LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey Kiwi For Museum A fine specimen of grey kiwi has been presented to the Whangarei municipal museum by the Whangarei Acclimatisation Society. Advice of the gift was received by the Whangarei Borough Council at its meeting on Monday, and it was decided to thank the donors. Wrestler In Hospital - Improvement occurred last night 111 the condition of the French wrestler Francis Fouche, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Monday night suffering from concussion, after his wrestling match with Joe Woods, of America, at the Town Hall. His condition is reported to be not serious. Tanker Delayed While a minor engine defect was being remedied the Norwegian motortanker Havbor was delayed at anchor in the stream off North Head for more than two hours last evening. The Havbor moved from Western Whart about 5.30 yesterday afternoon and did not finally clear port for San Pedro until 8.10 last evening. Regular Anonymous Gift "At regular intervals, this anonymous contribution has been turning up for years—its one characteristic mark is an inscription, 'For the Poor'," stated the secretary, Mr. H. A. Somerville, at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday, when a donation of £1 Is was received. Mr. W. Wallace observed that it was probable that the money came from one who could ill afford it. Memorial Bell lor Chapel A bell for the chapel at the Diocesan High School for Girls, Epsom, has been presented by Lady Mitchclson as a memorial to her husband, Sir Edwin Mitchclson, one of the founders of the school and the first chairman of the Diocesan High Schools Council. According to a report presented to the Anglican Synod yesterday, the bell will be dedicated and rung for the first time on Founder's Day, November 5. Minesweeper Loses Gear Owing to the loss of portion of her sweeping gear during minesweeping exercises in Hauraki Gulf, H.M.S. Wakakura returned to the Devonport Naval Base yesterday afternoon for replacements. She remained in port for less than half an hour, returning to the gulf, where the Imperial escort vessels Leitb and Wellington are working with the Wakakura in naval reservist training. The three ships will return to Auckland on Friday. Gorse Fire at Takapuna Three weeks without rain has made paddocks and vacant sections around Auckland very dry, and if the fine sped continues gorse and grass fires are likely to occur. For the second time recently a large area of gorse on vacant sections in Quebec Iload, Takapuna, caught fire yesterday afternoon and for some time the outbreak endangered houses. The Takapuna Fire Brigade saved the dwellings, however, and the only damage done was the burning of fences on the properties. Appropriate Interruptions "That is just what I wanted," said Mr. A. E. H. Harrison, on being interrupted by cries of "Speak up when addressing the Anglican Synod at St. Mary's Hall, Parnell, yesterday afternoon. Mr. Harrison's rejoinder was greeted with laughter, for at the time he was moving a resolution to instruct the Standing Committee to investigate the possibility of improving the acoustic properties of the hall with a view to the more efficient conduct of the business of synod. After a short discussion the motion was carried.

The Queen Mary at Sea Described by a member of the ship's complement as ( one of the most spectacular sights he had seen at sea, the giant Canard liner Queen Mary was met in mid-Atlantic by the Federal Line steamer Westmoreland, which was steaming from London to the United States and Auckland. The Queen Mary, travelling at about 30 knots on her way to England, passed close to the Westmoreland,, her bow wave rushing back high on her sides. The spectacle attracted keen admiration from the watching complement of the cargo steamer, which reached Auckland yesterday.

Diot for an Archbishop "Never have a daughter who is great on diet. Mine has made me what 1

am on cabbage water, and I am not sure that it is worth the cost," said Archbishop Julius, at his 90th birthday dinner in Christclnirch. He was responding on behalf of his daughter, Miss Ada Julius, to whom a presentation had been made on behalf of the wives and daughters of the clergy of the diocese Reference had been made to Miss Julius as "the power behind the throne," and the Archbishop said that he would never have been able to enjoy his retirement as he had without the help and devotion of his daughter, his debt to whom ho could not even begin to tell. Faces Remembered Because of the nature of the pawnbroking business the proprietors aiid their staffs use to the full the faculty of recalling the faces and general appearance of persons who sell them articles. A witness in the Supreme Court yesterday, in a case which depended upon the identification of a man who went into a city pawnbroker's shop recently and sold a stolen suit, said she had for six years been employed in that particular business, and it was necessary for her to remember her clients. She agreed with Mr. Justice Callan that the possibility of having subsequently to make use of her training and memory was often important in certain types of transactions. Mayor and Racehorse An amusing little interlude occurred at the Cetennial Exhibition meeting in the City Council chamber last night when the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, was called away to answer a radio-telephone call from Melbourne, where Flood Tide is running to-day in the Caul field Cup. "Find out who is going to win the cup," called someone as Sir Ernest was leaving the chamber, but he shook his head, amid the general laughter. When lie returned a few minutes later, he was greeted with a chorus ol' demands for advice to prospective punters, ami responded with some which could only be described as entirely harmless. The threads of the interrupted discussion were picked up again with some difficulty.