LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Injured Naval Officers . The two naval officers, Sub-Lieu-tenant H. R. A. Kidston and Pay-master-Lieutenant J. G. Bennett, who were seriously injured in a motor accident near Mercer on Tuesday evening are now reported to be progressing satisfactorily. They are out of danger. Examinations Conclude

Candidates for this year's university entrance (matriculation) examination, medical, dental, engineering and accountancy preliminaries, and other examinations, sat for their final papers yesterday. Nearly 1000 Auckland candidates entered for the examinations, which began on December 3.

Manuka In Flower The flowering 4 ' broom, which lent a gay colour to the countryside in the Taupo district during recent weeks, has now been replaced by manuka flowers. Manuka lining the road in the Mamaku Hills, and also the road to Taupo, is covered with masses of white petals, while pink blooms are also visible. Fire on Motor Truck

A quantity of goods and a canvas tarpaulin were destroyed when a fire broke out on a motor truck at tho bottom of Prime Road, Grey Lynn, yesterday afternoon. The call was answered by the City brigade, which was able to extinguish tlie outbreak before much damage was done. Tho cause of the fire is unknown.

Child Burned by Disinfectant While his mother was absent from the room, a three-year-old bpy, Victor Brickell, whose parents reside at 29 Kelvin Road, Remuera, spilled a portion of the contents of a bottle of strong disinfectant over his face and neck yesterday morning. Suffering from severe burns he received treatment from Dr. Spencer, and was later taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance. His condition was stated last night to be not serious. Trout for Prince Henry

The boat jetty at the Tokaanu Wharf will be used by Prince Henry when he visits the southern shores of Lake Taupo on fishing excursions, and men from the Government hatchery on the Tongariro River are at present engaged in lengthening the jetty, which is very small. A consignment of trout caught at Hamurarta has been sent from Rotorua to Wellington, where it will be on the menu at one of the dinners in honour of the Royal visitor. Quantity of Noise Defined

An example of the precautions being taken to exclude noises from the new IYA studios in Shortland Street is given by a provision in the contract for the air conditioning plant. It is stipulated that not more than 10 decibels above audibility should bo permitted to enter by means of the ventilation ducts, which are suitably insulated against sound transmission. The 1Q decibels correspond to the noise of the "rustling of leaves on a fairly qalm night." Street Decorations

The decision of the City Council that nativ© flora should not be used for street decorations in connection with the visit of Prince Henry was the subject of a letter of congratulation received by tho council last night from the Auckland council of the Institute of Horticulture. The suggestion was made that if possible the scope of this decision should be extended to buildings, and that other local bodies adjacent to the city should bo asked to take similar action. The letter was received.

Traffic and Fires " There should be a better control of motor traffic in the vicinity of fire outbreaks," said Mr. B. Brigham, representing the Mount Albert Borough Council, *t the meeting of the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association last night. " At a recent extensive fire the large numbers of cars carrying spectators not only prevented access to the fire plugs, but also blocked the roads and hindered the progress of suburban brigades proceeding to the blaze." The matter arose when a question of improved control of" motor traffic was being discussed. Three Generations The unusual spectacle of three generations of a family taking part in a cricket match was described by Mr. H. G. Sergei, headmaster of the Southwell Boys' School, at the distribution of prizes. He explained that on the occasion of the annual match between the school and the parents last Saturday, Dr. M. M. Hockin, medical superintendent of the Waikato Hospital, who captained the fathers' team, piloted an aeroplane to Auckland and returned with his father. The two took the field in the parents' eleven and played against the school team, of which a son of Dr. Hockin was a member.

The Weekly News in China An indication of the world-wide publicity uses The Weekly News is put is given in a letter received at a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce council yesterday from Mr. S. Hutchison, a merchant and Government agent at Shanghai. Reporting on a recent trip to North China, Manchuria and Korea, he wrote: " As the trip was not actually planned until I reached North China, I was armed only with a leaf from the Shipping Guide and a page from the farming section of The Weekly News. Nevertheless 1 was able to secure at Dairen about 10,000 yen of business." Aviation Scholarship Success

The winner of the New Zealand Herald Aviation Scholarship, for tuition by the Auckland Aero Club, Mr. N. E. Taylor, was successful in gaining his " A " licence certificate at the Mangere aerodrome yesterday. Mr. Taylor, who commenced his training in April, immediately after he gained the scholarship proved an apt pupil. He is only 17 years of age and was in the sixth form at the Auckland Grammar School. The scholarship also entitles hiiii to flying membership of tho club up to April ,SO, 1935. Tho tests were carried out in good flying conditions under the supervision of Squadron Leader L. M. Isitt. Another member of. the club, Mr. R. Wells, was. also successful in gaining his certificate.

Knowledge of Current History " There is one weakness in the preparation of our boys for their duties as citizens —not enough provision is made in our University Entrance syllabus for the teaching of modern history," stated Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, at tho annual prize-giving ceremony yesterday. Mr. Mahon said there were regular discussions on current events, and there was an endeavour to inculcate in the first two years a knowledge of tho outline of tho main movements of British history. Until provision was made in the University Entrance syllabus for the more intensive study of political and social movements in the last century, it could not be expected that the young people should have an intelligent grasp of difficult national problems.