LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Accident Victim's Condition An improvement lias taken place 111 (lie condition of Mr. .John Draper, grocer's assistant, aged 20. of 1 Carlton Gore Road, who was injured when the motor-ear in which he was a passenger collided with a, telegraph polo at Glendouio on Sunday night. His condition last night was not regarded as serious. Bandsmen's Uniforms

Tho purchase of new uniforms and caps for members of the Auckland Municipal Band was decided upon by the City Council last night. The tender of Mr. T. W. Hutton was accepted. Tho uniforms arc to cost £G Gs 9d each, and the caps 13s Id each. The caps are subject to a modification in design, and any difference in price resulting from this will be borne by the council.

Large Eel Caught A large eel, more than five feet in length, 16in. round the girth and weighing 211b., was shot in a creek at East Tamaki on Sunday by a sportsman who was rabbit shooting. Great strength was shown by tho pel in a desperate struggle for its life, but it was killed as quickly as possible. One of the party brought the eel to the city in his car in order that it might be photographed.

Attracting Tourists Praiso for tho Now Zealand Tourist Department was expressed by Bishop Liston when ho returned to Auckland by tho Mariposa yesterday after attending meetings of tho Plenary Council of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand and Australia at Sydney. Ho said everywhere ho went ho had heard the department spoken of in very high terms for its efficiency and for the courtesy of its officers. Coronation Medals Already nearly 7000 King George VI. Coronation Medals, which were made availablo in this country through the Post Office, have been sold to New Zealanders. The medals were prepared in two designs, one in silver, and a smaller one in bronze, both showing His Majesty's head surmounted by a crown on one side, and on the other the crowned head of Queen Elizabeth. It is intended to withdraw them from sale at the end of September.

Impressed With High Standard The efficiency of the methods employed by the Auckland St. John Ambulance Association was commented upon by Mr. L. E. Gielgud, Under-Secretary-General of the International Red Cross League, who arrived in Auckland by the Mariposa yesterday. Mr. Gielgud paid a visit to the ambulance station in Rutland Street yesterday. He said he was impresesd with the high standard shown by the officers, and he also remarked on the modern equipment used.

Moonlight Tramp A novel tramp was arranged during the week-end by the Auckland Tramping Club, when advantage was taken of the bright moonlight for a night tramp to their club hut at To Hapua in the Hunua Ranges. Some 20 members left Papakura at 6 p.m. on Saturday and arrived at the hut in the early hours of the morning. Members of the Alpine Sports Club were also tramping in the week-end and visited the Mokoroa Falls and Mount Taupaki.

Refuse in the City Notwithstanding recent public eom%ient on the dirt nuisance in tho city, a team of men with a city dust cart was to be seen busily engaged on its rounds in Fort Street at .'3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. As they picked up the large receptacles that had been awaiting them and heaved their contents into the lorry the wind performed its usual office of making a selection of tho papers and lighter dirt and whisking them off into the crowded thoroughfare.

Aeroplane Delayed Delayed by unfavourable weather at New Plymouth on her flight from Wellington to Auckland, the north-bound Union Airways' monoplane arrived at Mangere yesterday afternoon 75 minutes late. The machine remained at Now Plymouth airport until 3.15 p.m. and reached Auckland an hour later. Owing to her late arrival a quantity of air mail from southern offices could not connect with the liner Mariposa, which left at five o'clock for San Francisco, via Island ports. Fowlds Memorial Medal

The Auckland University College Council, at its meeting yesterday, approved the design of a handsome silver medal to commemorate the association with the college of the late Sir George Fowlds. On the face of the medal is an

engraving of Sir George Fowlds, the reverse side bearing the college arms and scroll and the name of the winner for the year. A similar medal is to be awarded annually to the most distinguished graduate of the year, the award being made by the Professorial Board. City Council Meetings

To meet the convenience of members who aro also members of the General Assembly the Auckland City Council has changed its meeting night from Thursday to Monday, and this arrangement will stand during the present session of Parliament. The ordinary three-weekly meeting should have been held last Thursday, but was put off until last night, when the decision to make the change was ratified. The next meeting will be held on October 11, and thereafter meetings for the transaction of general business will be held every third Monday night. Radio Interference Steps taken by the Waitemata Elec-tric-Power Board to eliminate interference with radio reception caused by the new sodium discharge street lights at Dcvonport were commended by a resident of Lake I'oad in a letter received at yesterday's meeting of the board. The manager, A. Main, said that all gaseous discharge lamps caused some interference with radio reception and he had known cases where lamps of the larger mercury discharge type caused a distinct singing note. Small condensers had been fitted to each of the; lights at Dcvonport and the remedy had proved very effective. Destruction of Mats

A constant war against rats is waged by the Sanitary Department ol: the Auckland City Council, which during the past year has been responsible for the taking of over 7000 rats. In his annual report to the council last night the chief sanitary inspector, Mr. H. Paul), said that the rat-prooling of premises, trapping and distribution of poisoned bait were carried on, 10,523 packages o[ poison being supplied to owners of premises and householders. Over 100 traps were set nightly at some UO to 'lO places in the business and waterfront areas of the city, resulting in 7193 rats being obtained and delivered to the hospital laboratory for examination on behalf of the Health. Department,