LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22200, 29 August 1935, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Birkenhead Boy Scouts Permission was granted by the Birkenhead Borough Council last night to the local troop of Boy Scouts to erect a scout hall on the council's recreation reserve in Onewa Road. The area comprises half an acre, and the rental is to be a nominal amount. Anniversary of Samoan Landing The 21st anniversary of the capture of German Samoa by an advance guard of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force falls to-day. The troops concerned, which were the first to leave New Zealand to take part in the Great War, landed without encountering any resistance! The force remained on the island for eight months. Movement ol Planets Two planets, Mars and Jupiter, were in close proximity last night. The actual conjunction occurred at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, but they were still close together in the evening, forming with the star Alpha Librae a prominent grouping. Mars will now move rapidly away from its brilliant companion, and the two will not meet again for two years. Many Motorists Prosecuted Over 70 motorists were charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with breaches of the traffic regulations and by-laws, the most common offenders being motorists who had left their cars unattended in areas where parking is prohibited or restricted. Fines ranging from 10s to £l, and costs, were imposed for this offence. Fewer cyclists were charged than is usual. Mails by Motor Out of approximately 80,000 fanners in New Zealand, 23,000 receive and despatch their mails at their* gates by mail motor daily, according to a report issued by the Post and Telegraph Department. The report claims that the department's regular, usually daily, mail connections have assisted in no small degree in the development and well-being a great portion of the farming community. - . Papatoetoe Sub Post Office The opening of a sub. post office on the Great South Road at Papatoetoe was reported at the Papatoetoe Chamber of Commerce meeting last night. A request for the facilities now granted was made by the chamber some months ago, when it was suggested that the proposed office be known as "Papatoetoe East." Mr. R. McComb, the chairman, said the new office would meet a great need and would be much appreciated by residents. Frequency of Strikes "This is my seventh visit to this part of the world .and each time I have como there has been a strike at one of the Australian ports," said Mr. Alexander Watson, the noted elocutionist, who arrived by the W7anganella from Sydney yesterday. Mr. Watson said the delay to the nella caused by the recent shipping strike in Australia had caused a change in his arrangements, as it had done in the schedules of other travellers. Sale of Pictures The purchase of three' pictures from the annual " black and white " exhibition now being held by the Auckland Society of Arts has been made by the Auckland City Council. The pictures, all of which are by Auckland artists, are to be hung in the Art Gallery. They are: " Scaffolding," by A. Thompson; "Decoration." by Ida G. Eise; and " Village in France," by John Weeks. Sales to other buyers include " Portrait of Mr. Wadham," by A. B. Barns Graham, and " Bill," by Amy B. Dawson. Forestry League's Work "If public forestry is to succeed and to be established in its proper niche in the public economy of New Zealand it must justify its existence and serve adequately every department of the public need," states Captain L. Macintosh Ellis, ex-director of the State Forest Service, in a letter to the New Zealand Forestry League congratulating it upon its work. " This public service not only consists of wood crop production but also soil and water conservation, wild life, and recreational management " Gift Toward Surf-Boat Tangible appreciation of the efforts being made by the Piha Surf LifeSaving Club to promote safety at Piha by the provision of a surf-boat is contained in a letter received by the Auckland Surf Life-Saving Association from a resident of Wellington. " With such a dangerous beach, a boat should prove of real benefit," he states. " They are a progressive band of workers, and I have that much sympathy with their efforts that I have decided to make a cut in one of my two extravagances and enclose 10s toward purchasing their surf-boat." Napier and Tourist Traffic

The desirability of including Napier as a full day's stop for tourists is to be placed beforo the notice of the Government Tourist Department, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the advisory board to the Minister in charge of tourist resorts, by the Napier Chamber of Commerce. This decision was reached following a discussion raised by Mr. W'. Harvey, who drew the chamber's attention to a brochure issued by the Government Tourist Department, which made no mention of Napier or other parts of Hawke's Bay except Waikaremoana.

Benefits of Draining Before the land was drained von could not have raised a billy goat on a, square mile, but now it produces 12,0001b. of butter-fat for 138 acres." J his was the manner in which an Awarua Plains settler illustrated the benefits of drainage work on land of this character when at a conference with members of Parliament in Invercargill a request for the straightening and widening ol the Mokotua Stream was made. The Hon. Adam Hamilton said the value of such works was recognised but there was always the question of using public money to benefit private interests to be considered. New Zealand and Gas Warfare That gas-mask drill and instruction in the treatment of gassed j>ersons were as necessary in Now Zealand as in any other country was an opinion expressed by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes at a meeting of the general committee of the St. John Ambulance Association in Christchurch. In the case of war, said Sir Heaton, the people of New Zealand were liable to be attacked, and that fact should not be overlooked. The progress made in gas warfare was so pronounced that the anticipation of this country's being near a theatre of war warranted definite action in the work of preparation.