LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Octopuses in Estuary Fishermen report that the waters of the Bowentown Estuary, Katikati, abound with octopuses of medium size. One launchman stated that during Easter his party, in the course of three hours' fishing, landed about 60 of them. Albert Park Lighting Experimental flood-lighting of plots at Albert Park is being conducted in the evenings in preparation for centennial displays. The lamps are on greenpainted standards and various shades of projected lights are being tried, the heightened effect on the beds of flowers being very beautiful. Devonport State Houses A report that the 50 dwelling units being erected in the Devonport borough by the State Housing Department would be ready for occupation about the end of the month, was received at a meeting of the Devonport Borough Council last night. The scheme includes 46 single-house and four double-house units.

Parking Station Improvements Low brick walls are at present being built at both ends of the municipal parking station between Britomart Placo and the transport terminal. The walls will replace temporary fences and will be completed in about a fortnight. A permanent office in brick is also being constructed for parking station officials, who are now housed in a corrugated iron shelter. Municipal Motor Camp The favourable season from the camping aspect is responsible for sustained heavy patronage at the municipal motor camp at Western Springs. Peak figures in the Easter week-end of 96 tents and caravans, representing an attendance of between 300 and 400 persons, are easily a record for the period, and there is still a largo number of people at the camp. Advice to Motorists.

"It is still very necessary to deter people from taking liquor to excess when driving cars," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, "the question of suspension of licence comes up in these cases and I am considering increasing the period of suspension in the future. The Court can only repeat how unwise it is for drivers to take any liquor at all when they are driving." The Barque Killoran Because of a shortage of wharf berths at Auckland the Finnish barque Killoran, which arrived from the Seychelles Group, in the Indian Ocean, on Sunday, is still at anchor in the stream.. The Killoran will berth in the next few days and will spend 10 days discharging her cargo of guano. Before she sails for South Australia to load wheat the barque will enter Calliope Dock for cleaning and painting. Antl-alrcralt Shoot

Anti-aircraft exercises in co-operation with a machine from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base at Hobsonville were carried out in the Hauraki Gulf yesterday by the Imperial escort vessels Wellington and Leith. Following the normal practice, a drague or aerial target was towed by the aeroplane, at a substantial distance from the machine, aJid the naval gunners fired at the fast-moving target. The two warships will return to the Devonport naval base this morning.

Accident Victims The condition of Mr. E. G. Robb, of Puhinui Road, Papatoetoe, who suffered serious head injuries when ho fell from the platform of a tramcar at the foot of Khyber Pass Road on Tuesday evening, is reported to be still fairly serious. Some progress is reported in tho condition of Mr. P. H. Meredith, of 10 Raranga Road, Mount Eden, who was severely injured when lie was knocked down by a motor-car in New North Road on Sunday night. His condition, however, is still fairly serious.

Three "Monarch" Ships - During the visit of the Shaw, Savill and Albion motor-liner Dominion Monarch to New Zealand, two other overseas vessels with names terminating in "Monarch" will be discharging on the coast. They are the British steamers Celtic Monarch, now at New Plymouth unloading phosphate from Nauru Island, and the Imperial Monarch, which is duo at Auckland next week with sulphur from the United States. The two ships are owned by tho Monarch Steamship Company, of Glasgow.

Petrol After Hours To enable motorists, especially those travelling long distances, to obtain petrol after the normal closing time of garages and selling stations, the Automobile Association (Auckland) council decided last night to endeavour to obtain for insertion in its handbook a list of places, particularly in the smaller towns, where supplies could be purchased. Somo motorists, it was reported, had complained that they had been stranded in the country because of their inability to purchase petrol late at night or early in the morning. Natives Returning to Java After completing labour contracts in Noumea, where they have been engaged over varying terms of years on estates, mining and making roads, a large party of Javanese natives are returning to their homeland by the Roggeveen, -whioli arrived liero from Eastern ports yesterday. Many of the men have with them their wives and families, who live in after quarters of tho ship. Dressed in all manner of scanty and gaudy clothes, tho 150 natives are not allowed to set foot ashore in New Zealand. This is the second party to pass through tho Dominion within two months, tho former numbering about 500. It is said there are still about 7500 Javanese engaged in various works in Noumea. Customs Street Repairs

Now that, the work of replacing the street paving in Symonds Street is approaching completion tho works staff of tho Auckland City Council has made a start with the preparation of the foundation in Customs Street East, as this will be the next paving iob the contractors will undertake. A contract was let to the Neuchatel Asphalto Company, Limited, for tho re-surfacing of a portion of Hobsoti Street, Upper Symonds Street and Customs Street East, the stripping of the <old surface and the reconditioning of the concrete foundation being'done by the council staff. Comparatively minor repairs were necessary in the Hobson Street and Symonds Street foundations, but extensive reconstruction will bo required in Customs Street, particularly on the southern side, where a subsidence occurred following tho laying of a, new stormwater sewer. The collapse of the roadway caused the kerbing and channelling to sink and this is now being realigned.