LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fruit Prices Rise The influence of the wet weather in restricting the activities of fruit pickers was felt at the City Markets yesterday, all varieties of fruits being much shorter of supply than last week, when there was profusion of both fruit and vegetables. With a fairly keen demand, prices rose noticeably from the disappointingly low level of last week. School Dental Clinics No authoritative statement has been made yet as to whether schools in the Dominion will be reopened at the normal time in February, owing to the wider spread of the infantile paralysis epidemic in the past few weeks. However, a decision has been made that the school dental clinics, which were to have been reopened next Tuesday, will remain closed for the present.

Fire in Timber Yard A fire which broke out in a shed for waste shavings in the timber yard of 0. Aickin and Son, Limited, Madden Street, Freeman's Bay, yesterday afternoon, was attended by two brigades from the Central Station and one from Western Districts. Two lirst-aid appliances were used to extinguish the outbreak, which presented little difficulty. The inside of the shed was fairly seriously damaged, but no details of insurance are available. Accurate Weather Forecast

Considerable gratitude for the accurate forecast issued on Wednesday night by the Dominion meteorologist, Dr. ft. Kidson, was expressed yesterday by farmers in the Whangarei and Dargaville districts. A warning about severe weather enabled them to take precautious with their stock, and consequently when the storm broke sheep and cattle had been taken to sheltered pastures, so that no losses occurred.

Mishap at Westfleld An incident in connection with the stay-in campaign at the Westfield freezing works yesterday was a motoring mishap. When proceeding past the gates of the works on the main highway a motorist's car collided with a baker's van parked there and the impact threw a trav of pies and cakes, which were being delivered to the workers, on to the road. The damage was quickly assessed and the motorist made compensation and proceeded on his way. Exiles from Germany

"A large number of German Jews, exiled from their own country and coming out to Australia and New Zealand, was a noticeable feature on the Mongolia, outward bound to Australia," said Miss B. Stevenson, who returned to Runedin by the Marama. "Many of the exiles told passengers that since they bad boarded the vessel they had laughed for the first time in many months. Passengers were particularly kind to them, and care was taken to make them happy." Sale of Police Horses

The advance in the police department to mechanical means of transport is further reducing the dwindling field of usefulness of the one-time paramount horse. This was borne home at yesterday's horse fair at Pukekohe, when six troop horses from the force at Auckland were offered for sale. They were fine animals and attracted spirited competition, the prices paid ranging from £l2 to £22 10s. The total for the six was £10:5, which gives an average of £l7 3s each. This is well above the usual prices for hacks.

Road Improvement One of the largest road improvement jobs to be put in hand near Morrinsville was started this week when the staff of W. S. Goosman and Company, Limited, began work on Tahuna Road. Six miles of this road between the Tanhei road turn-off and the Tahuna riding, boundary is to be reconstructed and tar-sealed. Starting at the Tahuna end the contractors' staff have already cut off a sharp bend near the ninemile peg from Morrinsville and evened up the steep grade near the end of the Tahuna riding's bitumen stretch.

Last Day for Rates Business was heavy in the office of the City Treasury yesterday, for it was the last day allowed for the payment of rates by those ratepayers to whom the earliest notices had been sent. The first notices went out on July 1, and the period allowed for payment without the added penalty is six months, with a further allowance of 14 days. Other rate notices were sent out during July and August and the recipients of those will have the same allowance of six months and 14 days from the date of issue of the notice.

Windy Conditions The spectacle of men chasing their hats has been fairly common in Aucklnnd in the tnst few days, but one man had more exercise in this connection than he had expected yesterday afternoon. While waiting by the kerb his hat was blown away. When he had retrieved that, he had to retrieve his handkerchief which also had been blown away before he could use it. No-sooner had he pursued and recaptured that, than a passenger about to board a bus dropped his ticket, which fluttered past the pedestrian. When he had retrieved that ho went away from the locality.

Long Odds Against Him When <1 man arrested in a recent police raid appeared in thfe Police Court yesterday, charged with being found in a common gaming house, he said ho had been convicted several times in the past, but never for a gaining offence, and he asked to be dealt with as a first offender. "Your weakness, or your strength, as the case may be, seems to have been sly-grog selling, and considering the fines von have had to pay that might well be called gambling," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M. "The odds have been very much against you, and you will have to start out on new lines," the magistrate added.

Sporting Minister A keen sportsman, the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Scinple, is enthusiastic about the fishing and shooting to be had in Canterbury. While on a visit to Christchurch, principally on holiday, lie spent a great deal of time in the country and had some good sport. He landed a fairsized salmon at Lake Coleridge, having that advantage over his companion, the Hon. G. R. Hunter, who had no luck at all. But, Mr. Hunter said, he had the pleasure of eating Mr. Sempie's salmon. Then Mr. Semple and Mr. Hunter were the guests of a Darfield farmer for shooting, and, firing at hares picked up in the lights of a moving motor-car, had splendid sport. The party secured a big bag for a night shoot*