LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chief Post Office Clock The large bracket clock erected some months ago over the main entrance of the Chief Post Office , was illuminated for the first time last night, an internal lighting system being used. Previously the dials could be read at night on 'y by the light available from standard lamps flanking the steps below and from street lamps in the vicinity.

Asphyxia Treatment Ambulance drivers and members of the honorary transport staff of .the St. John Ambulance Association will take a course during the week-end in the use of carbon dioxide in the treatment of asphyxia. The secretary-manager of the association, Mr. S. E. Langstone, stated yesterday that instruction will consist principally of the use of the new pocket resuscitation apparatus. Tribute to Fire Brigade

As a mark of appreciation of the work of the brigade in extinguishing an outbreak in the firm's workrooms in Victoria Street recently, John Court, Limited, presented a cheque for 10 guineas to the Central Fire Station recreation club funds yesterday. In a covering letter the brigade was commended for its efficient handling of the outbreak. First-aid Classes Considerable interest is being taken in the St. John Ambulance Association's first-aid classes this season. A large number of candidates have enrolled for the classes, which will begin on Morch 7, 8 and 9. This week-end officers of the St. John organisation will complete at Narrow Neck camp a course in air-raid precautions, after which they will be in a position to give instruction in the latest methods. s Large Eel Caught Five feet in length and weighing 231b., a long-finned eel caught by three schoolboys in the Maukau Stream, near Pukekohe, has been forwarded to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Although it is the largest ever received at the museum, it does not compare with one officially noted that was caught in the Wanganui River and which weighed 421b. New Zealand has the distinction of providing the largest fresh water eels of any part of the world. North Head Artillery The boom of the 6in. guns on North Head was heard for the second day in succession yesterday when live shell practice was again conducted by the 13th Heavy Battery, which is holding its annual camp at Devonport. The work took the form of a counter-|jom-bardment series, the target representing a hostile vessel presumed to be shelling the city from a position some 8000 or 9000 yards out to sea. Full charges were used in the heavy guns operated by the battery. Tramcar Disabled An outbreak of fire in the control cabin disabled a tramcar which was proceeding toward the city down Syinonds Street about 7.40 o'clock last night. The outbreak was prevented from spreading further by firemen from the Central Fire Station, who answered the call, but the passengers finished their journey in darkness, the lighting system having been affected. The disabled tram coasted into Queen Street and was later taken to the depot. Inward tram traffic was held up for a time.

Lighthouse Steamer's Work After an absence from port of four days the Government lighthouse steamer Matai returned to Auckland yesterday afternoon from the Hauraki Gulf, where she attended to buoys and beacons. The Matai, which has been based at Auckland for a month, will leave on Tuesday morning for Cape Brett, Cape Maria van Dieman and Wellington. During her stay in the north she has landed the last shipment of radio beacon equipment at Cuvier Island and has taken a consignment of similar apparatus to Moko Hinau Island. Motor-car Loses Wheel An unusual accident occurred in Wyndham Street shortly after six o'clock last night when one of the rear wheels came off a motor-car and caused it to fall over on to the brake drum. The car, a large sedan model, had broken its back axle in Shortland Street and was being towed at a fairly slow rate from Queen Street into Wyndham Street when the back right wheel left the axle and ran across into the gutter while the car was*pulled about 20 yards on its brake drum before the van towing the car was pulled up. The car was finally removed by a breakdown lorry.

Americans and War Several American business men who passed through Auckland yesterday by the Monterey from San Francisco and Los Angeles, said they had no doubt that if the British Empire were threatened by what one called "the sabrerattlers," the United States would fight with the British. Mr. H. G. Meinecke, of San Francisco, aud Mr. Emery Huse, of Los Angeles, both said their countrymen had so much in common with the British, and so many mutual commercial interests, that there would be no alternative than to fight if the necessity arose. "That is the general opinion of thinking Americans," Mr. Huse added. Naming of Jockey Club Rivalry between the districts of Devonport and Takapuna apparently existed as long ago as 1881, according to the minutes of the first meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club, extracts from which were read by the secretary, Mr. R. A. Spinley, at a gathering in Devonport last night when the club's property was vested in the council. The minutes showed that a member had moved that the club should assume the name Takapuna, but the motion was immediately followed by an amendment proposing Devonport as the name. Voting was even, and the title Takapuna was only adopted on the casting vote of the chairman.

Excursion from Wellington Auckland should be the larger by several hundred people this week-end as the result of an excursion train which left Wellington last night and is due here at 11.15 a.m to-day. Excursionists from Napier will join the train at Palmerston North. The train will leave on its return south at 3.5 p.m. tomorrow and will take people back to Wellington in time to have breakfast and go to work on Monday morning. Two excursion trains will leave Auckland for the races at Te Rapa at 7.48 and 8.35 a.m. to-day and will arrive back at 8.57 and 9.46 p.m. respectively. There is also an excursion this weekend from Frankton to Mount Maunganui.