LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21881, 17 August 1934, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Broadcasting Restrictions Opposition to t-lie restrictions at present placed on broadcast talks was expressed at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union. It was urged that the fullest and freest discussion with no political discrimination should be permitted.

Registration of Bicycles The compulsory registration of bicycles was again urged at a meeting of the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association last night. It was decided to forward a resolution advocating the introduction of legislation for this purpose to tho Minister of Transport, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates.

Boring for Water The second 2i-inch bore recently put down at Northcote, for the purpose of ascertaining the possibilities of an artesian source of supply of water for tho borough, is to be enlarged to take an Sin. casing. A contract has been let for this work at .'ss 9d a foot to Mr. D. Gilberd, and a start will be made early next week. Farmers and Free Speech

The principle of free speech was approved at a meeting of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday, when support was sought by the Free Speech Council. A resolution was passed that whilo tho necessity for some restriction as to tho locality of meetings was recognised freo speech should be allowed without restrictions in approved localities.

"Preparing for School A statement that even the children themselves were desirous of attending school at five years of ago was made by Mr. C. W. Boswell at the protest meeting in the Town Hall last night. He said that frequently when he emerged from the gate of his school he was met by a small girl who was eagerly looking forward to the day when she would be six years of age and able to start school. She had already got a schoolbag and gum boots in readiness.

Mist Over City A curious mist, of a rather dirty colour, somewhat resembling the smoke from bush fires, enveloped the city and harbour yesterday afternoon. The mist was not very heavy over the city, but was fairly thick on the harbour for some hours and it was impossible to see Rangitoto from the wharves. A strong westerly wind 'made conditions very choppy on the harbour in the afternoon, but in tho evening the mist disappeared and the wind moderated considerably.

Great South Road Concreting Tho whole of the ijpw concrete paving on the Great South Road between Papakura and the Pukekohe turn-off at Runciman, a distance of about 2J miles, will be open for traffic as from to-morrow morning. The reopening of this section of the highway will obviate the necessity for using the Opaheko deviation. The Automobile Association warns motorists to drive carefully and at reasonable speeds, as workmen will be engaged for some time in building and sealing the shoulders.

Museum Attendances A total of 95,049 people has attended the Auckland War Memorial Museum during the year to dato, according to a report by the director, Mr. Gilbert Archey, presented to a meeting of the Auckland Institute and Museum council this week. Children's classes which had attended so far numbered 95, representing 3600 children, while 84 teachers had paid independent visits to the education officer. "The attendances are well maintained, and there is great activity in the institute," remarked the chairman, Sir Cecil Leys.

Obsolete Fire Engine " I believe a small car offered the fire engine a tow up the hill on Friday night,said Mr. H. Curd at a meeting of the Pukekoho Borough Council on Wednesday evening, after stating that the fire engine had become obsolete. "It certainly does not seem right," remarked the Mayor, Mr. John Routly, " that private cars should pass the engine on the way to the fire and arrive there well ahead of it." Mr. Routly, who is also chairman of the Pukekohe Fire Board, said he thought tho brigade had well earned a new engine, and in all probability the matter would be considered at tho next meeting of the board.

Start ol School Year A resolution that the commencement of the primary school year should bo two weeks later was passed at a meeting of tho Normal School Parents' Association last evening. It was decided to forward tho resolution as a remit to the Auckland Schools' Committees' Association for transmission to tho Education Department. It was stated that commencing school in tho hottest part of the year, the beginning of February, had a detrimental effect on tho health of tho children and that a postponement of the date for two weeks would also synchronise with tho end of the secondary school vacation.

Art Exhibition Questionnaire Visitors to tho loan exhibition of contemporary British art wero provided yesterday with copies of a printed questionnaire which tho committee in charge has compiled in order to obtain guidance for the future. Recipients are asked to state their opinion of the present exhibition and to give any suggestions that would help tho committee in arranging others. They aro also invited to mark their preference for one of tho following classes of exhibitions: —Paintings by old masters, English water-colour painting, modern European painting, etchings and engravings, modern drawings and a oneman show (the artist to bo named). The questionnaire will bo distributed until the closo of tho exhibition at the end of next week.

Propeller Blade Replaced Tho Canadian Highlander sailed for Wellington early yesterday afternoon, after tho broken bladq in her propeller had been replaced. The vessel entered Calliope Dock at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning and tho water was then lowered sufficiently to enable an inspection to bo made. Specifications for the repair work, which included the removal of the broken stump and fitting of a new blado to tho propeller were drawn up by the local. office of tho Canadian National Steamships. Tenders for the work closed at 4 p.m., and tho successful tenderers, Mason Brothers Engineering Company, Limited, commenced work immediately and conflnued throughout the night. Tho work was completed in good time, and the vessel was afloat again by 10.30 yesterday morning.