LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23208, 30 November 1938, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bank Holiday To-Day Banks in Auckland will be closed today in observance of St. Andrews Day, which, however, is not a public holiday. St. Andrews Day is observed on November 30 of each year in honour of the martyrs of the Reformation'. )

Telegrams for Czechoslovakia Advice has been received by the acting-chief postmaster, Mr. H. M. Patrick, thnt telegraphic traffic for Czechoslovakia lodged in secret language may again be accepted. The telegraphic service, suspended during the crisis, was restored at the beginning of last month, but with the proviso that telegrams should be in plain language. Exhibits at Museum

Showcase exhibits that are now circulated among the schools will be assembled in a special display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during the Christmas and New Year vacation. The system of Bending museum exhibits round tho Kchools was started in 1930, and there are now 36 cases in circulation. The Education Board arranges the order of circulation and other details.

Record Issue of Licences Drivers' licences issued by the Mount Albert Borough Council since May 31, totalling 3770, exceeded tho number granted in any previous complete year, stated the town clerk, Mr. T. R. Congal ton, in a report to the borough council -last night. In the six months up to the end of November last year 3320 licences were issued, while the figures for the corresponding periods of 1936 and 1935 wero 2902 and 2518 respectively. Christmas Air Mails

One of the Empire air mail despatches recommended by the Post and Telegraph Department for delivery in Britain before Christmas will close at Auckland at three o'clock this afternoon for shipment to Sydney by the Awatea. The mail will reach London on December 15. Tho last mail recommended is that closing at Auckland at 4.30 on Monday afternoon to connect with the Awatea at Wellington. It will arrive at London on December 19.

Waterfront Episode A report that he had been seized by two men when walking on tho Western Viaduct about 7 o'clock on Monday evening and robbed of a watch and a small quantity of silver was made to the police yesterday by a middle-aged man. He stated that he was walking in the fairly isolated portion of the viaduct near Western Wharf when a man came up on eacli side of him and, pinioning his arms, rifled his coat pockets. Harbour Cable Survey

A further postponement of the survey of the harbour bed between Point Resolution and Dcvonport, prior to the laying of a new submarine cable, resulted from unfavourable weather yesterday. If suitable conditions prevail the survey will bef made to-day and the cable, which will provide a third telephone connection for North Shore subscribers, will be laid as soon afterward as is possible. It is hoped to have the new service operating before Christmas.

Holiday Travel Booking for the Christmas and New Year holiday period in the inter-island steamer services are heavier than they were last year, and indications are that travel across Cook Strait will reach a record level. Bookings have been steadily made for some weeks past, and several sailings were fully booked weeks ago. This occurs every .vear for the peak nights just before Christmas, but hea\y bookings this year are spread over an even wider period than was the case last year.

Park's Attractive Appearance The attractive appearance of GribbleHirst Park at the present time was the subject of comment by members of the Mount Albert Borough Council at a meeting last night. "I commend everyone who can to take a walk through the park," said the Mayor, Mr. H. A. Anderson, who exhibited a bowl of magnificent roses which, he said, had been picked in the park that afternoon. Mr. Anderson said that the rose bushes had been planted in the park less than two months ago.Pheasant Ohicks

The fact that there were at present 355 pheasant chicks at the society's hatcheries at Waitati was mentioned by Mr. It. Fountain, chairman of the Pheasant Committee, at the monthly meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. Mr. Fountain said the chicks were looking very well and healthy, and another hatching was due to take place in the near future. A new brooder house was being erected, and it was hoped that in future the birds would he able to grow in the best possible conditions.

Encouraging Tourists New Zealand should follow the example of Italy, encouraging tourists from overseas by allowing them to travel on the railways at reduced rates, according to an Italian journalist, Signon Ghiglione, who is visiting Christchurch. "F.very tourist visiting Italy gets a 50 per cent cut on his railway fares," he said. "The Tourist Department should make the same reduction here," He added that the loss of railway revenues would be more than made up by the money spent by tourists in other directions.

Eegistration of Oats "This society is of the opinion that tho time is opportune 5 for the Government to mako it compulsory for all cats to bo registered," was a motion carried at the annual meeting of tho Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mrs. E. M. Hunt said that she and her sister had taken round a, petition asking for the registration of cats, and thev had ,beeu told that this was tho only solution to tho cat problem. By. registering cats a revenue would be obtained and this could be used to deal with unwanted cats.

Oonchologist Turns Diver Using a pair of Solomon Island underwater glasses, -Mr. A. W. B. Powell, assistant director and conchologist of the Auckland War Museum, is emulating the Islanders in diving for shells on the seabed. The glasses, comprise the joints of two boughs that have been hollowed out. Glass is cemented over ono end'of each, and when screwed into the eyes, they* prove watertight, whilo the pressuro of the water contributes a good deal to keeping them in position., Mr. Powell, finds that so long as water .is excluded from the eyo, visibility is excellent through the glasses at diving depths and in the week-end he was able to obtain excellent specimens of shells when diving from a launch off the Noisies. He obtained them by parting and exploring through kelp that covered the seabed.