LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21765, 3 April 1934, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Large Picnic Trains Nearly 3000 passengers travelled bv two special trains to the Marist Brothers' schools' picnic held at Pukekolio yesterday. The first one. comprising 19 carriages, had a complement of about 1700, and the other carried nearly 1300 people. Naval Fuel From Persian Gulf The Admiralty tanker Nucula is to sail for the Persian Gulf to-morrow to load another carg ofi bulk fuel for the New Zealand warships Dunedin and Diomede. Previously oil fuel supplies for the New Zealand Navy wore obtained from San Pedro, California. Injured Boy's Condition The condition of Geoffrey Perkins, aged 16, who suffered internal injuries on Saturday afternoon, when he fell from his bicycle on to tho corner of a box ho was carrying, was reported last evening to bo still fairly serious. The injured boy resides at 56 Milton Road, Mount Eden. Success of Sisters Tho prepared speech contest at tho Baptist young women's Bible class Easter camp at Avoiulale produced an interesting result, the three grades being won by three sisters. Miss Olive Drew was successful in the senior grade, Miss Nina Drew in the' intermediate and Miss Hazel Drew in tho junior. They are members of the. Mount Eden class. Buried Rata Log A well-preserved rata tree trunk has been found buried at considerable depth at tho corner of Pipitea Wharf and Waterloo Quay, Wellington. The discovery was made during the sinking of a well and tho log was found to be in a good state of preservation. On various occasions in both the North and South Islands bores have revealed the presence of wood and peat at a depth of several hundred feet. Few Accident Cases

Only tlireo calls to accident cases were received by the transport staff of the St. John Ambulance in Auckland yesterday, an unusually small number for a public holiday. The machines from tho Rutland Street headquarters of the organisation made only about 10 runs during the day. It is a coincidence that on Easter Monday last year also, only three accident cases required ambulance transport.

Yachts Return From Cruises Most of Auckland's yachts returned last evening from their Easter cruises. Although light and changeable winds were encountered for the most part, the weather was particularly suitable for small boats. The Easter cruise is generally considered by yachtsmen as the last of the year, although the last cruising race will not be held for two weeks. A record number of tho pleasure fleet, was away during the holidays. Girl Unhurt After Fall A remarkable escape from injury was experienced by Georgina Vucich, aged about 12, when she fell 18ft. from a verandah at her parents' bogie at 15 College Hill, City, yesterday afternoon, on to a concrete path. The child was leaning against the railing on the upper balcony of the two-storeyed house when the wood gave way, and she fell. A St. John ambulance was summoned, and the girl was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where she was found to bo unhurt. She went home later. Old Maori Pits In spito of the extensive works that are being carried out on the summit of Mount Hobson great care is being taken to preserve a number of old Maori pits on the northern rim of the crater. These are in a perfect- state of preservation, the grass which has grown in and around the depressions having prevented the friable soil from crumbling. The engineer in charge of the building of tha new reservoir 011 the mountain, Mr. H. I. Goldsbro', has kept a careful watch 011 these relics of tho tribal fighting, so that they will not be damaged in any way. Strange Find in Water

A strange find was made recently by Mrs H. E. Lowen, of Palmerston, Otago, in some water she had drawn. It was in the form of a long, thin, rubber-like animal or fish, thinner than the lead in a lead pencil and with a forked tail and a slight bulge at the head. It seemed to live in the water, where it curled itself into all sorts of knots, but when any part of it was raised above the surface its shadow vanished and was replaced by a bright glow. When extended it vsas lOin. in length, but 110 one in the district could rrive it a name, and Mr. Lowen intends to send it to Dunedin for identification purposes.

Quinnat in the Wairau Four fine specimens of quinnat salmon were 'Secured recently by two Nelson anglers, Messrs. A. Harling and F. N. Adams, from the Wairau River (Marlborough). The largest fish was 201b. in weight and the others were almost as heavy. Each fisherman hooked two and successfully landed them, lliese are the first quinnat reported to have been caught in the Wairau. A recent report by a Nelson angler that he saw a large number of quinnat salmon 111 the Wangapeka River (Nelson) would indicate that the fish have gradually worked round the coast i'rom _ southern waters where they havo provided sport for many years. Championship Golf With the conclusion of the Auckland provincial golf championship tournament at Titirangi to-day all interest will bo centred upon the contest for the Kirk-Windeyer Cup, which will take place 011 the Auckland Club's links at Middlemore 011 Friday and Saturday next. Apperly, Hughes and Cutler, of the New South Wales team, and Hornabrook and Wright, two of New Zealand's nominees, practised at Middlemore yesterday. By the time the contest starts all the visitors should be well acquainted with the course. The personnel of the New Zealand team is expected to be announced at the conclusion of to-day's Auckland championship play.

Busy Shipping Period Following the Easter holidays the port of Auckland will be busy to-day. All the local coastal vessels will be loading and will resume their timetables, while there will be considerable activity among larger vessels. Overseas ships in port yesterday included the steamers Northnioor, Forthbank, Golden Coast and Niagara and the motor-liner Rangitane. To-day's arrivals will include the steamer Karctu from Suva, the Waimarino from Southern ports and the oil tankers Svolder and Lachlan from Philadelphia and Palembang respectively. This afternoon the Niagara is to sail .for Vancouver, tlm Forthbank for Newcastle and the Golden Coast for Wellington. Shipping will continue busy during the week.