LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23111, 9 August 1938, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Delay to the Niagara In order to complete cargo working, the departure from Auckland for Vancouver, via Island ports, of the Canadian Australasian -liner Niagara has been postponed from 11 o'clock this morning until one o'clock this afternoon. The Niagara arrived yesterday morning from Sydney and is at Prince s Wharf. Traffic Congestion Traffic congestion in the city will be the subject of a conference between the Auckland Transport Board and the City Council, and an attempt will bo made to find methods to alleviate the trouble. The question was raised at a meeting of ♦lie Transport Board yesterday and it was left, to the chairman, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, to arrange the conference. Many Charges of Drunkenness "There are 16 cases of drunkenness this morning," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. "What isi the reason, the football win in Australia?" In reply, SubInspector J. Fox remarked that such cases had been fairly plentiful on Mpndays ever since the fotoball season started. All the offenders were fined tsums not exceeding £l. Gunfire at Narrow Neck Live shell practice with 4in. guns was carried out at Narrow Neck yesterday afternoon by gunners of the permanent force of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Thirty rounds were fired at a target in the Rangitoto Channel between Milford and the Rangitoto beacon. The customary warning flag was flown at North Head during the shoot to warn shipping to keep clear of the lines of fire. Another practice will be fired today. South Island Rail Excursions About LO,OOO people in the South Island made special excursion trips by rail in July. The principal figures were: —819 on the Christchurch Corsair Club's trip to Greymouth and HokiWaipara, 300 from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass in the Southern Alps, 459 from the Fairlie and Waimate districts to Timaru for the "Winter Show, and 6000 from Duncdin to Invercargill for the Ranfurly Shield. Police Search for Oar Widespread inquiries by the police yesterday failed to trace the motor-car which continued without stopping after striking Mr. Jack McCarthy, aged 20, single, of Pokeno, on the Great South Road near Pokeno on Saturday night. Mr. McCarthy was admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from a deep gash in the throat, caused by a sharp piece of glass broken from part of the cur. Detectives and constables will continue their search for the car.

Centennial Plans So that the Wellington Provincial Court shall be fully represented at the Centennial Exhibition, negotiations are in train with all local bodies in the Wellington Province for the appointment of group representatives on the executive committee. The Ohakune Borough Council has been selected to make arrangements for the appointment of a representative of the group which consists of the Waimarino County Council, Kaitieke County Council, Raetihi, Taihape and Ohakune Borough Councils, and the Rangatana and Manunui Town Boards. Visitors' Tour Ends After a holiday tour through New Zealand during the past few weeks, a party of 20 women, mostly school teachers. from Honolulu, Canada, America and Holland, arrived in Auckland yesterday. Members of the party, who have travelled some 5000 miles into various parts of the Dominion, were enthusiastic in their praise of the hospitality of New Zealanders. and said the scenic resorts constituted a veritable wonderland. The party, conducted by Miss Edith Sykes, is at the Grand Hotel, and will leave Auckland by the Niagara to-day.

Military Training A decision to support Major-General Sir Andrew Russell in his advocacy of tho reintroduction of compulsory military training was reached at a meeting of ex-servicemen at Te Kuiti. The meeting was of opinion that the present system of voluntary training was practically useless from a military point of view. A committee consisting of Messrs. D. Kennedy (chairman), R. N. Morpeth, E. M. Mackersey, H. T. Morton and J. 11. Wilson was set up to further the reintroduction of compulsory training in New Zealand.

Sydney Show Records "We have the greatest show crowds in the world," said Mr. T. B. McFarlane, a, member of the Royal Agricultural Society, Sydney, who arrived by the Niagara yesterday. Ho said the turnstile figures for last Easter beat all records, 1,011,241 persons being admitted in 13 days. The attendance was claimed to be the greatest for any show in tho world. Accompanied by Mr. A. W. Skidmore, assistant-secretary of tho society, Mr. McFarlane is en route to Canada, America and Mexico to visit a series of shows and rodeos to get ideas and reserve performers for tho next Sydney exhibition. Gilts of Fruit

An excellent response has been made bv tho public to the appeal for lemons nnd poorninn oranges for tho St. John Ambulance Association. Mr. S. E. Langstone, secretary-manager of tho association, yesterday expressed his gratitude to those Avho had sent fruit, which had been distributed among poor people who were suffering from influenza and kindred winter ailments. It was stated that the quantity received had been so great that some had been sent to tho Auckland Hospital. Mr. Langstone requested those people who had ofFered further quantities to hold them until communicated with by tho association. Whitobait Season in South

Since the whitebait season opened on August 1 in the Buller district there have been only a fow small catches ranging from half-pints to four pints. The cold weather has not been favourable for a good run, but a fairly successful season is predicted. It is not unusual for men in temporary employment to arrange for time off during the peak of tho whitebait season. Last season was one of the best for some years at Westport, although no period has approached the days when the Maoris frequently caught from 10 to 15 kerosene tins full in an hour or two. Tho biggest catches are now made at Karamea, and in recent years advantage has been . taken 'of aeroplane travel to mako quick deliveries.