LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hamilton Supreme Court Six criminal cases are set down for hearing at the next session of the Supreme Court at Hamilton, which opens on Tuesday. Mr. Justice Herdman will preside. University Vacation The vacation of the Auckland University College, which commenced this week, will continue until Monday, September 3, when classes will resume for the third and final term. The annual college examinations will begin on October 8 and continue until October 20, the term ending on October 31. Accident Victim Identified Tho elderly man who was knocked down by a taxicab in Symonds Street, near the corner of Airedale Street, at about 11.20 on Monday night, was identified yesterday as' Mr. Charles Kenny, of 77 St. George's Bay Road. He suffered severe head injuries, and his condition last evening was reported to be still serious. Early Signs of Spring Blooms of the white native clematis and the budding of kowhai trees are among early signs of spring which have been noticed in the city and suburbs. The clematis is blooming profusely in several Kohimarama gardens, and the red kowhai is making a good showing in sheltered places, at least a fortnight earlier than it did last year A A small kowhai tree is just beginning to show its blossoms in Government House grounds in Waterloo Quadrant.

Marama Leaves Fiji In continuation of her cruise in tho Pacific the Union Company's steamer Marama sailed last evening from Levuka, the old Fiji capital, where the excursionists had been entertained during the day at native sports and other features which had been specially put on for the occasion. To-day the Marama will make a call off the island of Niuafou to land the tincan mail from New Zealand. Afterwards the steamer will continue on to Apia, Samoa, which will be reached to-morrow.

Technical College Gymnasium Permanent provision at the Auckland Seddon Memorial Technical College for the physical training of boys was advocated at yesterday's meeting of the college board by the principal, Mr. G. J. Park, who said the Defence Department premises in Rutland Street, where the boys' gymnasium, classes were now held, did not afford really adequate facilities for full training. The board authorised Mr. Park to make preliminary arrangements with a view to adding a section to the college workshops block, which might be converted into a gymnasium.

Unemployment Levies People who are paying their quarterly unemployment levy this month find that they have come to the end of the coupon book which has served for the last two years. The bulk of the new book which they receive to take its place does not encourage optimism as to an early cassation of the levy, for .it is planned to record contributions up to August, 1937. This is now the third book prepared for the use of contributors under the Unemployment Act, 1930, and its amendment of the following year. The first quarterly payments were made in December, 1930.

Stoppage in Water Main The discovery of a portion of clothing and a large piece of household soap in a recently-laid water main at Papatoetoe has caused concern to the local Town Board officials, who have been investigating the matter. At the Town Board meeting last night, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Nicholson, reported that a 4in. main had been laid in one of the side streets. When the water was turned on it was reported that the supply was not reaching one property. On the main being opened a workman's shirt, and half a bar of were found. The turncock had reported that all pipes were examined and found correct when laid. Trees in Station Concourse In continuation of the scheme of placing New Zealand native trees in tubs along the concourse of the Auckland railway station, two young rimus, a rewarewa and a tanekaha, have been added to the two kauris placed there recently. It is intended within the next few months to place between 30 and 40 trees along the sides of the concourse, so that visitors from overseas, walking to the platforms, will pass between an avenue of beautiful native trees. With the double object of beautifying the station grounds and acquainting visitors with New Zealand flora, a considerable . number of native trees and shrubs have already been planted in the gardens about the station. Work on Eastern Reclamation The preliminary work in connection with the construction of Chaytor Street on the eastern reclamation has been commenced by the Auckland Harbour Board. The object of tho work, which is being done at the request of the Unemployment Board, is to give further assistance to unemployed waterside labour, following the completion of work on the western reclamation. Chaytor Street, which will run from King's Drive at the foot of the overhead bridge across tho railway lines at Campbell's Point down to Haig Street, which is parallel with the waterfront, will be 500 ft. in length, with a width of 66ft. It will have a tar-sealed surface on a hand-packed spawl base. In addition, a small portion of Haig Street at the intersection will be constructed. Ihe loan of £4OOO sanctioned by the Local Government Loans Board will be devoted to supervision and the purchase of materials, while the cost of the labour will be borno by the Unemployment Board. Basking Shark Caught Fisherman at Paraparaumu, 33 miles from Wellington, using a not a few days ago, captured a fine specimen of the basking shark, rather a rare species in New Zealand waters. The shark is 12ft. 9in. in length. Among the largest members of tho shark species, basking sharks have been known to reach a length of 40ft, One large basking shark was caught in Wellington Harbour in February, 1932, but it was not preserved. Another, measuring 17ft. 2in., was recently washed ashore at Makara, near Wellington. A party from the Dominion Museum found it was too large to handle so it was not preserved. Basking sharks have the habit of lying near the surface and basking in tho sun. The mouth is equipped with strainers which enable the sharks to retain their food in tho form of shrimps and minute life near the surface. The teeth are small and the species is considered to be harmless to man.