LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Glacier on Ruapehu Partly attributed to tho long dry summer, many more crevasses than usual are in evidence in the Whakapapa glacier, on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu. The crevasses are exceptionally deep and wide, and have been inspected with interest by visitors to tho Chateau. Much more ice is about than normally and numerous ico pinnacles have been formed. Additions to Chief Post Office It is likely that a start will be made I in about 10 days on the demolition of tho old railway station buildings at the back of tho Chief Post Office. This work is necessary to prepare the site for the new four-storey addition to the post office. It may bo possible to make a start on tho excavations for the foundations of tho new building before tho whole of the old station premises is demolished. Visitors to the Chateau Although many of tho 250 week-end visitors to the Chateau Tongariro returned to their 'homes on,. Monday thero were still between 50 and 60 at tho resort yesterday. As a light rain was falling conditions were not con-, ducivo to tramping and outdoor sports and jio ascents were made. No snow has fallen since Saturday night, but indications last night wero that further falls might bo expected within a short period. War-time Plier3 About 20 war-time fliers assembled at tho Cenotaph in tho Auckland Domain yesterday to lay a 'wreath in honour ahd memory of comrades who were lost in the Great War. Overhead a Royal New Zealand Air Force machine circled and dipped its wing in salute. Captain Euan Dickson and Wing-Commander K. L. Caldwell laid the wreath on behalf of the men, who included former members of the Royal Flying Corps, tho Royal Naval Air Service and tho Royal Air Force. Potato Picking Record A record for picking potatoes in ono sample behind a digger is flaimed for Mr. Cyril O'Connor, of Rakaia, whgse tally was 84 sacks in seven and a-lialf hours in a crop which averaged nine tons to tho aero on the farm of Mr. J. Gimson, Mitcham. Tho tally was checked by the owner and the owner of the digger, Mr. W. A. McPhail, Mitcham. Two years ago Mr. O'Connor put up tho good performance of digging and picking 50 sacks of potatoes in one day. Shipping Activity Every berth at the Auckland wharves yesterday was occupied and two ships , had to remain at anchor in the stream. The Japanese motor-ship Melbourne Marti,- which arriv'ed in the morning from Kobe, and tho intercolonial steamer Kairanga, which reached port in the early afternoon from Port Keiiibla, will both berth at King's Wharf this morning. An unusual feature of the congestion is that, in addition to tho town wharves, ships are working at Chelsea and the Motuihi anchorage. Howick School Grant Advice has been received by Mr. C. R. Petric, M.P. for Hauraki, from tho Minister of Education, tho Hon. P. Fraser, that the Cabinet has approved a grant for tho provision of manual training facilities at the H,owick District High School. No details concerning the grant had been received in Auckland yesterday, but Mr. A. C. Trousdale, chairman of the school com- j mitteo, said that application had been made for the addition of four robins to the school building. The rooms were required to provide facilities for instruction in manual training, domestic science, arts and crafts and technical work. A Juryman's Illness Tho hearing of a claim for damages in the Supreme Court was interrupted yesterday through the illness of a juryman. Mr. Justice Callan, who presided, was tho first to call attention to the condition of the man, who appeared to be on the verge of col'lapse. A doctor who was in the witnessbox at the moment was first asked to assist, but it was thought preferable to call upon other medical men, of whom there were a number in Court. "Ho is very ill, I think," one doctor reported to His Honor, ,who thereupon adjourned the hearing until this morning, and ordered the Court to be cleared so that the man should be given every opportunity. Development of Physique The manner in which military training can have a beneficial effect on the physical health of recruits has been impressively demonstrated as a result of a series of examinations made by medical officers in tho case of men joining the Special Reserve of the New Zealand Artillery. The figures for the 30 men who completed their three months' course at Narrow Neck on April 30 show an average gain in weight of 9.81b., an average increase in normal chest measurement of 1.73 in. and an average increase of 2.11 in. in chest expansion. An unexpected feature was an aycrago gain in height of just under half an inch, due-to tho adoption of a more upright carriage as a result of military training. Religious Instruction Considerable discussion on the subject of religious instruction in schools took place at the annual conference of the Auckland Auxiliary of the New Zealand Baptist Union on Monday. The following resolution was passed:— "That this auxiliary of the Baptist Union appreciates the effort of the Minister of Education, tho Hon. P. Fraser, to improve the conditions of education in the Dominion and recognises with pleasure his intention of legislating tho Nelson system, but re-, grots his suggestion, just now in abeyance, that the opening of schools with simple worship shall bo prohibited. This auxiliary urges that tho system long established in secondary schools and already in approved use in 400 primary schools should bo legalised wherever school committees request it. Inroads of Sea at Sumner Signs that the sea is making inroads on tho beach between the pier at Sumner and Shag Rock, Christcluirch, aro becoming increasingly evident at each high tido. For months a high fridge of sand along tho foreshore has been well abeve high water mark of anything but tho highest of spring tides. For several days tho sea has flooded the area immediately in front of the Clifton esplanade, and miniature sand cliffs have been formed by tho scouring of the' water along the beach toward tho Shag Rock. An observation made by a Scarborough resident, who took a line from Cave Rock to the New Brighton sandhills, where deep scouring has taken place, shows to what extent the sea is moving up the beach.