LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Whitebait Season Prospects Maoris living along the shores of the estuary of the Waikato River have been catching whitebait for their own consumption during the past few days. The season in which whitebait may be sold opens next Monday, and if present catches are any guide it should be satisfactory. Cards on the Waterfront In future, members of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Industrial Union will be permitted to play cards in the waiting room while they are awaiting employment. This permission was granted by the Auckland Harbour Board at yesterday's meeting on the condition that no gambling was allowed. Cyclists Without Lights Six cyclists were prosecuted in the Otahuhu Magistrate's Court yesterday on charges of having ridden their cycles at night without lights. The charges were brought by the police at Papatoetoe and the Otahuhu borough traffic inspector, Mr. A. Breed. Convictions were entei'cd in all cases, fines of 10s, with 10s costs, being imposed. Presentation to Sloop In view of the fact that the new sloop attached to the New Zealand naval station carries the name of the capital city, officers of the Wellington Regiment have decided to present the wardroom officers of H.M.S. Wellington with a suitable regimental memento. This will be formally handed over to th-3 commander during the sloop's next visit to Wellington. Golfer's Initiative It has been said that nothing will prevent a true enthusiast from having his round of golf. When members of the Fitzroy Golf Club, New Plymouth, arrived at the course to play an interclub match with Tarurutangi they found the last green completely submerged. Someone had initiative, however, and a garden hose syphoned the water into an adjacent lower hollow. Fruit from Norfolk Island A cablegram has been received from the Norfolk Island Chamber of Commerce by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, from which it is apparent that at least one shipment of oranges has been arranged from Norfolk Island this winter. The Auckland Chamber has been urging the Government to remove the embargo on fruit from Norfolk Island in the same way as South Australia has been exempted from the general embargo on Australian fruit. Council and Damaged Stockings A recommendation by the Works Committee of the Mount Eden Borough Council that the council accept no liability in cases where pedestrians damaged shoes and stockings on neglected footpaths was adopted by the council at its meeting last night. An application for £1 4s lid, representing damage done to shoes and stockings through stepping into a deep hole in Dominion Road, between Elizabeth Street and St. Alban's Avenue, had been received from a woman resident of the district.

Slip of the Tongue Memories of former political differences seemed to stir in the mind of Mr. M. E. I .yons while he was addressing the Lyttelton electors who had chosen him as their candidate for the approaching by-election. Mr. Lyons was speaking of the generous action of Mr. G. S. Mackenzie in withdrawing from the field to avoid a three-cornered contest. " A three-cornered fight in Lyttelton would be making a present of the seat to the Cnited Party," he said. "United Party" was quickly changed to "Labour Party," but not before a laugh had come from the audience.

Sleeper Bitten by Rat A 12-vear-old Wanganui boy had an unenviable experience the other night when he was savagely attacked by a rat. While sleeping, he was bitten on the ear by the rat, which proceeded to inflict further injuries by using its teeth on his face. The pillow-slip and bedclothes bore ample evidence of the amount of blood lost by the boy, who was rushed to a chemist to undergo treatment for the wound in his ear. Beyond suffering from shock and the loss of blood, the boy appears" to have come through his trying ordeal without any further ill-effects. Condition of Nelson Wharf The Auckland Harbour Board was asked by tha Fishermen's Company (Auckland), Limited, at yesterday's meeting, to consider strengthening or rebuilding Nelson Wharf. It was pointed out by the company in its letter that the wharf, which had been closed by the board to vehicular traffic owing to its condition, was a recognised pier for fishing vessels and was most suitable as far as its site was concerned. The question was referred to the board in committee. "The site has been included hi the inspection itinerary for July 3," added the chairman, Mr. C. G. Macindoe. School Shed Blown Away During the frequent squalls which swept over Auckland and the suburbs early yesterday morning a large wooden shelter shed at the Henderson District School was torn from the ground and lifted over a loft, hedge. It was found in the morning in another portion of the grounds completely demolished. At least one sleeping Auckland household was awakened in a startling manner. A bedroom window which had been left partly open was caught in the onset of one of the fiercer squalls and wrenched from its fastening. Then, with a noise of splintering wood and glass, it was blown back hard against the wall of the house with sufficient force to tear it from its hinges. It crashed to the ground. No Waste of Talk

Though it was attended by over 150 delegates from local bodies and other organisations, last night's conference 011 drainage and unemployment was one of the briefest on record in Auckland. It lasted just an hour and 'a-quarter. Nearly an hour was occupied with an address by Mr. H. H. Watkins, en-gineer-secretary to the Drainage Board, 011 the proposed metropolitan drainage scheme, and when he had finished 110 one accepted the invitation to ask questions. A resolution 011 unemployment relief was then proposed with a brief explanation by the chairman, Mr. Ernest Davis. A delegate contributed a little relevant information, the seconder, Mr. B. Martin, made a brief speech, and the motion was carried. At 8.45 the delegates were able to go into the adjoining committee room for supper as guests of the Drainage Board.