LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Shoep lor Australia Included iiri the cargo of the transtasinan linor Awatea when she left Auckland yesterday afternoon for Sydney was a consignment of 57 stud ewes for an Australian agency. The shipment mainly comprised two-tooth Southdowns. Struck on Eye by Stone

While coaching a football team at tho Parncll School during the lunch hour yesterday, one of the masters on the staff was struck in the eye by a small stone. Ho was knocked unconscious by the blow, bue recovered some 10 minutes later. Use of Pedestrian Orossings

Although pedestrian crossings have their uses, they are not the places in which to stand and have a chat. Recently an Invorcargill resident who stood too long on a pedestrian crossing was fined ss, with costs amounting to 12s, the traffic inspector stating that there was no excuse for the occurrence.

Young Girl's Travels A 15-year-old Auckland girl who was found on board the liner Monterey on her last northward voyage some hours after leaving for Suva, and who was put ashore there, returned by the Mariposa yesterday. The girl was provided with accommodation in the cabin class on the return journey and went ashore shortly after the liner berthed.

School Merger Vetoed A proposal to amalgamate the Paparata School with the Bombay School has been vetoed by parents of Paparata children on account of difficulties in transport. The two schools ai'e four miles apart and the grades on the road, which has a metalled surface, are fairly heavy. Bombay School has a roll number of 98 while Paparata School has about 29 pupils.

High Vegetable Prices Indicative of the high prices ruling in Auckland for cabbages, retailers are now offering tho vegetable for sale by the piece. Whole cabbages are selling at from 6d to Is 3d, although the larger supply that arrived at tho City Markets yesterday should ease tho position. Supplies of cauliflowers are also short, most of those available being small and discoloured. Best quality are realising 2s each. Bough Seas on Bar

Heavy south-west weather on the west cOast has rendered the Manukau Bar unworkable since Wednesday and last night three coastal vessels were waiting inside the heads to make a crossing. The Clansman left Onehunga on Wednesday for Raglan and Kawhia, the Ronaki on Thursday for New Plymouth and the Hokianga yesterday for Hokianga. It is expected that the ships will cross the bar this morning. Football Enthusiasts Travel

A largo number of people left for Wellington by tho special train which was run from Auckland at 5.40 p.m. yesterday to copo with the extra traffic caused by the Rugby football match between the North and South Islands, to be played in Wellington to-day. Although tho train was not full when it left Auckland, bookings were heavy from intermediate stations. The limited express last night consisted of 10 cars and the accommodation was almost completely occupied. Miles of Water Mains

During tho past financial year extensions to tho city water supply system necessitated the laying of an additional Hi miles of new mains, ranging from 4in. to 24in. This has brought the total length of the mains owned by the city to 439 miles, 24 chains. The large mains from tho dams in the Waitakere Ranges to the city have an aggregate length of 52 miles. The reticulation system within the city boundaries accounts for 346 miles of mains and the remainder of tho total length is outside the city and serves contiguous local bodies and industrial plants which buy water from tho City Council. Old Hamilton Courthouse

Tho front wall of the old Hamilton courthouso in Victoria Street, tho final portion of tho building to bo demolished, was lowered to the ground yesterday and tho sito is now practically cleared and ready for tho erection of a new Hamilton Post Offico for which a contract has not yet been let. The old courthouso building was sold to Mr. D. Seymour, of Hamilton, who is reerecting the structure in the form of flats in Ohaupo Road. Portions of tho building have been transported by night to their new site, this work having been in progress for several weeks. Only the chimney of the old courthouse now remains standing. Stoat Worries Sheep

Disturbed by tho barking of dogs and the excited movements of sheep ono night recently, a Wetlierstones farmer called off tho dogs and was confirmed in his suspicions that the sheep had been worried by finding blood on the throat of o*o of tho animals. Next afternoon a stoat was seen chasing a cat and then some hens. When these escaped it, tho stoat was seen to fasten on to the throat of a sheep. It was shaken off, but immediately fixed its grip on tho nose. By this time a rifle had been procured and tho stoat was shot while actually clinging to the noso of the sheep.

Question o! Probation "I have some hesitation in adopting this course," said Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court yesterday, when admitting to probation three young men charged with breaking and entering and theft. His Honor explained that it was necessary to consider the possible effect on other persons who might bo disposed to commit similar offences. Prior tb His Honor's remarks counsel for the accused, in asking for probation instead of imprisonment,, had submitted that liquor taken before the offence had impaired the men's judgment. His Honor said ho would accept the explanation, which would enable him to accept the recommendation of the ■ probation officer that, the accused should be released on probation. Bank Anniversary

Seventy-seven years ago to-day the Bank of New South Wales was opened in Auckland. Established in 1817, the bank was among the earliest of the colonial banks and was the first to start in Australia. The Auckland branch was originally in Shorthand Street, and the first manager was Mr. D. L. Murdoch, who was also the bank's inspector for New Zealand. The present Auckland manager is Mr. It. F. Malfroy. When the bank began business in the Dominion, its capital was £750,000 and its reserve fund £212,500. Its authorised capital is now £8.780,000 and its total assets exceed £123,000,000. The institution now has more than 850 branches and agencies throughout the world, including 93 in the Dominion.