LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21540, 11 July 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evidence by Lawyers A suggestion that counsel in a civil claim before tho Supremo Court jesterilny should givo evidence in tho case was not countenanced by Mr. Justice Heed. "I cannot allow you to go into tho box," ho said. "T do not even allow counsel to make affidavits in cases in which they aro appearing." H.M.S. Dunedin at Suva

H.M.S. Dunedin, which has been on a cruise to the South Sea Islands since Juno 1/5, arrived at Suva from Hotumah Island yesterday. 'lho warship will remain at Suva until July 18, when sho will resume her cruise to Yasawa, Apia, Pago Pago and Nukualofa. From Nukualofa she vll return to Auckland, being duo hero on August 15. *

False Alarm ol Fire A malicious falso alarm of firo resulted in two engines, one from the City Brigado and tho other from Parnell, being called to the corner of Mountain Hoad and Seccombe's lload, Epsom, shortly after six o'clock last evening. Tho cal] was given from the street box at the intersection, but tho neighbourhood was deserted when tho two engines arrived. Country Children Visit Show

About 841 school children travelled by rail to Auckland last week from many country schools to visit tho Winter Exhibition, and in one case a special train was required to accommodate GOO from Waiuku. The children arrived from places as far north as Wellsford and as far south as Huntly. This week train accommodation has been reserved already for 420 children. Relaying ol Tram Tracks Good progress is being made by a largo gang of relief workers who havo been employed for over a week on tho relaying of a section of tho tram tracks between Lloyd Avenue and Alexandra Avenue, on the Mount Albert and Avondalo route. Tho relaying of the section, which was formerly in a very unsatisfactory condition, forms part of a general programmo of track reconstruction being carried out by the Auckland Transport Board during tho winter months. New Drivers in Traffic -Tho strange attraction that crowded city traffic exercises for many inexperienced motor drivers as soon as they havo qualified for a licence was mentioned yesterday by Air. G. It. Hogan, chief traffic officer of the Auckland City Council. Ho said most drivers when learning practised in the quieter roads in . the suburbs, but after they had obtained a licence many ventured far too soon into tho thick of tho city traffic, whero their lack of experience was often painfully apparent. Mangere Water Pressure

The efficiency of the new Mangere water supply under fire-fighting pressure was tested for tho first time in actual practice yesterday when the Onehunga brigade attended a fire in Hastie Avenue. An excellent pressure of about 901b. to 1001b. was maintained during the brigade's activities. Yesterday was also tho first time the fire protection arrangements for the district wero called upon. The Manukau County Council recently arranged with the Metropolitan Fire Board for the Onehunga brigado to service the Mangere Bridge and central areas.

Chain Letter Destroyed. Tho chain letter has already made its appearance in Auckland in connection with the Prosperity ' Week campaign. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, reported at a meeting yesterday of tho general committee which is organising the campaign that ho had just received a prosperity chain letter promising prosperity if re-written and sent to five others, with diro disaster for failure to do so. Ho strongly deprecated such a mischievous net and advised anyone receiving a similar letter to destroy it, a procedure he adopted immediately with the one ho had received. Mail and Fruit for South A speedy transhipment of fruit and mail from the liner Monowai, which arrived from Vancouver yesterday, to tho afternoon express for Wellington was accomplished by co-operation between tho Railway Department and tho Union Steam Ship Company. An order for tho immediate despatch of tho fruit and mail to Wellington was rccpived by tho dopartmont at noon, and two waggons were made available. Loading commenced an hour later, and by 2.30 p.m. it had been complotcd and tho waggons shunted on to tho express, which left promptly at '3 o'clock. Weight of Potato Bags A meeting representative of tho Timaru Wharf Labourers' Union, shipping companies, farmers, and grain merchants has been held to consider a complaint concerning tho weight of potatoes for shipment from that port. Tho watersidcrs' representatives contended that most of tho potatoes received for shipment weighed from 2201b. to 2401b. a bag, and asked that a maximum weight of 1801b. bo fixed. Tho matter was discussed at length, and it was ultimately decided that farmers should be asked to seo that tho weight of potatoes for shipment bo not in excess of 3901b. per bag,

Judge and Witness A witness before tho Transport Appeal Board yesterday expressed doubt whether .1 eor.tnin statement made to her by eo'unsel was accurate or not and sho could not bo persuaded to form an opinion one way or tho other. "Suppose we put it like this: You are prepared to believe it if it is proved to you to bo true?" said tho chairman, Mr. Justice Fimer. "Exactly," replied the witness. At a later stage of the proceedings counsej devoted considerable time over a question which His Honor did not regard as being important. "Say 'yes,' " said His Honor to witness when counsel persisted with the question. The witness did not reply and tho matter was dropped. Dominion's Small Boroughs "Some of tho decadent mining towns of the South Island, for reasons of local pride, still retain their Mayor, councillors and all tho trappings of borough status," said Dr. IS. P. Jsonlo in an address upon local government before the Economic Society last evening. Tho speaker instanced Ross and Kumara, with 'l5O people each, Roxburgh with -K3O and Arrowtown with only 280. The roductio ad absurdum, he said, was Naseb.v, which had but 200 inhabitants, equivalent to an adult male population of about 60. As Nasoby was the seat of Maniototo County and contained tho Maniototo, Hospital, not many males in the borough could be unconnected with local government Evidently there was not a very wide field left from which to ehoos£ a Mayor and six borough councillors. Such tiny boroughs should be merged into tho surrounding counties or made into dependent town districts.