LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22470, 14 July 1936, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Next Empire Air Mall The Postal Department has received advice that the Union Company's steamer Omana, which left Sydney for Wellington on Sunday, has Australian mail, including an Empire air mail, which was despatched from London on June 28. She is due at Wellington on Saturday. Cyclist Injured A cyclist, Edwin Peter Williams, aged 19, suffered concussion when his machine was involved in a collision with a motor-car in An/.ac Avenue, City, last night. The youth, who lives in Sarsfield • Street, Ponsonby, was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance. Promise of Spring An indication of an early spring is in evidence in the Taradale district, near Napier, where the first lambs have already made their appearance. Several have been born on the property of Mr. S. Howard, Church Road, while other localities also are experiencing similar arrivals. Budding of early fruittrees, willows, and other foliage is noticeable. An Unlucky Hawk A remarkable incident occurred at the Opotiki Defence Rifle Club range at the week-end, when shooting was in progress. Four men were down ready to shoot five rounds "rapid fire" when a hawk, which was chasing a smaller bird, suddenly swooped into the line of fire. The smaller bird escaped, but the hawk was killed instantly and accidentally. All the shots were registered on the targets. French National Day The 147 th anniversary of the capture of the Bastille by the Paris revolutionaries falls to-day. The fortress fell on July 14, 1789, and the occasion, since recognised as the birthday of the French nation under its fbrescnt constitution, is celebrated each year. The French Consul in Auckland, M. Edouard Joubert, will receive calls from members of the Consular Corps this morning. Wanganella's .Trip After meeting heavy seas off tlie Australian coast the Huddart-Parker vessel Wanganella, which arrived at Auckland yesterday from Sydney and Melbourne, experienced a calm and uneventful voyage. The vessel had 158 passengers ,including a number from Europe, South Africa and the East. Livestock on the Wanganella consisted of three bulls, a boar and a horse from Melbourne, and two dogs, a boar and two boxes of birds from Sydney. Week-end at the Chateau Perfect weather was enjoyed at the Chateau over the week-end and conditions for ski-ing were excellent. A party of 33 King's College boys arrived on Saturday and yesterday a slalom ski race was held. The boys left for Auckland last night after a very enjoyable holiday. In addition to the party of schoolboys there were nearly 150 guests at the Chateau, and it is estimated that over 200 people visited the Salt Hut during the week-end. Building at f tahuhu

A report on building activity at Otahuhu during the past three months was presented last night at the Otahuhu Borough Council meeting. The inspector, Mr. W. J. Hughes, stated that 52 permits for the erection of buildings valued at £11,955 had been issued. During the past three weeks nine permits for a total valuation of £2222 had been issued. There had been an increase over the corresponding three months of last year of approximately £4400. The council expressed its satisfaction with the substantial increase recorded. Whangarei Nurses' Success

"It is very gratifying to the board to know that of the five passes with honours .in the recent State nursing examinations throughout the Dominion two were awarded to trainees of the Whangarei Hospital," said the chairman, Mr. J. A. S. Mackay, at yesterday's meeting of the board at Whangarei. The honours were awarded to Nurses Esther Johnston and Joan Lane. The chairman added that it was very pleasing to see that the standard of training in the hospital was being maintained. It was decided to congratulate the medical and nursing staffs on the success of the candidates. Methylated Spirits Drinkers "Do you not want to live long?" was a question, asked in the Police Court yesterday by Mr. W. It. McKean, S.M., which remained unanswered by a first offender for drunkenness, who admitted consuming quantities of methylated spirits. SubInspector Fox said the accused and his wife were found in a stupor in their room. Ten pint bottles and a number of quart bottles of methylated spirits were scattered about, in addition to an empty brandy bottle and several beer bottles. The woman was still in such a condition that she was unable to appear in Court. The accused was remanded for medical treatment. Shortage of Labour Several references to a shortage of labour in the plumbing trade were made at a Conciliation Council hearing yesterday of the dispute between the Auckland Plumbers and Gasfitters' Industrial Union of Workers and the Auckland Master Plumbers. At one stage the agent for the employers, Mr. W E. Anderson, said there was plenty of work for plumbers in Auckland, but a distinct shortage of labour. The commissioner, Mr. M. J. Reardon, said he supposed this was duo to the fact that in recent years employers had been unablo to employ apprentices. The real reason, said the advocate for the union, Mr. J. Clark, was that ever since the depression the work had been going in "fits and starts and employers never knew what they would be called upon to handle. Vandalism at Wellington

Astonishment was expressed by members of the reserves committee of the Wellington City Council when a report was made by the director of reserves that tree guards and seats which had been overhauled only a few weeks ago in Oriental Bay had been deliberately smashed. The manner in which the damage was done showed quite clearly that the stupidity was that of adults and not of children. Palings had been ripped off the tree guards, and two seats had had their heavy jarrah backs broken off, apparently with a lever of some sort, as the seats were constructed sufficiently solidly to stand up to any reasonable wear and tear. Periodically there are good grounds for complaint by residents of senselessly noisy behaviour in the district, and requests been made for a more frequent polieeSpatrol.