LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Yachtsmen's Appreciation Members of the Tainaki Yacht Club in a letter read at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board expressed their thanks for the efforts being made to provide a safe and clean mooring area for boats on the eastern waterfront, and for the accommodation given to yachtsmen generally. "It is very nice to receive a letter in that strain," commented the chairman of the board, Mr. W. B. Darlow.

Shark Attacks Whale A fight between a whale and a shark was witnessed on the Te Kaha side of Waihau Bay, near Cape Runaway, by several Opotiki residents. When the whale was first seen it was making in the direction of Opotiki, but as the battle progressed it changed direction and made off toward To Kaha. The whale was very close inshore and came up to blow on several occasions, while the shark was seen to leap right out of the water.

More Strawberries on Sale Increased supplies of strawberries came forward at the city markets yesterday, and prices were lower in consequence. Even tho slight rainfall of tho last few days has had a beneficial effect on the growth and quality of the fruit, most of which is from the northern side of tho harbour. Hie popular Captain Cook variety predominated in tho supply offering, the tendency seemingly being for this kind to replace the once more popular Marguerite. Parking Oars at Night

A nightly inspection of the Mount Eden borough, which was carried out from September 28 to October 9 between 1 a.m. and 4..'30 a.m., resulted in 172 motor vehicles being found parked on the streets. A report to the Borough Council last night stated that owners were instructed to make written explanations of such parking and 90 per cent of the explanations indicated difficulty in obtaining garages. Warnings were sent out to the owners and inspections are still being made. Touring in the North The Labour Day week-end heralded in the motor touring season and, if the number of cars seen on northern roads can be taken as a criterion of the number that will be visiting the area during the season, North Auckland should enjoy a record tourist summer. In comparison with former years, there has been a much greater number of touring cars on the roads than is usually the case so early in the season. In preparation for a great influx of visitors, motor Vamps are being improved, while hotel accommodation is being enlarged and other improvements effected. Fortunate Escape A fortunate escape from injury was experienced by the occupants of a motor-car which overturned while negotiating a bend on the East Coast Road, about seven miles from Takapuna, early yesterday morning. The car was driven by Mr. R. H. Fitzjames, of 70 New North Poad, and there were several passengers. The bend where the accident occurred is near the intersection of the road leading to Brown's Bay and is regarded as one of the most dangerous on the highway. The car made a complete somersault and came to rest at the foot of a sft. bank.

Men on No. 13 Scheme Advice that the employment of men on local body work under the No. 13 subsidy scheme was at present under review by the Minister in charge and would be dealt with by the Government in a few days was received by the Mount Eden Borough Council from Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P., at a meeting last night. It was stated that the term of engagement for some of the men on the borough's works would run out in a few days, while that for others would expire next month. The council was seeking permission to continue the men in such employment until the end of the financial year. School at Wilson Home

The employment of a disused summer-house as a special schoolroom at the Wilson Home for Crippled Children, Takapuna, was discussed in a letter from the Auckland Education Board received by the Auckland Hospital Board last night. It was stated that the building was unsuitable for school purposes, the accommodation being too small and the ventilation inadequate. The hoard was asked to consider the provision of improved accommodation. The Kev. W. C. Wood said the building had never been intended as a permanent schoolroom but it had served admirably as a temporary measure. The question was referred to the Wilson Home Committee for investigation.

Storage in Wharf Sheds An extension of the period in which goods are permitted to remain in storage in tho wharf transit sheds was granted in certain cases by the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. The superintendent and engineer, Mr. 1). Holderness, in a report to the board, stated that 110 believed a very real hardship would be created by tho enforcement in all cases of tho demurrage rates on the dato fixed, October 12. Mr. Holderness recommended that in tho case of wheat and cocoa beans the period of storage should bo extended to December 31 and of other goods to October 31. It was also recommended that in the case of dangerous goods which were stored in shed 118 at Freeman's Bay, and not in a transit shed, the period should bo extended to December 31. The report was adopted. Giant Tunnel Spider The curious pet of a Wellington household is a tunnel spider, whose size and appearance unpleasantly shock visitors unaware that New Zealand contains such formidable creatures, its body alone, without taking into account its legs, measures fully two inches. The tunnel spider inhabits burrows or crevices in sunny faces of the hillsides about Wellington. In this case it has frturid a habitat in one of those tubular perforations in a concrete embankment to prevent seepage from breaking down the wall. When a fly or other insect crawls across the nievshes at the rim of tho entrance the spider feels the slight vibration of the web and rushes out, sometimes even leaving the hole to chase its victim. The poiscm fangs of these spiders, with which they paralyse and despatch their prey, are a quarter of an inch long, sharper than needles. From the ease with which the spider deals with even large and horny insects, there is no doubt that it could administer a painful bite, even if of less serious effect than that of a katipo.