months of last year. Desire for Euphemism " Let us make it ' contrary to fact,' " remarked the chairman of the No. 2 Licensing Authority, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, at yesterday's meeting, when an objector said, " What the applicant has stated is absolutely false." The application dealt with a North Shore bus service. Later the chairman asked another objector, Mr. J. Guiniven,, Mayor of Takapuna, to refer simply to a bus company's " charges " instead of " excessive charges." Business in Australia

" A Visiting New Zealander cannot help being slightly envious of trade conditions in Australia at present," said Mr. C. G. Macindoe, who returned by the Niagara yesterday from a business visit to Sydney. " Business is improving rapidly and one cannot hplp regretting the introduction of high exchange and the ■ sales tax in New Zealand. Trade was improving here before these political steps were taken, but they have only given us a year's setback."

Drifting Boat Claimed The flat-bottomed boat, which was found at sea on Sunday morning by the motor-vessel Margaret W., is the property of Mr. R. Carey, of Port Charles, which is about three miles from the spot where the boat wqs found. Mr. Carey, who reported his loss to the Marine Department, said the boat had floated off the beach With the tide and had drifted away. The boat has been sent back to Port Charles by the motor-vessel Lady Jocelyn.

Election Progress Results To satisfy demands for information concerning the progress of the counting of votes in the municipal elections, two telephones, 40-060 and 46-949. will bo set aside by the Herald to-morrow evening. Inquirers must restrict themselves to these numbers as the information cannot be given on any other of the Herald telephones. Arrangements have also been made by Station IYA to broadcast from the Herald Office progress results as they come to hand.

Season for Opossums Advice that tho Government has decided to declare open trapping seasons for opossums this year has been received from the Minister of Internal Affairs by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. The season in the acclimatisation society's district will extend from June 16 to September 1. Royalty is to be. paid at the rate of sixpence a skin, with an additional threepence a skin in the cases of late stamping or stamping out of the districts where the animals were taken. Last year the season was a closed one throughout the Dominion, but in 1931 the season was open.

Victoria Arcade Building Plans for modernising the Victoria Arcade building, which is a city-owned property, are now under consideration. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, stated yesterday that the proposals included the remodelling of the interior so as to bring it into line with the up-to-date buildings in the city area. These proposals included considerable improvement to the main entrance and the provision of electric lifts. At present, negotiations were proceeding with tenants who were desirous of renewing their leases, but as the present leases would not expire until September, there would be ample time for the incoming council to consider the whole question.

New Zealand Butter in India Among its markets for butter New Zealand numbers India, this having been made possible by efficient refrigerating arrangements. The Rev. B. N. Eade, a Baptist missionary, home from India on furlough, stated in Christchurch last week that, the Dominion's butter could be obtained in all tho big cities in the country. In his particular district, East Bengal, New Zealand butter was obtainable for the first time last year. Previously the transport problem had been too much, owing to the extreme heat. Now, however, cold storage could bo provided during transit, and the butter arrived in good condition. He added that tho East Bengal Indians were engaged in agriculture, and supplied most of the jute for the manufacture of the woolpacks which were used in New Zealand.

Drama at Station The mysterious movements of nearly a score of muscular, heavy-weight men created a great deal of curiosity on the platform at the Auckland railway station prior to the departure of the limited express last evening. They arrived in twos and threes and mingled with tho crowd waiting for tho train to' leave. Apparently they had no connection with each other, but suddenly, as though at a signal, they converged swiftly at a point alongside a sleeping coach and closed in upon a man who was standing there. A brief and silent struggle ensued, in tho course of which their captive was lifted high in the air. Drama, however, was rapidly turned into comedy as the struggling mass, with their captive perched shoulderhigh, burst into a tuneless rendering of " Auld Lang Syne," followed by three cheers. The occasion was a farewell to Detective N. Kempt, who lias been transferred from Auckland to Christchurch. His " assailants " were colleagues from the detective branch and men from the uniform branch in plain clothes.