LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22922, 28 December 1937, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Visitors to Stewart Island A large number of holiday visitors are at Stewart Island, and it is expected that a record will be set this year. On Friday the ferry steamer mads two return trips from Bluff, and it is proposed to run three trips a week in the New Year. New Exhibits for the Zoo Several new exhibits for the Auckland Zoo are expected to arrive from Calcutta and Singapore by the Narbada within the next few days. The new animals include a Bengal tiger, Gibbon apes and several Rhesus monkeys. The shipment will also include a number of sloth bears. Steady Barometric Pressure An exceptionally prolonged period of steady, normal barometric pressure is being experienced at Auckland. Since December 9 the pressure has not varied over a range of more than .30in. There has been comparatively little fluctuation within this range, the highest pressure being 30.10 in. and the minimum 29.80 in. Mishap to Fragile Load Carrying 1000 cups and saucers, 4000 plates, 1000 glasses, bowls, fancy dishes and incidentals, a lorry travelling from Invercargill to Riverton skidded on loose gravel and turned a somersault. Consternation prevailed, but fortunately both driver and caterer were uninjured, although the crockery was extensively damaged. Lamp Trimmer Injured

Found lying on Central Wharf about 9.30 Jast night, Mr. James Johnman, a lamp trimmer on the Port Gisborne, was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance. Mr. Johnman, who was suffering injuries to the back, was reported last night to be in a fairly serious condition. It is believed that he was injured when he fell from a tram. Waterfront Work Resumes After an interval since Friday afternoon for the Christmas holiday work will be resumed on the Auckland waterfront at eight o'clock this morning. During the spell a considerable amount of shipping has entered port and few berths will be vacant to-day. Work will again cease at five o'clock on Friday afternoon, until Monday morning, for the New Year holiday period.

Transport Contrast While thousands on the Auckland waterfront yesterday afternoon watched for the arrival of the Imperial Airways flying-boat Centaurus the steady progress up the harbour of a cargo steamer, the Kairanga, offered a sharp contrast in transport methods. The Kairanga was completing a voyage of six days from Newcastle, a passage which compared with the Tasman crossing of just over nine hours made by the Centaurus. Fractures ot Legs Fractures of their left legs were suffered by two youths, Jack Rae, aged 19, of 28 Grand View Road, Remuera, and Nevern McConachy, aged 15, of 15 Milton Road, Mount Eden, when the motor-cycle they were riding collided with a motor-car in Broadway, Newmarket, about 8.45 yesterday morning. The two youths were*taken in a St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital.

Shortage of Domestics " There is an acute shortage of domestics in Australia," said Sir Arthur Rickard. of Sydney, who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara yesterday. "To remedy the situation they will have to raise the status of girls in domestic service and show them more consideration. Many householders are offering high wages and are anxious to give the girls fair treatment, but there have been cases of employees being exploited. Furthermore, the wages in shops are often attractive, while such employment also leaves the girls with the evenings free.

Oars on Grafton Bridge Although the repairs being made to Grafton Bridge have been in progress for so long that all Aucklanders using that route to and from the city know the speed restriction of 10 miles an hour, it has been obvious over the Christmas holidays that .there are some visitors to Auckland, with southern number-plates, who have not heard of the restriction. In the past few days several have been noticed to drive over the bridge without slackening speed and one or two have also been observed expressing considerable annoyance with the apparent dawdling of the motorists in front. Crowded Express Trains

An exceptionally large number of people left Auckland by rail yesterday and accommodation was fully taxed in sgite of the extra express to Wellington, which left half an hour after the limited express last night. The afternoon train consisted of 14 cars and the limited express of 13 units, including the luggage and mail vans. Both were full trains and in the case of the latter travellers were informed at about 7 p.m. by means of the loudspeaker system at the station that no more seats were available, and were advised to take the 7.45 p.m. express, which comprised 10 cars. The eight carriages on the New Plymouth express were also well booked.

Accident Victims' Condition The condition of Noel Benjamin, aged 10, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Benjamin, of 332 Ponsonby Road, who suffered severe concussion and a fractured leg in a collision between a bicycle and a motor-car in Shelly Beach Road on Sunday night, was reported by the Auckland Hospital authorities last night to be not serious. Mr. Kenneth Lloyd Williams, aged 24, of Clevedon, who was admitted to hospital with severe head injuries and concussion after he had been involved in a motor crash at Mission Bay on Saturday morning, was reported last night to have made considerable improvement, his condition being no longer serious. Cruise lrom Sydney

The fifth cruise ship from Australia to visit Auckland this season, the Aberdeen and Commonwealth liner .Jervis Bay will arrive from Sydney this morning. She is expected to berth at Queen's Wharf about six o'clock and an early opportunity will be given for tourists to make visits to chief scenic resorts of the North Island. The Jervis Bay has 550 passengers, including a laree number of through travellers from London for New Zealand. Although preceding cruise liners this season have included Wellington in their Dominion programmes, the Jervis Bay will visit only Auckland. She will leave on her return direct to Sydney at five o'clock to-morrow morning. The Jervis Bay's tonnage is 14,164 gross register.