LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22194, 22 August 1935, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost Fish Plentiful Frost fish have been fairly plentiful at the Ohape Beach, near Whakatane, recently, and residents who have been early astir before the seagulls destroy the fish have secured good hauls. Some of the fish have measured over six feet in length. Town Hall Clock Stops The Town Hall clock stopped last evening at 5.5 and will not be set in motion again until this morning. When the clock was found to have stopped, in fact not long after the removal ot | the flags flown in honour of the visit of the Japanese Goodwill Mission, it was too late for anything to be done to restart the clock last night. New Lambs at Westfteld New season's lambs >vere offered at Westfield for the fir fit time this year at yesterday's sale. Actually, a few lambs have been sold previously, but these were born at the end of last season. Lambing generally is late this season, and by this time last year new lambs had been on the market for some weeks, though in comparatively small numbers. Missionaries in Abyssinia Twelve New Zealanders are at present engaged in the mission field in Abyssinia, said Mr. C. H. Barton, a member of the Ethiopian branch of the Sudan Interior Mission, yesterday. At least three of this number came from the Auckland district. Mr. and Mrs. Barton, who also left Auckland for the Abyssinian mission field, are revisiting their home on furlough after five aud a-half j r ears in Abyssinia. Museum Attendances Visitors to the Auckland War Memorial Museum during the past five weeks numbered 7890, making a total of 99,590 for the year to date, reported the director, Gilbert Archey, at a meeting of the council yesterday. Since the beginning of the year, the director stated, 63 school classes, conprising 2613 children had visited the museum. Twenty-eight classes were already booked for visits next term. Minor Fire at Otahuhu The Otahuhu fire brigade was called to an outbreak of fire in the washhouse of a shop at the Great South Road, Otahuhu. yesterday. Hot ashes had ignited a wood packing case and contents, and the fire had spread to the flooring before it was discovered. The brigade confined the damage to a small section of the floor. The brick walls of the building prevented the fire from spreading beyond its origin. One Tree Hill Building "These figures are quite illuminating and show a definite improvement in building in the district," remarked Mr. 1. J. Goldst.ine, Mayor of One Tree Hill, at last fight's meeting of the Borough Council, when the building inspector, Mr. P. H. Hollingsworth, reported that 61 permits, of a total value of £32,721, had been issued since the beginning of the year. This compared with 57 permits', valued at £11,310, issued during the corresponding period of last year. Waiheke Postal Facilities

The post office at Surfdale, Waiheke Island, is to operate as a money order office and a savings bank from Saturday. The change has been made by the Post and Telegraph Department following the representations of the Surfdale and Oneroa Progressive Association, and the new facilities will be appreciated by residents of the island. There are about six post offices on the island, but the Surfdale office will be the first at Waiheke where money order transactions will be possible.

Grounds Unfit lor Play The recent bad weather has had a severe effect on sports areas at Devonport. At a meeting last night of the Devon port Borough Council, sitting as the Domain Board, it was reported that the football grounds were in an unsatisfactory state, the League field and the No. 1 Eugby field being unfit for play. The board decided to prohibit play on the areas on Saturday, and to inform the clubs concerned of the decision. Only one ground, the No. 2 Rugby field, will be available. Pelicans lor Zoo

A pair of pelicans bought in Australia for the Auckland Zoo arrived from Sydney by the Maraina yesterday. Three of these birds were placed in a special cage on the vessel's boat deck in Sydney, but owing to a disagreement among them one had to be removed in a somewhat damaged condition. The others were in good condition when they reached Auckland, although they were obviously feeling the effects of the extremely cold weather. The Marama also brought nine pigeons and two pairs .of fowls for private fanciers. Te Aroha Mineral Waters Following upon receipt of advice from the Tourist Department that its arrangements in connection with the forthcoming visit to New Zealand of the British medical delegates to the Melbourne conference, would not permit of including Te Aroha in the itinerary, the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce, at its meeting this week, decided to arrange for sample supplies of the local mineral waters to be taken to Rotorua, there to be submitted to the delegates, together with informative literature as to the curative value of the waters. Prevention of Floods In view of the recent series of floods, particularly in the Auckland province, the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum decided at yesterday's meeting to direct the attention of the Government again to the necessity for j the preservation of bush. It was resolved to suggest that settlers should be warned against- the folly of destroying any further native growth on steep slopes; that the existing areas of steep Crown lands should be fenced and the indigenous growth carefully preserved; and that the Government should encourage and assist in the destruction of willows, poplars, wattle and other exotics on creek banks. Naming of Newmarket A suggestion that Newmarket derived its name from its proximity to an old horse-racing track at the Domain was contained in a letter from Mr. C. W. Speary, of Salt Lake City, Utah, received at last night's meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council. Mr. Speary, a former Auckland resident, said in his letter that he had noticed in a Newmarket jubilee booklet which had been sent to him various conjectures as to the origin of the name. He could remember hearing of a race track at the Domain in the early days. Mr. R. Philpot, a member of the council, said the track referred to was used only for foot races.