LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22852, 6 October 1937, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

First Strawberries of Season The first strawberries of the season appeared at the City Markets yesterday, the consignment comprising two chips from a Birkdale grower. The fruit realised 3s a chip. These berries are unusually early. A Church Appeal In response to an appeal throughout the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for £6OOO to wipe off a standing deficit ou its Maori mission funds, a total of £6124 has been received. The appeal was officially launched on August 15, and substantial sums are still being received. Court of Review The Court of Review set up under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act will open a sitting in Auckland at noon to-morrow, when fixtures will be made for a large number of cases. There is so much business to come before the Court that its sessions here are expected to extend for three weeks. The Court is presided over by Mr. Justice Johnston. New Potatoes Plentiful New potatoes were available in surprisingly large quantities for so early in the season at the City Markets yesterday, and prices were consequently lower. Most of the consignments came from Pukekohe, while smaller supplies came from Gratia, Mangere and St. Heliers Bay. Freedom from frost makes some parts of Oratia particularly suitable for potato growing. " Matron Under Anaesthetic " Slips sometimes occur in the recording of evidence during Supreme Court proceedings, and occasionally they introduce a touch of humour. " On page two we have got the matron under the anaesthetic," said Mr. North, as he perused the notes of evidence given by a medical witness yesterday. " 1 have corrected that," replied Mr. Justice Callau. " 1 have put the patient under the anaesthetic."

City Parking Attendants Since the Auckland City Council's car parking area on the old railway station site was opened it has been operated by members of the city traffic staff. These men have now been relieved for other and more important duties by the appointment of two returned soldiers belonging to the Corps of Commissionaires. The new attendants have their own distinctive uniform, and they will be in constant attendance throughout most of the daylight hours. Parasites lor Jamaica To combat a borer insect, which has been ravaging Jamaican banana crops, five cases of parasites which have been found efficacious in Malaya have been collected by the Malayan Agricultural Department and are to be sent through Auckland to Kingston, Jamaica. They will be brought by the Wanganella on October 13 and will be kept in special storage until the departure of the Tainui on November 3. From the banana groves in the centre of Malaya they were taken to Singapore and there transferred to a Dutch steamer for transportation to Sydney. Australian Mails To maintain mail connection with Australia between regular mail steamer sailings continued use is being made of cargo ships. An Australian mail will arrive in Auckland to-day from Wanganui, having been brought from Newcastle by the Gabriella, and Engl.'sh air mail is included in the consignment due on Friday, which will reach Wellington by the Kairanga from Sydney. Two mails for Australia and for the English air service will close in Auckland today. One will be taken from Auckland by the Kaiwarra and the other by the, Narbada from Bluff. Both steamers are going to Newcastle.

Beauty in Waitakere Bush One of the most colourful spectacles ever seen in the Waitakere bush is presented by the extraordinarily profuse blooming this year of the hikutara, commonly known as the dogwood tree. The liikutara, which is always a ready bloomer, has periodic seasons of exceptional flowering, and this year it seems to have exceeded all previous records. The trees, which are one of the most common kinds in the ranges, and average about 25ft. in height, are so covered with small white blossoms that almost every trace of foliage is obscured. Clematis and kowhai are also flowering very freely.

Scrap Iron For Japan About 20 trucks loaded with scrap iron for Japan await unloading in. the Auckland and Newmarket railway yards. The scrap metal forms a portion of 200 tons of cargo which waterside workers refused to load on the Japanese steamer Chifuku Maru at Auckland last week. Inquiries made at the railway station yesterday revealed that it was not known what steps would be taken to handle the metal. Since the announcement that the ordinary channels of trade with Japan would remain open it is expected that the waiting cargo will be loaded on the Ko/.an Maru, which is due at Auckland on October 23

Navy Movements When the flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, H.M.Si Achilles, moves into dock from Calliope Wharf this morning for the completion of her refit, the Admiralty tanker Nucula, which, since last June, has been in the stream preparatory to being laid up altogether, will go to the Devonport Naval Base and berth in the position which the Achilles has been occupying. On Friday "the escort vessel Wellington will return from the cruise she has been making on the east coast of Auckland and will berth at the eastern end of Calliope Wharf. The Admiralty survey ship Endeavour will also come into port on Friday and berth at the base.

Racord Membership In the last 12 months the increase in membership of the Automobile Association (Wellington) has been greater than on any previous occasion, states the association's annual report. At August 31, 1936, there were 6004 financial members, while at August 31, 1937, after writing off 137 members whose subscriptions for the year were unpaid, the roll stood at 7519 financial members, whieli represents a net. increase of 1515, or 25 per cent over the previous year. The growth in membership has been proportionately greater than the increase in vehicle registrations, but even allowing for this, there are still only about 50 per cent of the car owners in the district on the register. With the substantial increase in membership the revenue reached another high level, the total amount received from subscriptions being £6948. After allowing for depreciation of assets, and setting aside an additional £3OO as a reserve for maps and guides (this reserve now stands at £600), there is an excess of income over expenditure of £250. With this amount added, tho accumulated fund now stands at £3400.