LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23163, 8 October 1938, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tire at Otahuhu Considerable danger to the carbide store at the Railway Workshops, Otahuhu, resulted from a fire which broke out in a rubbish tip near by, shortly before 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, The alarm was answered by the Otahuhu Fire Brigade, which extinguished tho outbreak in about half an hour. High Barometric Readings Fairly high barometric pressure lias been recorded at Auckland rec<mtly and readings over the past three weeks have not fallen below 30iti. Although a reading of 30.39 in. was given last week there has been little variation in pressure. Very little rainfall has been experienced, only .09in. having fallen this month. Reflt of Pilot Launch After an extensive refit, the • Auckland Harbour Board's pilot launch Waitemaia'.will undergo trials early next week. The launch, which is at present alongside the board's jetty in St. Mary's Bay, has had a new engine installed and has been fitted with an echo sounding device. Tho superstructure of the vessel has been altered considerably.

A Happy Ireland The happiness of Ireland in the settlement of differences with England was commented upon by the Rev. Dr. J. Kelly, of Wellington, when he returned from Britain and the Continent by the Mataroa yesterday. There was every evidence of prosperity in the Free State, he said, and the general feeling was that the recent pact should have been completed long ago.

Accident Victim's Condition The condition of Edward Devine, aged 19, son of Mr. James Devine, of -Taiboa, Matamata, who was admitted to the Waikato Hospital last Saturday evening suffering from a bullet wound in the abdomen, was reported to-day to be still fairly serious. A pea-rifle which Mr. Devine was carrying accidentally discharged when he was climbing through a fence near Matamata.

Fisherman Still Missing ; In spite of an extensive search carried out along the coastline no trace has yet been discorered of Mr. W. Sangster, the retired farmer who failed to return from a fishing trip on which he set out on Tuesday morning from a beach near Mercury Bay, states the Hkrald's Whitianga correspondent. The search is being continued by fishermen, although the position is now considered hopeless.

Anti-gas Instruction Thirty acting pilot-officers of the Royal New Zealand Air Force are at present undergoing elementary training in anti-gas instruction at Burnliam, Canterbury. This training by army instructors is being given along the most modern lines. These acting pilot-officers will leave for England soon, where they will join the Royal Air Force. They will be the third group to leave New Zealand. '• ' t'Vi ...■ : • x. First Ortttee Liner The first of the cruise ships to visit New Zealand from Australia this season, the new Orient liner Orcades will reach Auckland from Brisbane on October 29. The Orcades will have a large passenger list, including many through travellers from London. The liner will be making her first visit to the Dominion, having been launched last year at Barrow-in-Furness. She is of 23,456 tons gross and is commanded by Captain F. R. O'Sullevan.

Fruit Drop Prospects There is every indication that next season's crop of pip fruits will be just as heavy as last season, said Mr. B. G. Goodwin, orchard instructor to the Department of Agriculture in Cliristchurch, after an inspection of some of the principal orchards. Another successful season, he said, depended largely on whether damaging frosts were experienced late in October and early in November, soon after blossom time. Reports also indicated that orchardists were expecting a bumper harvest of stone fruits. Work on Homer Tunnel Tbo approach of summer weather has decided the Public Works Department to . recommence work on the Homer Tunnel within the next few days. Mr. A. J. Downer, engineer in charge of the undertaking, who passed through Dunedin recently, stated that suitable conditions for the resumption of work on the gateway to Milford Sound from the Eglinton Valley should be experienced before the end of the month, and every opportunity would be taken to advance the tunnel as far as possible while the good weather ltisted. Hobson Wharf Progress Good progress has been made with tho construction of the first of the three goods sheds on the new Hobson Wharf. The steelwork has been placed in position and now tho concrete wall panels are being constructed. Work on the sheds was held up for some time owing to the shortage of steel, but this difficulty has been overcome. Most of the steel required for the other two sheds has been received by the Auckland Harbour Board. Tho first shed will be completed shortly and then a portion of the wharf will bo put into use for coastal shipping.

Ambulance Instruction at Wa-lheke Seven children from the Oneroa, Surfdale and Ostend districts on Waiheke Island are at present -being, instructed ; in-.home-nursing by Mr. H. T.Garratt, /former superintendent of the National Reserve, Ambulance Division. The children will bo examined for their certificates at the St. John Ambulance headqiiartors in Auckland at tho end of November. A small class is also being instructed in first-aid by the resident St. John. Ambulance officer on the island, Mr. C. S. Butler. The first inspection of the cadets will bo held in the Ostend Hall early in November. Flrßt Mutton Birds Perhaps it is a sign of early spring, but, whatever the, reason, oystermen report the presence in; Foveaux Strait of a great many mutton birds during the last , days of tho oyster season. According to those who know, says tho Bluff correspondent of tho Southland Daily. News, this is exceptionally early. There was ■ once a ■ belief, and among ' old timers it has not yet entirely died out; .'that the mutton bird' .invariably laid its eggs on November 25. That thik was a Vnyth was,proved by Mr. Guthrie,Smith,,from actual observation,, on thiv mutton bird islands j some ye'i'ra.- ago;. He found "that the. eggs nre obtainable dpring the months of November. December, January, and February, probably also earlier and probably later," Evidently this is going to be one of the earlier 'seasons.