LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Appearance oi Mushrooms Mushrooms have appeared in several districts about Auckland during the past two days. Falls of rain coming at a time when tho ground was warm were favourable for the growth of the mushrooms, but, although several pickings have been obtained, the quantity available seems to be small as yet. Food Consumption at Hospital

According to tho matron's report, which was received at a recent meeting of tho Wellington Hospital Board, meat consumption at the hospital for last month, including the Ohiro Home, was 10,8381b. beef, 78001b. mutton, 5941b. tripe, and 10701b. lamb. Milk consumption for the month was 5551 gallons, and 378 pints of cream. The number of pieces of laundry handled during the month was 280,972. Trees lor Centennial

As the result of a conference early in tho year of education board agricultural instructors and officers of the Education Department, an endeavour is to be made to celebrate tho New Zealand centennial in 1940 by the planting in school grounds throughout the Dominion of suitable native trees. The conference decided that the minimum number of trees for each board should be 2000, and it is almost certain that the Wellington quota will exceed that figure.

Hot-weather Football The P. and O. liner Strathnaver, which arrived in port yesterday, has some enthusiastic Association football players among her crew, for, in spite of tlie hot weather, the chaplain of the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen, tho Rev. H. K. Viekery, previously received a cable asking him to arrange two matches in Auckland. Mr. Viekery secured teams from the Renuiera and Imperial Star, and these will play the Strathnaver's teams this afternoon on tho Parnoll School ground. Bide in Court A pea-rifle was produced in evidence during tho hearing a case in the Police Court yesterday. It was stated that it had been accidentally discharged, causing injury to a girl's leg. Evidence was given as to the light spring of the trigger. Counsel picked up the rifle and pulled back the breech bolt, all tho time pointing the muzzle toward the Bench. "You had better take that thing out into tho backyard, or point it in tho opposite direction," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., who later dismissed the caso.

Air Force Candidates Candidates for short service commissions in the Boyal Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and as airmen in tho Royal New Zealand Air Force will appear'' shortly before a selection committee whoso itinerary extends from February 1 to March 14 and covers both islands. Members of the committee will bo Wing-Commander L. M. Isitt, Squadron-Leader E. M. F. Grundy and Major C. W. Free, M.C. The committee will interview candidates at Auckland from February 7 to 9, and will visit Hamilton and Ilotorua on February 10. Maori Banquet

A banquet cooked in Maori fashion over a steam-vent was given to a large party of guides from Whakarewarewa this week when they were entertained at Orakei-Korako. On arrival by bus from Rotorua, the guides were welcomed by Mr. A. P. Smith, one of the directors of the company controlling the Orakei-Korako thermal area. The party then proceeded to a tall grove of poplars, planted by the missionaries in tho early days, where dinner was served from tho flax kits in which it had been cooketf. After inspecting tho valley, which they declared to be unrivalled in the thermal districts, the guides sang a Maori farewell song.

Skilled or Unskilled Labour "There is skill wanted in every kind of said Mr. Justice O'Regan, when the Arbitration Court was hearing tho radio workers' dispute yesterday. A representative of tho employers had been stating that the radio industry was now so highly organised that the skill required in the workers was becoming less and less. "There is no such thing as unskilled labour," continued His Honor. "Somo men in a gravel pit can beat the other fellows hollow. It is a question whether a man can do the iob and what he ought to get for it. You need not waste time about whether he is skilled or unskilled. The labourer is worthy of his hire, and that is the end of it."

Traffic Jam In City A sorious traffic jam developed in Quay Street, between Queen Street and Prince's Wharf, at about 11 o'clock yesterday morning, when double lanes of motor-cars and lorries on both sides of the street were unable to proceed for about 15 minutes. The trouble was largely caused through abnormally heavy traffic to and from Prince's Wharf. It is always a busy locality on Friday mornings, and the congestion of commercial Vehicles was increased by a number of taxis and other passenger conveyances which were required to transport tourists disembarking from tho cruise ship Strathnaver on various inland tours. Tho blockage was gradually dispersed through the efforts of a traffic officer.

Manufacture of Gas Masks Tho manufacture of largo numbers of gas masks for emergency use is being taken as a mattter of course by the people of Great Britain, according to Mr. C. M. Boyce, managingdirector of a London firm of motor accessory and rubber products manufacturers, ulio arrived by tho cruise ship Strathnaver yesterday. Mr. Boyce said his company was only one of several which were making gas masks f6r tho Government. They were for civilian use, and were being sent to various centres throughout Great Britain, from which they would be issued to tho public in case of emergency. "Naturally, we in England Jiopo they will never have to bo used," Mr. Boyce said.

Royal Humane Society Medals Tho bronze medals, which were awarded by tho Boyal Humane Society of Now Zealand to Mr. H. H. Partridge and Mr. C. Tilby, of Auckland, for their bravery in rescuing five men from drowning in the Waitemata Harbour on September 30 when a cutter from H.M.S. Leander capsized during the race for the Diomedo Cup, have been received by Mr. A. E. Eagleton, representative in Auckland of the society. The presentation of the medals will not bo made until March, when the cruisers Leander and Achilles return from Australia, as Bear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, commodore commanding the Now Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, lias expressed his desire to be present at the function.