LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23029, 5 May 1938, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Air Services Up To Time In spite of the wintry weather yesterday, Union Airways monoplanes from Wellington arrived at Mange re on scheduled time. Rain and bad visibility were experienced between New Plymouth and Auckland. Anonymous Dcnor Although the fund for crippled children opened by the ]\Jayor of Auckland has long been closed, a regular donation has been received from an Auckland lady who takes a great interest in the work for cripples. Yesterday another amount of £3O was received from her at the Mayor's office.

Blood Transfusion Service A total of 29 blood transfusions was given last month by the St. John Ambulance blood transfusion service, at the Auckland Hospital and various private hospitals. There were 11 cases in the last three days of the month, and already this month the service has responded to eight appeals Telephones for Schools

An amendment of the regulations to allow school committees to provide telephones from funds granted by education boards is not favoured by the Education Department, according to advice received by the Auckland Education Board at its meeting yesterday. A request to this effect had previously been received from the Remuera School committee.

Motorists in Oourt

Almost 200 defendants appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with motoring offences. Two Courts were kept busy throughout the day, and the final case was not completed until about 4 p.m. The majority of offenders did not appear, but several cases were defended. The prosecutions were heard by Mr. C. R. Orr Walker and Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M.'s. Skid on Wet Road

Skidding on the wet surface, a light motor-truck mounted the kerb and struck a beacon indicating a pedestrian crossing in Broadway, Newmarket, near the Remuera Road junction, shortly before eight o'clock last night. The accident occurred when the driver swerved to avoid a motor-cyclist. Two occupants of the truck escaped with a shaking, but the front of the vehicle ■was damaged.

Ferry Passengers' Difficulty An unusually high tide and rough water conditions last night made the landing of ferry passengers at Devonport a task calling for considerable agility. Owing to the uncertain movement of the boats the gangway could not be lowered to the deck, and passengers had to choose the moment to go ashore when deck and gangway were level. The pitching of the ferry boats made mooring also a matter for fine judgment, and there was slight delay before the gangway could safely be lowered.

New Jury Benches New jury benches have been installed in the main courtroom in the Wellington Supreme Court building, the previous ones having been a source of formal complaint from juries. The previous benches had wooden backs and leather upholstered seats. The new ones are like the rear seat of a motorbus. They are lounges, deeply upholstered on both seat and back in brown imitation leather, sections of the back being hinged so as to swing down, if required, and form arms between the occupants.

Responsibility of Youth "At the last elections 25,000 people did not go to the polls in Auckland, a very unsatisfactory state of things," said Mr. Howey Walker last night at a meeting of the Auckland Citizens and Ratepayers' Association at Remuera. He made a strong appeal to the younger generation who were qualified to vote to do so. It was their duty, and they would benefit by the prudence and foresight of those who were genuinely interested in the progress and sound administration of the city of Auckland.

Railwaymen's Eyes Giving evidence before the board which is inquiring into the Ratana railway derailment, Mr. P. R., Angus, locomotive superintendent, New Zealand Railways, mentioned that provision was made for annual , and, if necessary, special tests of men employed in the service for sight and colour blindness and for hearing. Each year, in July, every engine-driver, fireman, cleaner, train examiner, coalman, pumper, or any other employee engaged in or about the locomotive running sheds, or in connection with the running or examination of trains, must be tested.

Railway Apprentices The thorough system of training for apprentices in railway workshops was mentioned yesterday by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. At the Otahuhu shops, said Mr. Sullivan * an instructor was employed fulltime in giving tuition in the theory of apprentices' trado work, and during his first three years every apprentice received such instruction for three working hours weekly. In addition, all apprentices were required to attend night classes at a technical college. The effect of the system was seen in the fine quality of workmanship for which the workshops were well known. Port Passenger Traffic

Passengers embarking at Auckland during March totalled 2819, compared with 1929 in March, 1937, according to a report made to the Auckland Harbour Board by the traffic manager, Mr. W. R. Golden. Arrivals laet March numbered 1356, against 1269 in the corresponding month of 1937. The departures in March of this year comprised 1936 for Australia, 606 for Canada and the United States, and 277 for the Pacific Islands, while the arrivals included 1040 from Australia, 116 from the Pacific Islands, 98 from Canada and the United States, and 78 from the United Kingdom. Election of Bishop

Tlio special session of v the Waiapu Diocesan Synod, called to nominate a successor to the late Bishop H.. W. Williams, is now to be opened at Napier on Friday, May 20. The original date was May 4, but owing to the widespread damage to roads in the diocese by floods an indefinite postponement was decided upon. The Rev. E. M. Cowie, of Auckland, who is to preside as commissary -.for Archbishop Averill, said yesterday that he had been advised that the road between Gisborne and Napier would not be passable for many months, and it had therefore been agreed that as a passenger steamer was to make the trip from Gisborno to reach Napier on May 20 the session had been convened for that day. The steamer would leave again on the foil owing v Monday*