LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Flowering of Taro Unusual blooming of taro, as reported last week, appears to be of widespread incidence. Specimens have been observed at Titirangi in past weeks. At Kohimarama a group of the plants some years established in a sheltered gully flowers annually. The taro flourishes especially well in a humid atmosphere.

Parrakeets in Ranges Parrakeets are to be seen with increasing frequency in the ranges and tliwr musical cries arc heard in parts whore they have been rare in recent years. A flock of 20 or more was observed yesterday morning flying over the bush near Titirangi /Road. Whether they were the native bird or the imported rosella is unknown, as they were flying high and fast.

Large Scout Contingent The largest contingent of Boy Scouts ever to leave New Zealand was being enrolled for the international scouting jamboree to be held at Sydney about Christmas, said the Auckland City Boy Scout Commissioner, Mr. R. F. Ward, when addressing the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday. Mr. Ward said that it was hoped to send 160 boys from the North Island and 100 from the South Island. '

False Alarm In City Two engines from the Central Fire Station were called out shortly before 9.30 o'clock last night as the result of what is termed a false alarm with good intent. The fire engines stopped at the intersection of Victoria and Queen Streets, where the alarm had been broken, as smoke had been seen coming over a building on the opposite corner. There was, however, no outbreak in the vicinity.

Ambulances Busy The transport staff of the St. John Ambulance was kept unusually busy yesterday, when many victims of illness and accident required transport. In addition to making numerous runs in the city and suburbs, ambulances from the Rutland Street station were sent to Kawhia, Bombay, Manurewa and Campbell's Bay. The longest run was that to Kawhia, the total distance covered by the ambulance being 269 miles. Unusual Streamer An original and effective change from tho orthodox paper streamer used in shipside farewells was used by a young woman at the departure of the liner Awatea for Sydney last night. Instead of rolls of streamers she carried a large ball of string, which long after the paper emblems were broken, unrolled as the liner ' went astern and away from Queen's Wharf. About 100 yds of string crossed the water to the Awatea before the cord fouled a projection and snapped. Election Amity An instance of the amity with which municipal elections may be conducted was afforded last night at an open-air meeting held in the Windsor Reserve, Devonjiort. The meeting was arranged by the Labour Party and was addressed not only by the Labour candidates for the borough council, but by Messrs. H. F. W. Meikle and S. S. Green, candidates for the Mayoralty. Neither Mr. Meikle nor Mr. Green is a representative of the Labour Party in the elections.

Poisonous Fungi Large scarlet toadstools which have appeared in Hamilton this . year are definitely poisonous, and if eaten in any quantity may produce death, according to Dr. G. H. Cunningham, Director of the Plant Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Eesearch. Dr. Cunningham said yesterday that the fungi grew only in the vicinity of pine plantations. Already in New Zealand this year there had been a number of people poisoned, although not fatally, through eatine poisonous fungi.

Speedy Travel A fast journey to Encland by two Wellington business men. Mr. F. V. Lysons and Mr. W. Higgins, began with their departure for Sydney from Auckland by the Awatea last night. They will continue from Sydney by Qantas and Imperial Airways and expect to be in London on the afternoon of May 22, just under 13 days after leaving Auckland. Provided schedules are maintained this homeward journey will bo among the fastest trips made by New Zealandcrs using the commercial air services betweei. Australia and England. Work at Homer Tunnel

The exceptionally dry summer and the absence of snow on the heights near the Homer tunnel has enabled work on the. tunnel-driving contract to proceed longer than was anticipated, and it has not yet been necessary to consider withdrawing the men from the tunnel for the winter. The district engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. W. G. Pearce, who visited the tunnel ' last week, said that there was still practically no snow in the Hollyford district and there was no immediate danger of avalanches. At this time last year tho snow was very deep on the peaks, and last week the anniversary of the second fatal avalanche at the tunnel mouth occurred.

Higher Cost of Uniforms Due to tariff adjustments and increased award rates of wages the Auckland Transport Board is faced with an increased annual expenditure of about £470 in providing uniforms and overcoats for its traffic staffs. Compared with former contract prices recent quotations submitted by the manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, at a meeting of the board yesterday, showed tho following Increases: —Conductors' and motorinen's tunics, 7s 3d; trousers. 2s lid; inspectors' uniforms, 13s 4d; overcoats, 5s 2d. It was pointed out that tho board purchases the materials and supplies them to the successful tenderer for manufacture. Tho matter was referred to the manager for a report. Three Bank Line Ships

Throe ships of the Bank Line, one of the largest merchant fleets in tho world, will be in port at Auckland to-day. They are the motor-ships Cedarbank and Clydebank and the steamer Rowanbank. The Bank Line and its associate companies have vessels calling at most of the world's ports, many under charter, and, although Auckland is frequently visited by representatives, it is a rarity for three to bo hero together. The Cedarbank is discharging sugar from Java for the Colonial Sugar Company, tho Kowanbank phosphato from Nauru under charter to the British Phosphate Commission, and the Clydebank, due this afternoon, to tho charter of the Union Company, brings cargo from the Pacifio Coast and Papeete.