LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23397, 13 July 1939, Page 12

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Criminal Sessions Nineteen cases, involving 16 persons, two of whom are women, have been set clown for hearing at the coming sessions of the Supreme Court. The sessions, which are to open on Tuesday, will he conducted by Mr. Justice Ostler and Mr. Justice Fair. No Whitebait Available

Although the whitebait season in the Waikato River has now been open for nearly two weeks, the Auckland market so far has had no supplies from this source. A retailer said yesterday that the weather was stili too rough and it was unlikely that there would be any appreciable quantities for the next two or three weeks it the conditions continued. , ~ . Shipment of Aeroplanes

Following closely upon the arrival from Egypt by the Huntingdon of a shipment of military aeroplanes for use in New Zealand, a second shipment, comprising 16 Vickers Vincent machines, is expected to arrive at Auckland from Calcutta by the British India steamer Gamaria on Monday. The Gamaria, which left Sydney for Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, will also bring an Empire air mail and Australian mails.

Miles of Lettuces An interest in agriculture led Mr. G. 11. Holford, of Wellington, to visit those areas concerned with vegetable and fruit growing on the Pacific Coast of America during a recent overseas trip. He told members of the l'almeiston North Rotary Club that lie had seen in one place 300 acres of asparagus, in another 4000 acres of peaches and further on no fewer than 22,000 acres of lettuces, forming almost a continuous belt for mile upon mile. Motor-ship's Misfortunes

A chapter of misfortunes has dogged the Union Company's chartered motorship Tolten on her voyage from the Pacific Coast to Auckland. The 'ship was delayed four days at Papeete through engine trouble and very rough weather on the voyage to Auckland resulted in her arrival here being delayed by two days. To complete tho series all the passengers and crew wore vaccinated when the ship reached port yesterday as a precaution against smallpox.

Curious Accident An unusual accident, befcl N. C. Botica, aged 12, in the playground at the Wellesley Street East School yesterday morning while playing football. He and another boy fell, and the long metal pin of a buckle on the bolt worn by the other boy pierced his leg near the shin-bone and could not be withdrawn. He was taken in a St. John ambulance to the casualty department at the Auckland Hospital, the pin was removed, and within an hour the boy was back at school.

Many Traffic Breaches Over 170 motorists were charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. J. Murling, S.M., and Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M., with breaches of the traffic regulations. The alleged offences included failure to observe the righthand rule, no warrant of fitness, no driver's licence, breaches of the parking regulations and negligent driving, and excessive speed. Many of the defendants did not appear and of those who did the majority pleaded guilty. The fines ranged from 10s to £5.

Learning Morse Code "How long would it take one to learn the Morse code?" was a question asked a speaker, reporting on the proposed two-way radio installation in patrol cars, at a meeting of the Automobile Association (Auckland) last night. The radio expert's reply was another question to tho motor authorities: "How long does it take to learn to drivo a car?" He added that learning tho code depended on practice. It should take a month, practising an hour a day, to become efficient 111 understanding tho code.

Maunganui's Cruise A wireless message received yesterday from the Union Company's cruise steamer Maunganui stated that a,perfect day was enjoyed at Vavau, in the Tongan Group, on Tuesday. Passengers were delighted with a boating and bathing picnic alongside a charming Tongan village. This was followed by a boat visit to the famous Swallows' Cave. The Maunganui reached Apia, Western Samoa, yesterday afternoon. Although tho ship arrived there ahead oit schedule the original programme of entertainment will be carried out.

Study of Administrative Law "With the machinery of tho law growing rapidly, it should bo the job of someone in New Zealand, outside official circles, to investigate what is going on with our administration, said Professor Julius Stono in an address to the Auckland Creditmen's Club yesterday. He advocated that administrative law should bo studied in tho universities of tho Dominion, pointing out that in America such studies took almost first placo in academic interest. "Moreover," he added, "this study has had a most wholesome effect on the administration of tho country."

Emergency Training The excellent progress being made with the formation of the women's auxiliary of the Air Paid" Precautions Organisation was referred to by tho Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, at tho conference of tho Mayors and chairmen of metropolitan lpcal bodies last night. Sir Ernest said that already in the area 18 branches had been formed, with a total membership of 1051 women. These members were engaged on training for emergency action in first-aid, homo nursing, care of children, motor mechanics and cooking. Ho sa'id he was proud to know that tho womenfolk of Auckland wore doing such splendid preparatory work. Orakei Improvements

For somo years residents of Paratai Drive and tho adjacent streets on tho northern face of the Orakei settlement have had direct access to tho waterfront drive by a steep path down the face of the cliff. As a first step toward tho improvement of this short-cut tho City Council has built a set of stono steps at the entranco to the path from the waterfront road. Flanked on either side by a stono retaining wall, the new work Ims greatly improved tho appearance of tho locality. A further amenity provided for these residents is tho erection of ono of .the now bus shelter sheds on a si to adjoining tho new steps. Placed as it is near tho corner of 'Ngapipi Hoadj this shelter will prove a convenience to the occupants of tho rapidly-increasing number of homes in the locality.