LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23205, 26 November 1938, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Unwaterlng Hikurangi Mine The pumps that have been installed to unwater the flooded Hikurangi mine have now been working for some days and an appreciable lowering of the level of the water in the workings is reported. The pumps nro all working satisfactory, states the Herald's Whangarei correspondent, but the management is not in a position to give any indication as to when the mine will again bo producing.

Unloading Cable Unloading of tho heavy submarine cablo which is to provide a third telephone connection between tho Welleslev Street and Dovonport automatic telephone exchanges was begun yesterday. Tho cable was brought from England in a special wooden tank built into tho hold of tho motor-ship Port Huon, and was discharged on to a bargo which was brought alongside the ship: The cablo will probably be laid on Tuesday.

Progress of New Wharf One of the three sheds for tho new Hobson Wharf, lias been completed and the steel framework of another is finished. It is expected that by Christmas the threo sheds will bo ready and that soon after then the wharf will bo used by coastal craft. Central Wharf, where coastal vessels are now berthed, will be available exclusively for overseas steamers when Hobson Wharf is in use, much dredging having been done in preparation for the change. Motor-car Strikes Tree When the motor-car he was driving up Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, skidded and struck a tree near tho corner of Coleridge Street, Mr. Stanley Newdick, of 18 Tutanekai Street, Grey Lynn, suffered slight concussion. He was taken by St. John ambulance to tho Auckland Hospital and treated at the casualty department, after which ho was able to return home. Tho car was damaged about tho front, the bumper being twisted and one wheel bent by tho impact.

English Trees for Wellington Some time ago tho president of the Wellington branch of tho Poyal Society of St. George, Mr. J. E. Hunt, wrote to the Mayor of High Wycombe, Mr. Hunt's home town m England, asking if it were possible to obtain some English trees for planting in New Zealand. At the annual meeting of tho branch this week, Mr. Hunt read :i letter from tho town clerk of High Wycombe, stating that 12 purple beech trees would bo shipped to Wellington in January.

Service for Motorists An indication of tho manner in which competition has developed among petrol sellers in California was given by Mr. E. A. Jones, of Wellington, assistant-general manager of tho Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary, Limited, who returned from the United States by tho Mariposa yesterday. To attract patrons owners of petrol stations gave a very extensive free service, he said. For instance, a man who purchased only a gallon or two of petrol would have his car completely wiped down and the windows polished for no additional charge. Physical Training Age

"I do not want anyone present to think that he or she is too old to take part in physical instruction and to benefit from it," said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in speaking at a meeting of representatives of sports bodies in Dunedin. "This is a matter which affects every man and woman among us, no matter what their age. I am convinced that most men and women go to seed years before their time, and there is no reason in tho world why every person in this hall to-night should not take part in some form of physical training." Illicit Tobacco Sales

"It is unfair that legitimate tobacconists should not bo protected against the illicit trading of general storekeepers," said Mr. C. P. Smith in tho Police Court yesterday, in prosecuting six shopkeepers for failing to closo their premises for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco at tho prescribed hour. He added that, in spito of about 50 similar prosecutions in the last six monihs, there were just as many cases still being reported, and it was submitted that more than the nominal penalty should bo imposed. Tho offenders were fined from 10s to £3 and costs in tho caso of persons previously warned. Demolition of School

The Newton East School, in Belgium Street, which some years ago was one of Auckland's leading primary schools, and which was recently sold by tho Education Department to a private contractor for removal, is now being demolished. The school was built in 1877, and after many years of usefulness was closed by tho department in 1926 owing to tho industrial growth of the district and the departure of many families to the newer suburbs. Pupils were transferred to Newton Central.* For some years the old school was used as a work centre for unemployed women, and in one of the classrooms tho France Street Mission held church services on Sundays.

Wellington Port Statistics Decreases wero shown in tho statistics for the port of .Wellington for tho month of October, compared with the same month last year, stated the chairman of tho Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. C. M. Turrcll, at the meeting of tho board. Tho net tonnage of trading vessel arriving was 308,867, compared with 319,339 last year, a decreaso of 10,472 tons. Tho cargo handled was 146,253 tons, a decreaso of 13,963 tons. Increases wero shown in imports from coastal and Australian ports, 4918 tons, nnd wool and hemp shipments. 815 bales. Tho principal decreases wero in general cargo imports from British and foreign ports, 4154 tons', general cargo exports to coastal and Australian ports, 2688 tons, coal imports, 10,171 tons, and oils in bulk, imports, 2735 tons, and exports, 3778 tons. New Zealand Plants

During his visit to New Zealand, Dr. G. J. F. Skottsberg, tho eminent Swedish botanist, who left this week on his return to Europe, took tho opportunity of examining many indigenuous plants in public and private collections and in their natural habitat. Ho was particularly interested in those species of Antarctic origin, whose near relatives ho had studied, in South America and * elsewhere. While _in Auckland ho spent some time in viewing tho collection of rare ferns owned by Mr. J. Priekett, of Birkenhead. Some of those, ho said, he would lmvo travelled a long way to see. Dr. Skottsberg showed much enthusiasm when he discovered in a wet paddock on the rond to Albany an insectivorous plant with white flowers and red forked leaves. This plant is related to tho sundew family, and is not uncommon in some localities near Auckland.