LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21907, 17 September 1934, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Boy Falls from Horse A nine-year-old boy, Alan Forbes, of Hobsonville, suffered head injuries and concussion yesterday afternoon when he fell from a horse. The injured lad was brought to the Auckland Hospital by motor-car and his condition was reported last night to be fairly serious. The Shining Cuckoo The shining cuckoo usually makes its ap|>earanee in the Auckland Province in the early part of September. Mr. H. Atkins of the Maungatapere School, Whangarei, reports that he heard the notes of the bird on Sunday, September 10. The cuckoo's song was reported last year near Auckland a week before the end of August. Preparations For Cricket, The first indication of the approach of the cricket season can be seen at Victoria Park, where the football goalposts have been put away and a start has been made to prepare the ground for cricket. The many cricket pitches which have been marked out on the park have already received a dressing of special soil and grass seed has been planted. Each area has been enclosed by a temporary wire fence, and this protection will not be removed until the new grass has been well established. Finds of Ambergris Two lucky finds of ambergris are reported from Mason's Bay, Stewart Island. Messrs. Jennings and Simpson, of Awarua Plains, .who have been spending a holiday, on the island, found at Mason's Bay two pieces or ambergris, one weighing 12oz. and the other 12ioz. If the old high prices for ambergris had still been ruling the find would have been a very valuable one, but prices have dropped sharply during the. last few years. At present prices the finders will receive about £l6 each. Activity of Yachtsmen The excellent weather during the week-end proved a boon to yachtsmen, who in a great number of cases have started work on their boats for the coming season. Many crews have their work well advanced and these were fortunate in having ideal painting weather, with a warm sun and a drying wind. The slips at Judge's Bay, Herne Bay and on the North Shore presented a busy scene with decks and hulls being painted and spars scraped. It is anticipated that the majority of boats will be launched much earlier this season than usual. " Summer Time " Shortly

In another fortnight the extra halfhour of daylight will be provided by the official inauguration of summer time, for under last year's Summer Time Amendment Act the annual putting forward of the clock by half an hour takes place on the last Sunday in September, in this case September 30. Summer time thus recognised will continue until the last Sunday in April, forming a period of seven or eight weeks longer than in the past, when daylight saving used to begin on the second Sunday in October and end on the third Sunday in March. Waterfront Clubhouse Good progress is being made with the erection of the new clubhouse which is being built on Bastion Point, near Mission Bay, for the Tamaki Yacht Club. The bulk of the framework with the roof principals is now in position and portion of the tower structure, from which the club officials will control harbour races, has been set up. The sub-contractors have also 'practically completed the stone walls which will support the promenade in front of the building and this, with the spacious balcony on the upper storey of the clubhouse, will provide accommodation for many spectators when club events are being sailed. Theatres in Moscow

The extraordinary abundance of re>pertory theatres in Moscow was referred to by Mr. Henry Hayward last night at a meeting held in the Fabian rooms. On the authority of Dr. E. J. Dillon, he stated that Moscow, with a population 10 times that of Auckland, had 1500 repertory theatre societies. Auckland had'only 15, whereas if tfa£ proportion were the same as in Moscow it would have 150 of such societies. Mr. Hayward stated further that 471 performances of the plays of Shakespeare, who was the second most popular dramatist in Moscow, had been given there in a year, while in New Zealand there had not been a single one. Welsh Bardic Chair

A central part of the ceremonial of the great Welsh Eisteddfod is the clowning of the winning bard in the symbolic bardic chair. The honour of providing the chair for next year's Eisteddfod has been claimed by the Welsh people of who have subscribed £3OO for the purpose. The chair has been made of New Zealand woods and has been elaborately carved in Maori fashion by Mr. T. Hebberly. It stands about five feet high, and the back is engraved with appropriate Welsh writings. The next Eisteddfod will be held at Carnarvon next August, when the chair will become the property of the winning bard. Rush to Oatch Express

Last-minute rushes to catch trains are not uncommon on railway stations, but there was more than the usual excitement as the express to New Plymouth was about to draw out of the Auckland railway station at 7.18 o'clock last evening. At .the last moment a young man appeared carrying a child wrapped up in a trailing rug, then a young woman with a hat-box, followed by three or four friendly assistants carrying various articles of luggage. The young couple were safely embarked and as the train slowly moved out of the station their friends, running alongside, deposited the luggage on various carriage platforms. There was a final scurry as a young man, who had helped the travellers into the carriage, realised the train was rapidly gaining speed and regained the station platform just in time.

Overseas Vessels Arriving Six passenger steamers will reach New Zealand from overseas this week, three of the vessels being from Australia. This morning the Niagara will arrive at Auckland from Sydney and the l\launfj;anui will arrive at Wellington from San Francisco. The Tainui will arrive at Wellington from London and Southampton to-morrow morning and the Mara ma is expected at Wellington from Sydney to-morrow evening. On Wednesday the Kotorua is due at Wellington from Lbndon and on Saturday morning the Mariposa will arrive at Auckland from Sydney. Beside passengers, the vessels mentioned are bringing a considerable amount of mail. The Niagara has 497 bags of Australian mail, the Alaunganui about 1300 bags of English and American mail, and the Tainui eight bags of English letter mail and 233 bags of parcels for New Zealand. Further- quantities of Australian mail will arrive by the Marama and Mariposa. The Rotorua made the voyage from London via Suva and will have mail from Fiji only.