LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23340, 8 May 1939, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Demands ol the Farm "I hope you will not consider me discourteous if I hurry away immediately after my address," said Major-General Sir Andrew. Russell, when speaking 011 defence at Hamilton on Saturday night. "I have to go to Rotorua to-night and to Hastings to-morrow, so as to be home in time for crutchinj; sheep on Monday."

Railway Housing A programme for the erection of a further .'350 railway liouses was being carried out at present, stated the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, 011 Saturday. The quota allotted to the Auckland district, the Minister added, was 90. Of this number 2-1 had been completed and nearly as many were well forward.

Many Rail Travellers Coincident with the beginning of the school holidays last Friday, hundreds of extra passengers have booked their seats 011 trains coming to and going from Auckland. The expresses on Saturday were well patronised, and the limited express last night, with 12 carriages, carried a full load of people, many of them with children. House Damaged by Fire

Fire destroyed a detached washhouse and damaged tho wall of the breakfast room of a six-roomed wooden house at 20 Ely Avenue, Remuera, on Saturday night. Tho dwelling was owned and occupied by Jlr. M. Blackey, and insured for £7OO in the South British Office. Engines from the Remuera and Parncll stations attended the fire. Accident Victim's Condition

An improvement is reported in the condition of Mr. Harold William Newton Shaw, of 40 Ronaki Road, Koliimarama, who suffered fractured ribs, concussion and abrasions to the scalp when the motor-car he was driving struck a safety zone at the intersection of Symonds Street and Karangahape Road 011 Friday night. Mr. Shaw's condition is now considered not serious.

Growth Alter Rain

Tho speedy transformation of a dry countryside to delightful greenness in the course of a few days lias been the subject of much comment by motorists, who say the Auckland Province has never looked moro pleasing. Gorse, which is now blooming freely, enhances the beauty of the scene and is, in spite of its unwelcomeness as a noxious weed, an asset from the artistic point of view. Visitors from Wellington Nearly .'550 Wellington residents' spent the week-end in Auckland, travelling by a special railway excursion which arrived in Auckland on Saturday morning. The train, which had practically all accommodation taken, loft on its return at 3.5 o'clock yesterday afternoon and was duo to reach its destination in time for the excursionists to have breakfast and return to work.

City Toll Scheme Should all cars, owned by persons living beyond the boundaries of Wellington and paying no rates, be taxed 6d for the privilege of entering the city? A suggestion that this should be done has been made by the chairman of the reserves and staff committees of the Wellington City Council, Sir. W. Duncan. Such a tax, he believes, would lessen traflic and parking congestion and help to provide revenue for street purposes. Grouping of Planets

All the naked-eye planets, with, the exception of Mars, arc in the morning sky at present, and have been noted by early risers. Four planets are within the confines of the constellation Pisces. Of these, Jupiter is first to rise, being visible about 3 a.m. Within half an hour Venus follows it, and about an hour later Mercury and then Saturn also become visible. Finally, Uranus is also in the morning sky at present, but lies too close to the sun to be seen. Parachute Descent It is rarely that a parachutist can make a vertical descent, but that unusual happening was witnessed at Mangero aerodrome yesterday afternoon. There was an almost total absence of wind and instead of taking off well beyond the confines of the landing ground, as is customary, Mr. L. E. Hay ward made his jump from immediately over the centre of the drome. His descent was practically straight and afforded the crowd of visitors an excellent view.

National Lottery An expression of its pleasure at the refusal of the recent conference of the New Zealand Labour Party to endorse a proposal to legalise a national lottery, was contained in a resolution carried by the executive of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations at its last meeting. Pleasure was also expressed that both the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, had declared that the Government had no intention of introducing such a measure. Motor-Oycle Learners' Plates Approval of the proposal announced by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semplc, to amend the motor regulations in order that persons learning to ride motor-cycles must carry "L" plates on their machines, was given by Auckland motor-cvclo organisations at a conference in March. It was as a result of similar conferences in other centres that the scheme was proposed to the Minister. There are about 20.000 motor-cyclists in New Zealand, of whom *ISOO arc in the Auckland district. Rail-car Services Referring to the success of the two new standard type rail-cars on the New Plymouth-Wellington night service, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. P. G. Sullivan, said on Saturday that the next section to be with cars of tho same typo was the Napier-Wai-roa line, which would bo taken over by the Railways Department at an early date. Applications for rail-car services had boon received from various parts of the Dominion, and were now being considered. As tho required cars bcamo available they would be placed on service in localities where the best use could bo made of them. French Sloop's Visit

The French tropical service sloop Duniont D'Urville, which hns replaced tbo more familiar lligault de Genouilly OH tlio Pacific base, is expected to arrive at Auckland at 8 a.m. to-morrow and to remain in port until May 20. While sho is at Auckland, tlio vessel will enter the Calliope Dock for a three, days' refit. Commanded by Capitaine do Fregate Amir, the Dumont D'Urville is of the same class as the Bigault do Genouilly. Her armament includes three 5.5 in. guns, a recent French model firing an 801b. shell 26,000 yards. On her trials eight years ago the sloop averaged 17.2 knots. She is also capable of cruising 9000 miles at 10 knots without rinuelliiifi.