LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Large Number ol Inquests The total of 29 inquests held by the Auckland city coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, during the month ended yesterday, is considered by him to constitute a record for Auckland. Statistics are not available. Several inquiries opened in April were completed during May, and a number of others were opened. Auckland Bankruptcies So far this year 16 petitions in bankruptcy have been filed in Auckland, as compared with 10 for tho first five months of last year. One bankruptcy was filed during May, representing tho smallest number for any ono month since January and February, 1937. Jn May of last year thero were two bankruptcies. Eliminating Epidemics "If everybody displaying the slightest symptoms of a cold remained in bed for a reasonable time, epidemics of colds and influenza would be eliminated," said an Auckland doctor yesterday when commenting on tho general health of people in his district. He added that the severity of a great many cases would be lessened were it not for the fact that people generally had a false conception of their ability to resist illness. Thefts from Schools Thero have recently been several thefts from schools in and around Auckland, the buildings having been entered during week-ends. In no case has the amount secured been worth the effort of the intruders, at most only a few pennies have been found, but tho damage done to school properties and particularly to teachers' desks has caused loss and annoyance. Tho Auckland Education Board has warned teachers against leaving money and valuables in schools. Delay to Niagara The departure for Sydney of the Canadian-Australian liner Niagara was postponed from last night until three o'clock this afternoon. The Niagara brought a large cargo from Vancouver on her arrival at Auckland on Monday afternoon, and rain that day so delayed working that it was decided yesterday morning to cancel last night's sailing orders. The liner, which will leave from Queen's Wharf, will reach Sydney on Sunday. Air mails from New Zealand for the Australia-Singapore-England route will not be delayed in arrival at London Need for Fish Ladder Criticism of tho Dunedin City Council for not installing a fish ladder on the dam it erected in the Leith River at tho back of McGaviu's Brewery was expressed by the president of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, Mr. C. A. Wilson, at tho annual meeting of the society. Some time ago the society had asked tho council to put a by-pass on the dam so that fish could get up the stream on ladders, but so far nothing had been done. It was hoped that the defect would be remedied, as it was desirable that a fair number of spawners should get up tho Leith each year. Game Scarce in the North A bicycle tour of North Auckland from the city as far as Dargaville reveals a marked scarcity of game anywhere beyond Kaukapakapa. In that neighbourhood pheasants, pukeko, duck, swan and quail are abundant, thanks, no doubt, to the fact that last season was a "close" one, but in the Hobson Acclimatisation Society's district, further north, pheasants are extremely scarce. Many of the residents in the Glorit, Tauboa, Wellsford, Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, Matakohe, Ruawai and Tokatoka districts are strongly in favour of the establishment of a system of close seasons. Sunday Train Departures The departure of three large passenger trains within a period of 20 minutes on Sundays, has led to frequent congestion at the entrance to the Auckland railway station. As it has been found impossible to deal with the number of motor-cars by any system of traffic control, a change has been made in tho departure platform of the 7-18 p.m. train to Hamilton. From next Sunday, this train will leave from platform seven. Since the approach to this is by a special driveway, passengers can be brought by motor-car to the side of the train and a large portion of traffic diverted from the main entrance of the station. A Dog that Meant Well Golf has been described as "a long walk spoilt by looking for balls." An Invercargill woman golfer had 110 such complaint—if it is a complaint—in a match the other day. Her dog followed her to tho links, and with misdirected enthusiasm, did his best to relieve her of tho tedium of walking between holes by retrieving the ball after every drive Not once did ho fail to keep his eye on the ball. It was proudly snapped up from rough or green and equally proudly carried back and deposited at the goifer's feet. The dog seemed rather injured when his efforts were not rewarded by kind words, but did not let this turn him from his self-imposed task. Gisborne Waterfront Improvement Tho question of beautifying the riverbank below tho offices of tho board was discussed at a meeting of tho Gisborne Harbour Board. This part of Read's Quay is in very bad repair and compares unfavourably with all other sections of the waterfront. Mr. J. B. Broadhurst said that £25 had been voted for tho work, and suggested that tho board apply to the Government for a subsidy under the No. 13 scheme. The task would have to bo tackled sooner or later, and the timo was ripe for tho use of subsidised labour. The riverbank in its present state reflected little credit on the board. After further discussion it was decided that the Works Committee should confer with the Beautifying Society with regard to the suggested work and that an estimate of tho cost 'be prepared. South Tasman Service The director of tho South Island Travel Association, Mr. J. W. Pollard, stated in an interview at Dunedin that one of the latest developments to encourage tho belief that an all-year Mel-bourne-South Island steamer service was nearer was that the association had the support of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. "Wellington saw that Auckland was taking the bulk of the tourist cruise business,added Mr. Pollard "An exchange of views between our association and the Wellington chamber brought the chamber's assurance that it realised that the South Island's claims were sound, and it was ready to help. Later came the chamber's definite pronouncement in support of the Melbourne-South Island service all tho year, with a subsidy. This support in Wellington is helpful, and we realise that Wellington does quite <i good trade with Melbourne through this service."