LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23123, 23 August 1938, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hospital Board Business Tho intentions of the chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, to reduce committee proceedings to a minimum were implemented at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board last night, when it was decided to replace the monthly board in committee meeting by a meeting in open board. This will result in two board meetings being held each month. Freak Lamb at Tamahere A freak Southdown-Komney cross lamb, oiio of twins born on the farm of Mr. 11. Green, of Tamahere, a fortnight ago, is reported to be quite healthy and doing well. The lamb has six legs, two of which are growing off the last ribs. Although they are slightly short and tho animal has no control over them, they are growing in proportion to tho rest of its body. Tho second twin died 24 hours after it was born, Less Australian Wool A lighter wool clip in Australia this year was predicted by Mr. C. W. Pussell, a prominent grazier, of Queensland, who passed through Auckland en routo to San Francisco by tho Mariposa yesterday. Ho said that sheep were generally yielding 81b. of wool, compared with 101b. last season, tho reason being the long hot and dry spell experienced. "Coining on top of tho heavy losses of sheep caused by the drought, tho lighter clip will bo a severe blow to farmers," Mr. Russell added. Ireland and Eire Introduced as a representative from Eire, Mr. D. J. O'Sullivan, secretary of the Eire branph of tho Empire Parliamentary Association, spoke at a luncheon yesterday to delegates on their way to the British Commonwealth Relations Conference in Sydney. In spite of the official use of tho name Eire, ho said, the term left him very cold, whereas Ireland did not. He expressed his pleasure at finding so many Irish people in New Zealand, including the chairman of tho meeting, Mr. Justice Callan. Students Go to Sea Students from colleges near tho Pacific Coast of America, who aro at present enjoying the summer vacation from their various academic studies, occupy a variety of positions on board the Mariposa, which spent the day at Auckland yesterday, en route to San Francisco. Most of the students are engaged as bellboys, intent on seeing something of tho world. Fully-qualified union members for the round trip, tho undergraduates include a civil engineer, a musical instructor and'an aeronautical student. Theatrical Attractions The Russian Ballet from Covent Garden has been definitely booked for an Australian and New Zealand tour, according to Mr. G. B. Dean, of Snyder and Dean, Australian theatrical entrepreneurs, who, with Mr. K. W. Asprey. passed through Auckland in tho Mariposa yesterday, en routo to the United States and Europe. Mr. Dean said that negotiations had been opened with a view to bringing out a grand opera company next year, but the project had yet to be finalised. Art Union Not Favoured Tho inauguration of an art union to furnish funds for the endowment of a bed at the Wilson Home for Crippled Children, Takapuna, which was adopted as a matter for further consideration by a margin of a single vote at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board on June 21, is not favoured by the Department of Health. Advice was received by the board last night from the Direc-tor-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, that the department could not support tho proposal. The letter was received by the board, and no further action was taken.

The Labour Movement "I am confident that the Government of New Zealand will do much to inspire the Labour movement of the world," said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C.« Webb, at a meeting of the Auckland Labour Club last night, in welcoming on behalf of the Government two United Kingdom delegates to the British Commonwealth Relations Conference to bo held in Sydney. The delegates were Mr. E. Bevin, secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, and Mr. J. Walker, M.P. for Lanark. "We are determined to uphold tho ideals of the working-class movement of the world," he added. Barges with History The two hopper barges that are being used by the Auckland Harbour Board in the salvage of tho tug To Awhina have a history. They were built in Australia originally for use with a dredging plant doing work for the Australian Navy. The plant, including the barges, was bought by the Gisborne Harbour Board about 15 years ago. For several years the dredges were used in Gisborne in harbour construction work involving tho dredging of a diversion cut to the sea. Three years ago the barges were leased to the Auckland Harbour Board and later purchased for £I.OOO each. Tho barges, which are stated to be in first-class order, would cost about £BOOO each to build to-day. Oity Street Closed

Tho portion of Wyndliam Street between Nelson and Ilobson Streets was closed to through traffic yesterday to enable the City Council workmen to complete the regrading of Nelson Street where it approaches Fanshawo Street on tho waterfront. The object of this work is to continue Nelson Street for its full width of 90ft. in a straight line to Fanshawo Street, eliminating the swing to the right which was considered necessary when Nelson Street was first graded down to tho waterfront level. Tho western' half of the new roadway has been in nso for tho past two months and tho reconstruction of tho eastern section will also involve tho lowering of tho road level at the end of Wyndliam Street bj r about four feet to conform to the altered grade of Nelson Street.

Pronunciation of Eire There was some confusion in the minds of several speakers at tho civic reception to overseas delegates to tho Commonwealth Relations Conference at tho Town Hall yesterday regarding the correct pronunciation of Eire, tho official designation of Southern Ireland. In his speech of welcome, tho Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, admitted with a smile bis uncertainty as to the correct pronunciation. In reading tho Prime Minister's address of welcome, the town clerk, Mr. J. Melling, pronounced Eire as one would say "Sarah," without the "S." Subsequently, Mr. James Roberts, president of tho New Zealand Labour Party, remarked that ho was in a position to say that Mr. Melling's pronunciation of the word was correct.