LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Activity of Ngauruhoe A heavy column of smoke and steam rose from the crater of Mount Ngauruhoe about four o'clock yesterday morning, states the HKRAr.n correspondent at the Chateau. The mountain was obscured for most of the day by mist, but when the clouds parted in the evening there was only a thin column of steam. Our Beautiful Harbour The standing of the AVaitemata Harbour in comparison with others in the Southern Hemisphere has been the subject of varied opinion. Delegates to the Science Congress who enjoyed the harbour excursion on Saturday had ample opportunity to form an opinion. "\our harbour is diiferent from Sydney's, but just as beautiful," was the tribute of one Australian visitor. Motor-cyclists' Escape Thrown from a motor-cycle when the back tyre burst two young people, a youth and a girl, had a fortunate esca]>e from serious injury when they were travelling along the waterfront road, near the Orakei intersection, shortly before nine o'clock last night. The young man was dazed, but not seriously hurt, while the girl suffered only abrasions to the face and arms. Burglary at Factory A factory for the manufacture of special acoustic tiles, owned by J. H. M. Carpenter, Limited, Newmarket, was entered on Saturday night for the second time in two weeks. The lock was picked, and it is believed that the building was entered in an attempt to secure a valuable English secret formula for the manufacture of the tiles, for which the company holds the New Zealand rights. A Sunday Job The moving of a large safe across Queen Street, just above the Customs Street intersection, about 9 o'clock yesterday morning, created a diversion for the crowds of holiday-makers hound for the beaches. Traffic, which was not heavy at the time, was held up for a short period by planks laid across the road. Eight men with rollers and crowbars carried out the task and eventually placed the safe on a motor-truck, which took it away. American Vessel Samoan

Owing to having twice changed her name an air of mystery surrounded the motor-ship Samoan, which is due at Auckland from Vancouver with a cargo of lumber to-night. An American vessel of 3375 tons sho was formerly the Silverspruce and was originally known as the Ash hoe. She was built at Jacksonville in 1919. It is only in the latest supplements to Lloyd's Register of Shipping that the vessel's most recent change of name is recorded. Overseas Mails Arrive With the arrival of both the Awatea from Sydney and the Aorangi from Vancouver this afternoon a large quantity of overseas mail will be handled in a short time by Auckland postal officials. The Awatea lias 152 bags of letters and 85 bags of parcels for Auckland. This consignment includes air mail despatched from London on December 30 and on January 4.. The Aorangi has 468 bags of letters and 401 bags of parcels, comprising both English and American mail, for the Dominion.

Girl's Sang Froid In spite of the dull weather yesterday, a few of the more hardy Aucklanders went bathing. Considerably more courage and a great deal of selfconfidence were required by the young woman who, at about two o'clock yesterday afternoon, was seen walking up Queen Street clad in nothing more than a pair of beach shorts and a backless top. Entirely unheeding of the many curious stares her garb provoked, she nonchalantly continued on her way with the air of a successful entrant at a beauty contest. Anchored

During Thursday night's gale a yacht anchored in Anzac Bay, (Istend, began to drag her anchor, and, in spite of a fairly heavy sea, the owner decided to row out to her. He and a friend rowed strenuously for several minutes, but, finding that they were making no headway, they abandoned hope of reaching the yacht. As the men turned to go back they discovered, to their chagrin, that their dinghy was securely anchored to the shore. They hauled in the anchor and rowed out to the yacht. Unfortunately for the owner the vessel subsequently foundered.

Injuries in Falls Concussion and ho ad injuries wore suffered through a fall at her homo on Saturday afternoon by Mrs. Amelia King, aged 46, of 45 College Hill. She was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance, and her "Condition last night was reported to bo not serious. Falling from a swing in the Onehunga. beach reserve at about 4 p.m. yesterday, Thelma Pratt, aged 16, daughter of Mr. William Pratt, of 8 Willow Street, To Papapa, suffered concussion and was conveyed to the Auckland Hospital in a, St. John ambulance. Her condition last night was reported to bo not serious.

Wharf Fishing Danger The danger of fishing from the swinging "bumpers" which are built below the top-decking of wharves to stop boats from damaging tho main structure, was illustrated at Aotea Quay, Wellington, the other afternoon, when an eight-year-old boy had his right hand severely crushed. Tho boy, who was with several others, was so intent on his fishing that ho apparently forgot that tho Hororat.i was moored alongside the wharf. When a strong gust of wind carried tho liner against the "bumper," tho lad was leaning over the side holding his line with his right hand, which was crushed between the liner's side and tho woodwork of the "bumper." Tho boy was attended by the ship's doctor and taken to hospital.

Weok-end Excursions Special trains from Wellington and New Plymouth reached Auckland on Saturday morning, over 300 passengers travelling by the Wellington train and another 350 making the journey from New Plymouth, Waitara and Taumarunui. About 70 passengers from Wellington broke their journey at Frankton to join a special train for Rotorua, while the remainder, about 250, came on to Auckland. The New Plymouth train left again at six o'clock last night and the Wellington express at 3.5 in the afternoon. Tho special excursion train to Waitonio Caves yesterday also was well patronised, 300 people making the journey, while excursion trains to and from Hamilton each carried 560 passengers. The limited express last night carried 4SO and the New Plymouth express 200.