LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23220, 14 December 1938, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fire in Waste Basket A waste paper basket caught fire in the offices of Grahame and Grahame, solicitors, Hellaby's Buildings, Queen Street, yesterday afternoon. Machines from the Central Fire Station answered a call to the fire, which, however, had been practically extinguished by the time the machines arrived. Only minor damage was done.

Ponaonby Community Lighting Contracts have been let for the installation of a community lighting system at the Three Lamps, Ponsonby, according to a statement made ye|terday by the general manager of the Auckland Electric-Power Board, Mr. R. H. Bartley. He said he feared, however, that it might not be possible to complete the work before Christmas.

Blooming ol Pohutukawa Trees In the opinion of Mr. F. T. Aldridge, superintendent of parks, the blooming of pohutukawa trees generally promises to be poorer than last year, although thez'e are some excellent isolated specimens. The blooming is well forward, but the cooler weather is likely to retard further flowering. Mr. Aldridge expects that this will result in many trees coming into full blossom by Christmas. Record Health Stamp Week The record week in the Post and Telegraph Department's health stamp campaign was the eighth period which ended on November 30. Stamps sold totalled 136,124, and liberal donations were also made, the result being a further increase in the credits of the health camps of £719, making a total for the campaign to date of £4435. The number of health stamps sold now approaches 900,000. Old Token Coins When demolishing the Stone Jug building on the municipal golf course a number of old token pennies issued by various grocery firms in Auckland about 70 years ago were found by workmen. These were used because of a shortage of copper coinage. It is anticipated that demolishing will be completed to-day. The stone removed was disappointing in size, being much smaller than the face suggested.

Buildings In Ellerslle Progress is being well maintained in four Government building projects in Ellerslie under the supervision of the Public Works Department. Work is well advanced in the construction of brick stables for police horses and tho framework is up for the new police station. A new residence for the police sergeant in charge is almost finished. Alterations and tho complete remodelling of the post office are well in hand.

Another Rainy Day The summer conditions at Auckland on Monday proved to be only a temporary respite from recent unsettled weather, for an overcast and wet day was again experienced yesterday. Misty rain, with a moderate northerly wind, fell during the day and a steady falj for some hours last night was accompanied by a fresh north-east wind. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended at midnight, recorded on the Herald gauge, was .46in. Barometric pressure fell steadily in the afternoon and evening.

Good Bag of Pheasants A total of 694 pheasants were secured by 38 guns in the Waitemata County area during the last shooting season, according to a letter from the secretary of the Waitemata Acclimatisation Club received at the meeting of the council of tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society last night. The figure represented an average of 18 birds a gun. Three of the birds wore ringed, bringing the number of ringed birds of the 1936 liberation shot to 18. This proves conclusively, the letter stated, that end of season liberations do survive. Bitumen on Fire A fire, which could be seen six miles away, broke out near the Tumai Bridge in the Waikouaiti district on Monday afternoon when a barrel of bitumen, which was being heated for use on the roadway, exploded and resulted in several other barrels close by also taking fire. The result was an inferno for an hour or so. Flames shot upward ns high as 30ft., and resulted in the telephone wires being burned through. Temporary repairs were effected, however, and communication was restored at approximately 6.45 p.m., two hours and a-half after tho fire started, Salvaged Air Mail Hopes are held by the Post and Telegraph Department that portions of the Empire air mail salvaged from the fly-ing-boat Calpurnia, which crashed near Ragdad nearly a fortnight ago, will arrive at Auckland by the Awatea on Monday and at Wellington by the Wanganella on Tuesday. The British Post Office has advised that the mails carried by the Calpurnia consisted of 65 bags of Australian and 60 bags of New Zealand. A total of 101 bags was salvaged in bad condition and some of the mails were incomplete. It is believed that tho flying-boat was carrying only mails from England. The Law's Delays

"It is very regrettable that this appeal should be brought on something like a year and three-quarters after the offence was alleged to have been committed," said Mr. Justice Fair yesterday, when hearing at the Supremo Court an appeal against a conviction in the Magistrate's Court. The conviction, which was for being drunk in charge of a motor-van, was recorded on March 5,. 1937. fe r uch appeals, His Honor said,' should jbe , brought 15 *' on promptly, as a lengthy delay resulted in not bqing-in a position to give evidence in detail t and with accuracy. •Mr; V. R. Meredith said the, ease had been set down for'hearing three times and adjourned either on accoupt of the illness' of; witnesses or of their absence from the country,. He-suggested that a 'definite day should . set aside by tho Court for,hearing such Appeals. aiftg to Museum -

• Among gifts recently made to the Auckland War Memorial Museum is an obsidian knife wrapped in human hair found in a crevice of a rock on one of the Poor Knights Islands 1 . • It was sent in by Mr. Charles Fleming, of Kemuera. It was a bereavement custom among the old Maoris to deposit hair of a relative in a hiding pl^xct),. together with the knife with which it was cut. A large .Ualiotis shell, .long. and BJin. wide, 1 wW - 'the museum by Mr.-W.- -P. Santiago, yCayfotiyt).., /Hi#;-gift,. Wasifthe result, of reading a. book on spells by Mr. A/W. B. Powell, assistant-dii+ctor of the museum. Flesh in haliotis shell is almost a staple article of diet'aihoiig many Orientals. Pearls are often found in the shell, which has a commercial value in itself. It is related to the paua shell found in Auckland waters.