LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22405, 29 April 1936, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ngaruawahia Traffic Bridge The traffic bridge across the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia has been closed for several weeks while the understructure of the bridge is being repaired and strengthened, and it is anticipated that tho bridge will be opened for trafficagain at the end of this week. Improving Times "An indication of improving times, remarked the Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. R. Ferner, at the borough council meeting last night, when four applications for the approval of new subdivisions in tho district were received. The applications were approved.

Accident Victim's Condition The condition of Mrs. Isabel Burrows, of Hu*katere, near Matakohe, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Monday with head injuries and concussion, is still very serious. Mrs. Burrows was thrown from a motor-car at Papatoetoe when the vehicle came into collision with a motor-lorry.

Sport in Hawke's Bay Shooting enthusiasts in Hawke's Bay are busily engaged in preparation for the new season, which will commence on Friday. Reports from various sources indicate that duck are present throughout the district in good numbers, while pheasant are also plentiful in the northern portion, where cover is available. The opinion is freely expressed that this season will bo a good one for sportsmen.

Value of Second Tug The increased efficiency of the port since the advent of the new tug, William C. Daldy, commented on by the harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. The improvement had been emphasised during the recent boisterous weather, he stated, when vessels had been able to berth at and leave the wharves at times when it would not have been possible had a second powerful tug not been available. Effect of 40-hour Week The probability of the new industrial legislation causing an increase in prices of materials was debated at length last night by the Ellerslie Town Board. A motion was submitted proposing to spend £IOO on the advance purchase of roading material. Members differed in opinions as to whether the 40-hour working week would result in prices advancing. The majority inclined to the view that an increase was inevitable in the near future. Acres of Gossamer Acres of gossamer glistening in the sun and undulating beneath a gentle breeze provided a memorable sight at the Westown golf links, New Plymouth, the other day. Immediately the rainclouds lifted about mid-day and the sun shone warmly thousands of spiders spread their webs until the fairways shimmered as though covered with a silken cord. So dense was the gossamer that the tracks of the golfers were plainly visible along the fairways to an observer looking into the sun. Sunshine Association's Work

A grant of £lO was made to the Community Sunshine Association by the Mount Albert Borough Council at its meeting last night. Permission was also granted for the association to hold a street collection in the borough on May 29. Members of the council agreed that no organisation in New Zealand was doing more for the children of poor parents than the association. In its application the association advised that already 750 children had been given a three weeks' holiday at Motuihi Island, and 125 more were being sent there; Beer at 5s a Bottle Offers of large salaries -often proved "a snare and a delusion," said Mr. I. W. Morley, a mining engineer, when alluding at Christchurqh this week to the goldfields of New Guinea. He added that, attractive as salaries were on paper, in actual fact they did not spell very handsome remuneration. The trouble was the high cost of living. He illustrated this by stating that when he first went to New Guinea beer was retailed at 7s 6d a bottle cash, and later at ss. "Old-timers" later rejoiced when the price*was reduced to 3s 6d cash or 5s a bottle booked. Harbour Boards as Fishermen

A suggestion that the principle of the annual cricket match between the Auckland and Wellington harbour board staffs should be extended to a fishing competition between board members, was made at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday, when a letter was received expressing appreciation of the fine spirit that had prevailed throughout the visit of the Auckland team to Wellington this year. It was suggested that members should board the tug, William 0. Daldy, and enil down the East Coast until they met their rivals from the south, and thereupon take part in a fishing match. Another member suggested that the Wellington board might even requisition its floating dock for this important engagement.

Only Two Bad Coins Members of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association who counted the £954 in silver and copper collected on Poppy Day, commented on the scarcity of bad coins in the boxes. As many as 40 or 50 worthless objects have been received on former Poppy Days, including all sorts of foreign coins and objects that look like coins until closely examined. This year there were onlv two coins -which could not bo tendered to the bank, but both of them had been undoubtedly genuine coins. One wns a New Zealand shilling which had apparently been run over by a tramcar and squashed out of shape, and tho other was a penny which would not ring and was rather battered.

Oood Deer Country A district in which there does not seem to bo a poor head and where the stags do not appear to mind the report of a rifle has at last been found by some stalkers. Mr. M. B. Grant, of Christchurch, and Mr. W. J. Glasgow, of Rangiora, returned home recently after four days' stalking at the headwaters of the Tutaikuri River, about 17 or 18 miles from the Lewis Pass road, and close to the main divide, where they found these conditions. The country where they were stalking was high and wild, and Mr. Grant attributed tho fearlessness of the stags to tho remoteness of the district, which meant that very little shooting had been done here. As is usual, the best heads were found on the highest parts. Deer were found in good numbers, but there were never many in a herd together. The stags were still roaring and collecting their hinds. Tho two men shot 15 stags altogether, the best being a 12-pointer.