LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21999, 4 January 1935, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fall at Bowls

While playing at the Ponsonby Bowling Club's green yesterday afternoon, Mr. Robert Charles Gray, aged 63, married, who lives at 158 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, fell heavily and suffered a fracture of the thigh. Ho was taken to his home and later to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance.

Heavy Railway Traffic The express trains leaving Auckland for Wellington yesterday, were both fully booked. There will bo a third train to leave for Wellington 40 minutes after the departure of the limited express at seven o'clock this, evening. Although the departures from Auckland have been numerous, there were many incoming passengers yesterday.

Accident Victims' Condition Slight improvement was shown yesterday in the condition of Mr. Leslie Stephen Smith, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Wednesday as the result of an accident at the Westfield freezing works. His condition, however, is still serious. The trotting trainer, J. T. Paul, who was injured at tho trotting meeting at Epsom on Saturday, is-still in a serious condition.

Shopping Hours To-night Although most shops will observe the usual Friday hours to-day, grocers will close at 5.30 p.m. This action is in accordance with the arrangement made for New Year's Eve shopping, when grocers remained open until 10 o'clock, but members of the Auckland Drapers, Clothiers' and Boot Retailers' Association, the Auckland Booksellers' Association and retail hardware merchants closed at 5.30.

Strawberry Season Closing With the close of the strawberry seaRon at hand supplies of tho berries aro limited arid the quality is rapidly falling off. The recent heavy rains have had tho effect of making tho berries of an extremely watery nature. Should any more rain fall, particularly light showers in humid weather, the crop may experience a second growth. In this case, however, the berries would be small and supplies would bo so few that it would be impossible to satisfy tho demand.

A Trench's Requirements "You all knew the requirements of a trench on Gallipoli," remarked Sir Alexander Godley at the function tendered to himself and Lady Godley by the Tnvereargill Returned Soldiers' Association. " It was to be deep enough for me to take a walk down it in comfort." After tho laughter to this allusion to the General's height had died down, he remarked smilingly that the trenches were the only safe and comfortable place for a walk on Gallipoli. " They were also to be wide enough for Paddy McGlinn," ho continued. " You remember Paddy. He was a brigademajor to General Monash. 1 saw him in Melbourne and it would still take a wide trench to accommodate him."

Under-water Collision An unenviable encounter with a large fish, possibly a shark, was the experienco of Mr. H. P. Meyer, custodian of the Hamilton municipal baths, when bathing at Ocean Beach, Raglan, on New Year's Day. Accompanied by two other men, Mr. Meyer was standing in about sft. of water when he was knocked from his balance by a heavy object moving swiftly under the surface of tho water. While he was endeavouring to regain his footing he was hi.t a second time. After the second blow he saw a large grey fish, about Bft. long, moving rapidly out to sea through the breakers. He quickly left the water and no further sign was soon of the fish. Mr. Meyer suffered two large bruises, one on his side and another on one leg.

Hamilton Building A large increase in building in Hamilton is shown in the returns for last year, as compared with those for 1933. The number of permits issued in 1933. 178, was actually one larger than last year, but the value of the buildings was greater in 1934 by £16,510. Permits last year wore issued to the value of £65,841, and in 1933, £49,331. The increase is partly attributed to the building subsidy, which was introduced in August, and caused a considerable increase in returns in the closing months of the year, and partly to an improvement in economic conditions. The busiest months for building last year were October and December, when permits to the value of £18,748 and £10,513 respectively were issued.

Monkey at Largo The monkeys which inhabit a cage on the roof of a store in Christchureh made another, bid for fame, the other afternoon —or, rather, it was a bid for liberty. Tho last time the monkeys were heard of it was on account of domestic happenings; in fact, an addition to the, family. But if the youngest and most mischievous of them had had his way on the more recent occasion there would have been one monkey less in captivity. It was reported that a monkey had been seen ranging over the roofs and among the chimney-pots in tho neighbourhood of Gloucester Street. His owner was quickly informed, and aftor an exciting chase the truant was recaptured and reinstalled. Apparently he had been at great pains to gnaw through the wire-netting which stood between him and freedom. While at large lie had discovered the larder where the food for tho monkeys is kept, and had made away with most of the next day's rations, including a half-opened • tin of condensed milk, which he prised open and scoured clean. Attendances at BathK

The exceptionally hot weather experienced in Auckland recently resulted in the attendances at the three public baths in the city last month showing an increase of 26 per cent, as compared with the corresponding month of the previous year. Altogether, 32,708 persons paid for admission to the Hobson Street, Shelly Beach and Parnell baths in December, whereas in the same period in 1933 the number was 25,953. The baths' supervisor, Mr. M. Champion, attributes tho increase to some extent to the improvements carried out at Parnell and Shelly Beach, although tho most important factor was tho weather. Last winter electric lighting equipment was installed at the Shelly Beach bath, with the result that night bathing is now available there. In December the attendance at the Hobson Street, baths was 11,680, compared with 9774 in the corresponding month of 1933. There was an increase of 2750 at the Shelly Beach baths, the respective totals being 9128 and 6678. At the Parnell baths the total last month was 11,600, an increase of more than 2000 over the figure for December, 1933.