LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Breeding Pheasants About 100 pheasant chicks have already been hatched out at the Hawke's Bay Acclimatisation Society's came farm at Greenmeadows, Napier, and there are about 1000 eggs in the incubator at present. In spite of the fact that the first hatch has been brought out a little earlier than usual, the birds are in eood, healthy condition. Porpoise in Harbour

A porpoiso escorting the Wanganella into port was seen by officials on board the customs, launch that met the ship near the Rangitoto Beacon yesterday morning. The porpoise was well clear of the vessel, on a parallel course, and passed near the launch. It was swimming close to the surface and was clearly seen as it broke water ev'e.ry few minutes. %

Quail Plentiful at Rotorua Many quail were seen by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, on a visit 110 made to Te Toko and Murupara. "What I liked about the presence of quail along the roadsides and 011 some of the lands I covered," said the Minister, "was that the birds were not in flocks, but were scattered, which would appeal to, and please, any sportsman. First-aid in Schools

Approval of the scheme recently proposed by Mrs. M. Patten for the introduction of first-aid training in schools, as part of the normal curriculum, was expressed yesterday by tho executive committee of tho Auckland centre of the St. John Ambulance Association. Members complimented Mrs. Patten upon her initiative, and assured her of their whole-hearted support.

New Stock lor Zoo The first of several shipments of new stock expected for the Auckland Zoo during the next few months will arrive from Singapore by the Maetsuycker on Monday. Included in the shipment are a pair of chimpanzees and three Gibbon apes. Special electrically-heated quarters have been provided for the chimpanzees, no specimens of which have been in the zoo for a number of years'. 1 Automobile Patrols' Uniform

A iAodified type of uniform for use by patrols during the summer was approved by the council of the Automobile Association (Auckland) last night. It is proposed that the patrols Bhould be provided with slacks instead of breeches and with shirts of a lighter material than that which is at present on issue. It is also planned that pith helmets should replace caps in the hot weather. #

Good Whitebait Season in South The whitebait season in the Buller district has been exceptionally good, with sustained laree runs over the last month. Some of the best catches last week were made in the Buller river, one man and his wife getting 10 tins, about 300 pints, in one morning's fishing. The factories have kept up the price of £2 a tin, even during the busy period. It is a long time since such a good price has been available all the season.

Fog Delays Wanganella Heavj' mist that later developed into a thick fog was encountered by the Wanganella on Tuesday night and early yesterday morning, with the result that she arrived from Sydney about an hour behind schedule yesterday morning. The vessel was due to berth at 8.30 o'clock, and it was just over an hour later before she was alongside the wharf. The thick weather was first encountered near the Three Kings, and it was not until the Wanganella was nearing the harbour that she ran out of the fog. Built Without Permit

Stating that defendant had defied the by-laws Mr. F. H. "Levien, S.M., imposed a fine of £5 on a Takapuna resident, who was charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with commencing building operations without a permit. Mr. H. P. Collins, building inspector for the Takapuna Borough Council, said defendant had a section on which a cottage had been erected. He applied for a permit to build another cottage and this was refused. Then, without obtaining a permit, he made an addition to the garage.

Prevention of Speeding Steps to assist in the prevention of speeding in the borough were discussed at the meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council last night, when the report of* the Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, on the recent conference on North Shore traffic control was received. It was decided to give the borough traffic inspector additional facilities for the use of the council's motor-car. Mr. C. L. Clifton suggested that provision should be made in next year's estimates for a car for the inspector, but Mr. T. M. liollo said the matter was too urgent to wait for the next financial year. Wreck of the Elingamlte

Ono of the most disastrous shipping accidents on the New Zealand coast occurred 3G years ago yesterday, when the Hiiddart-Parker Company's steamer Elingamite was wrecked on West Island, in tho Three Kings Group, with the loss of 45 lives. The steamer, which was bound from Sydney to Auckland with 136 passengers and a crew of 59, struck iri n dense fog at 11 a.m. and sank within 20 minutes. All efforts to trace one lifeboat proved fruitless, and the search was eventually abandoned. In addition, bullion to tho value of £17,320 was lost, and has never been recovered.

Motor-cyclist Fined "It would seem to me that : when, a motor-cycle ,is about; it would be tin; wise for anj'body to cross in sfront of it," said Mr. C. .11. OrfiWalker, S.M.. when imposing a- fine of! £1 on a motorcyclist who appeared in the Magistrate's Oourt yesterday charged with dangerous driving. The.- magistrate said he would impose! a light fine, as the young aian charged had already suffered • and was committed to considerable medical expense. As a warning to other motor-cyelists who travelled at" night time' in busy" streets 'ho ordered the defendant's licence to be suspended for two months. ; " "■

Daughter's Claim ; ' As a matter of law, a testator has the right to discriminate between his children according id the Way"'they have treated him and to take a way that right would make the position of elderly people very difficult, observed Mr. Justice. lloed in the Supreme Court at Pnlmorston • North. His Hpripr, added tljiat.it must be rppoguised at tho same timo tliat very often' an injustice might bo done by the exercising of that right and in the particular case before him ho believed such was the position. His Honor accordingly granted an application for further provision out of tho father's estate for a daughter who was one of a family of eight children.