LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21883, 20 August 1934, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The White Butterfly Not only in Southern districts is the unwelcome white butterfly making an unusually early appearance this season. Butterflies are being noted now quite frequently about Mount Eden and other suburbs. Injuries Prove Fatal The death occurred at the Auckland Hospital yesterday afternoon of Mr. Charles Kenny, an elderly man, of 77 St. George's Bay Road, Parnell. He suffered critical head injuries when he was struck by a taxicab near the intersection of Airedale Street and Symonds Street last Monday.

Long-distance Telephoning Finding that he was unable to pay a visit to Scotland as he intended, Mr. J. R. Patterson, of Tauhei, Morrinsville, made arrangements to speak to his relatives in Glasgow by radio-telephone. The conversation was carried out without difficulty and Mr. Patterson heard his relatives' voices quite audibly and clearly, although 14,000 miles separated him from them.

Medical Students at Hockey Three of the forwards in the touring Australian hockey team, J. Allen, M. Stoning and C. A. Leggett, are medical students, Allen studying at Adelaide University and the others at Sydney. In the team's first match, against Waikato at Hamilton 011 Saturday, they were able to put their knowledge to good account when other players suffered minor injuries. Election Problem Solved The Australian hockey players now touring New Zealand will have an opportunity of casting their votes as absentees in the forthcoming Australian elections when they reach Dunedin. One of their party, Mr. G. Milner, president of the West Australian Hockey Association, is a justice of the peace, and is empowered to act as returning officer in connection with tho poll. Interest in Old School An outstanding example of an old boy's interest in his former school was quoted by the headmaster, Mr. F. W. Gamble, at the annual reunion of the Mount Albert Grammar School Old Boys' Association on Saturday night. Mr. Gamble said that one old boy, who had left school comparatively recently, was so eager to attend that he had travelled all the way from Paeroa to Auckland by bicycle in order that he might spend a week-end with his old school frienda. Westerly Weather Moderates The westerly wind which had been experienced on the west coast for some days last week moderated on Saturday morning to a light south-west breeze. The sea afterwards decreased and yesterday the Manukau ■ bar was again smooth and workable. After being barbound since Thursday the motor-vessels Ronaki and Hokianga left Onehunga for Hokianga yesterday morning. The motor-vessel Hauturu, after being barbound at Wanganui, arrived at Onehunga yesterday afternoon.

Delayed Vessels Sail After being delayed in port since the previous evening, the steamer Poolta and the motor-vessel Port Waikato sailed for southern ports shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday. The vessels were delayed in order that the crews could attend a special meeting of the Seamen's Union on Saturday morning. The meeting, which was attended by all the members of the union in port, was commenced at the Trades Hall at 8.30 and continued until noon. It was held to discuss special matters concerning the private affairs of the union. Overseas Vessels Arriving Three passenger vessels will arrive at Auckland this week, two from Sydney and the Marama from a cruise in the Pacific. The Rojal Mail liner Aorangi will arrive from Sydney this morning and to-morrow morning she will be despatched for Islands ports and Vancouver. The Matson Line steamer Monterey will arrive from Sydney on Saturday morning-and she will resume her voyage to Islands ports and Los Angeles the same afternoon. Tho Marama will arrive from the Islands on Wednesday and she will leave for Sydney on Friday afternoon.

"Overhaul oi Town Clerk" Considerable amusement was created at the meeting of the Dunedin City Council last week when a member stated that an elderly lady had informed him that she understood that the town clerk was to be renovated and cleaned. He said it was an amusing example of how some ratepayers misread the committee reports. The misconception had arisen because the lady had misread a clause dealing with the cleaning and overhaul of the town clock, and, as a result, she was somewhat perturbed regarding the town clerk's condition. "I am pleased to say," interjected another councillor, "that the town clork is in no need of an overhaul."

Cyclist's Fortunate Escape A young cyclist taking part in a road race along the Mount Wellington Highway experienced a narrow escape from serious injury on Saturday afternoon when he crashed into tho rear of a car which was travelling in the same direction as himself, but at a much slower pace. His front wheel struck the rear bumper of the car and tho rider was thrown against the back of tho car with sufficient force to dent tho rear panel. A St. John ambulance officer was travelling in a car directly behind and gave "assistance to the young man, who was stunned for a few minutes, but was later able to return to his home. Tho front wheel of his machine was forced right back under the frame by the force of the impact. Speed and Onus of Proof "As the law stands to-day, if a motorist is charged with exceeding a speed limit tho onus is ujVm him to prove that ho was not so doing," states tho report of the president, Mr. W. A O'Callaghan, to tho annual conference of the North Island Motor Union. "This is a reversal of the ordinary principle of British justice that an offender is deemed to be innocent until he is proved guilty, and it is pleasing to see that tho unfairness of the existing practice is recognised by the Transport Department, and it is proposed, under tho amendments of tho motor regulations, that the onus of proof in such cases will be shifted to the traffic authority alleging the offence, who will then have to prove that the motorist was, in fact, either driving to the common danger or, if a speed limit is prescribed, exceeding that speed limit."