LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Sign of Spring

Early signs of spring are beginning to mako their welcome appearance about the city. lii the grounds of Government House a kowhai tree by Waterloo Quadrant is in full bloom.

Call Delays Train A mixed train was delayed for a few minutes between Claudelands and Ruakura 'yestordny by a yotmg calf, which wanderod on to the track. The calf ran ahead of the engine, until the driver stopped the train and chased the animal off the line.

Lemon Tree Stripped A lemon tree in the garden of a resident of Shelly Beach Road, Heme Bay, which was regarded almost as a phenomenon among heavy producers, was stripped of all its fruit by a thief or thieves one night this week. The fact that the tree was not visible from the road eliminates the possibility that the theft was an impulsive one.

Brothers Lost in Queen Street Two brothers, aged about five years and three years, who had become lost in Queen Street yesterday afternoon, attracted the attention of a constable, who took them to the watchhouse, where they were cared for by one of the police matrons. Later the elder child recalled the address of his parents in Ponsonby, and both boys were taken home.

Newmarket Reserve

Good progress is being made with the reserve that is being constructed by the Newmarket Borough Council on land at tho foot of Sarawia Street, purchased from the Grammar School board. When completed the reserve will take the form of a borough recreation ground and a football field. The work is being done with relief labour, and should be completed in from 12 to 18 months.

Delay to Trams

A broken trolley-wire in Broadway, Newmarket, interrupted the tram service for about 10 minutes shortly after eight o'clock yestei'day morning. The break was caused by the trolley-pole of an outward-bound tramcar striking a faulty joint. Power in the circuit was immediately cut off, and the wires were joined by a repair gang in a little over 10 minutes, when the normal service was resumed.

Oranges Forty a Shilling So. large is the supply of oranges in Australia that they are now being sold in Sydney at 40 a shilling. Mandarins are so plentiful that they cannot be given away. An Auckland resident who returned from a holiday visit this week said yesterday that he had had such a surfeit of the fruit while in Australia that he could look at the prices quoted in Auckland shop windows for oranges almost with perfect equanimity. Busy Fire Brigades

Fifty-four alarms of • fire were received by the fire brigades under the control of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board in the period from July 19 to August 16. Of this number 12 were malicious false calls, and nine were the result of chimneys catching fire. A naked candle light igniting curtains caused one outbreak, while the rays from the sun striking a camera lens was presumed to be the cause of another. Fumes from a bowl of benzine becoming ignited by a radiator element were responsible for ono of the calls received.

Hoardings Not Permitted The opinion that it was better not to have main roads "plastered" with hoardings in the One Tree Hill district, was expressed by the Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening, when an application to erect hoardings 'about 70ft. in length on a vacant site in the Manukau Road was being considered. It was stated residential sites were affected by the display of hoardings. The clerk estimated tho revenue to tho council from the erection of the hoardings would, be about £6 a year. It was decided not to grant permission. New Remuera Fire Pump A new turbine pump for the Remuera fire brigade was officially tested before members of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board, at the Central Fire Station, yesterday. The pump, which has been specially imported, will be used, to augment the water pressure when fighting fires in the Remuera district, particularly in the summer, and also will be available for use in other areas. It is capable of stepping up the water pressure to 1501b. a square inch and projecting it through two nozzles. When tested yesterday it threw up two columns of water to a height between two and three times as great as the columns projected by the pressure in the city water mains.

Absence of Plaintiff An unusual situation arose in the Supremo Court yesterday morning when there was no appearance of the plaintiff in a case which had been set down to occupy two days. Three counsel appeared on the other side, but several calls by the usher failed to elicit any response on behalf of the plaintiff. In view of this Mr. Justice Herdman struck the case out, and allowed the question of costs to stand over. It appeared later that a misunderstanding had arisen because plaintiff and his counsel, who both come from Wellington, had depended on the Court starting at 10.30 a.m. as it does there instead of 10 a.m. as is the custom in Auckland. It is possible the caso may bo reinstated to-day.

Commissioners Sample Grapefruit Pocket-knives were produced and locally-grown grapefruit and sweet oranges were cheerfully sampled by members of tho Tariff Commission yesterday, when evidence was tendered on behalf of citrus" fruit growers. Pleasure was expressed by one' of tho witnesses when the chairman, Dr. G. Craig, said he knew the value of grapefruit, as he sampled them every morning. Asked by Mr. J. B. Gow, a member of tho commission, tho difference between grapefruit and poorman oranges, Mr. G. A. Green, one of the spokesman, replied: "Just the same as the difference between a purebred Berkshire pig and a Captain Cook. They are both pigs, but there is a great difference."

Outside Work by Teachers A complaint was received at a meeting of the Auckland Grammar School Board yesterday from the secretary of tho Auckland Related Printing Trades Union, that two members of tho staff of the Auckland Grammar School were doing printing work in competition with members of tho trade. Members of the board considered it was not within their province to interfere with tho activities of a school staff outside school hours as long as these activities did not conflict with their normal work in any way. It was considered that while no objection could be raised to printing for school purposes or as a hobby, there was ground for complaint when a charge was made. It was decided to ask the headmaster to discuss the matter with the members of tho staff concerned.