LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23139, 10 September 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Search for Missing Man An aeroplane was again used yesterday by Constjnble F. Pollard in the search for the man who was reported to have disappeared in the Henderson Stream, over a week ago. Although the stream was followed to its mouth, the search proved fruitless. Gun Practice at IWotutapu Regular soldiers of tho Royal New Zealand Artillery held a practice shoot with a 6in. coastcvll defence battery on Motutapu Island .'yesterday. The practice was purely foe the purpose of testing the equipment and the strength of the emplacement a I id only a few rounds were fired. It was stated that the test proved very satisfactory. New Club Aircraft Two new Tiger Moth training aeroplanes were delivere d to the Auckland Aero Club yesterdiijy, tho machines being flown from tl jo Hobsonvillo Air Base, where they r ere assembled, to tho club's headquarters at Mangere. Tho new machines bring the club's fleet up 'to a total r,>f nine machines, comprising fivo Tinker Moths, two Gipsy Moths, a Beeclfccraft and a Miles Magister monoplane. Motor-car Damaged iby Fire Fire caused by a sikort circuit in tho electrical wiring syst(6Sm slightly damaged a sports model [motor-car belonging to Mr. O. W. ~'jEL Wilson, of 1 Jersey Avenue, Mount Albert, yesterday morning. < The qwtbreak occurred at the corner of Porjsonby Road and Williamson Avenue, (line machine from the Western Districts rand one from the Central Fire Station ij liswered the call, the fire being extinguished with little difficulty. Basketball in Australia i Basketball does not pnjoy the same popularity in as it does in Now Zealand, according to Mrs. Bain CliaLlis, who has returned to Invercargill from a trip to Australia with the New Zealand baskotball team. This could possibly be attributed to the fact that the Australian gacae was dull and rough in comparison wiiih, the spectacular typo of game of Zealand basketball players, sho staiiirad. In Australia, cricket and swimrming attracted large numbers of girls.

Special Trains for South i Two special trains whi bh left Auckland yesterday for the Sofuth were well patronised. Nearly 600 FUigby football supporters were passengeprs on a train which left at 5.40 in the .afternoon for Wellington, where they \\j(iJl attend the match to be played to-day against Auckland. They will return to Auckland at 6.38 on Monday f morning. On the second special train, ;ttrhich left at 7.45 last night, were aboultj 300 Maoris, who will attend the opening of tho new meeting house at Eatana. Unusual Fish A blind numb-fish, fouitid inside a ling, has been sent to the Canterbury Museum. It is a fairly rare fish, and is ono of the electric rays, which aro capable of giving electric shefcks, especially if touched at two poinUs. It is by this means that it disable: \ its prey, which it would find difficult! to secure by any other method, as jit is of a sluggish habit and clumsy inj its movements. Whether the ling -received a shock when swallowing it is a matter for speculation, according to the curator of the Museum, Mr. R. A. Falla. Court Order Effective Orders of tho Supreme Concrt for tho return of husbands or wivef? to their partners within so many daycare generally ineffective. In asking yesterday that a divorce petition on tlie ground of failure to comply with suCJfi an order be struck out, Mr. Singer rep prted that the parties had become recoihiciled and the order had been complied ivith. Mr. Justice Callan said that iras very satisfactory. Mr. Singer said', tho law had been justified in one case/ at least. "I have known tho same happen once before," remarked His Honor.

Boat Owners' Satisfaction When the Auckland Harboiwr Board introduced the pile moorings alt Mechanics' Bay at the commence ment of last season, considerable discussion arose among boat owners rcgaiiding the innovation. At the annual mcleting of the New Zealand Power Boost Association it was reported that, after a season's trial, most of the boaiti owners viewed the system with favomr. All members present expressed satisfaction with the report, and at the copielusion of the meeting a vote of thanks was passed to the Harbour Board for its consideration of the interests 'of the association. New Radio Beacons The Government lighthouse at earner Matai, which returned to Auckland yesterday morning after landing radio beacon equipment at Cuvier I'ililand, was able to perforin the work without delay although she was obliged to anchor in an exposed seaway. Lotiving on Wednesday with radio equipment for Moko Hinau Island, she wil!l| call at the Ponui and Piako lights before picking up the Public Works Department staff which was left at Ciikvier Island to instill the beacon. Alter taking the men to Moko Hinau, the Matai will wait at the island until' the work is completed and then rdturn to Auckland. New Ambulance Bells An effective means of facilitating the passage of ambulances through tiTaffic in times of urgency has been adojpjtcd with the fitting of loud and resojaiant electric bells to the vehicles under* the control of the Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulanco Association. To serve as a pattern, three of the Implls employed in <ho ambulanco fleet operated by the London County Couinicil were imported by the secretary-mr nger of the centre, Mr. S. JO. L:i 11 fist one, and these have been installed on machines in Auckland. When bells df a similar typo aro cast in New Zealand, tho other ambulances will bo similarly equipped. Warrants of Fitness

The important part to be played in futuro by garages in connection with tho issuing of warrants of fitness \vm>> emphasised by Mr. F. C. Spratt at' a] meeting of tho Now Zealand Boci.d Safety Council in Wellington. Ho that from March last year until ttyte end of July this year, over 500, warrants of fitness had been issued bj\r tho garages, and complaints received by tho Transport Department in refeii-. enco to faulty inspections or similar > shortcomings totalled 43, less than one for every 10,000 warrants issued. In his opinion tlfo work done by tha i garages had been tho reason for tho | success of the plan and the garagesj must play an important part in thoj future.