LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Help for Chinese The Auckland Electric-Power Board decided at a meeting yesterday to donate £5 to the China Blanket Appeal Fund. "This is rather out of the ordinary," said the chairman, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, "but I think wo should make some contribution to the fund." Criminal Sessions Open When the third quarterly criminal sessions of the Supreme Court open this morning the address to the grand jury will be delivered by Mr. Justice Ostler. Twenty cases, involving charges against 17 persons, have been set down for hearing. It is expected that the trials will occupy the Court until the end of next week. Pedestrian Crossings Repainted Most of tho pedestrian crossings in Queen Street, the condition of which has aroused criticism, wero repainted by City Council workers yesterday morning. As traffic was heavy at tho time, the work was done under difficulties, several traffic inspectors diverting or holding up vehicles for brief intervals. It was explained by the traffic department of the council that the long period of wet weather had prevented the renowal of white markings until yesterday. Yacht Anchorage Tho creation of a new protected anchorage for yachts in Hobson Bay, as described in a notice to mariners just gazetted, involves moving tho southern limit of the explosives anchorago in tlio bay 500 ft. to the northward. Tho protected area is bounded by a line from the end of the Orakei Wharf to tho south-west corner of the explosives anchorage, tlienco along its southern limit for 1500 ft. and thence 1700 ft. to a black buoy, and a further 2350 ft. to the shore. Cruise Ship at Pago Pago A wireless message from the Union Company's cruiso steamer Matmganui states that the vessel reached Pago Pago from Apia oil Friday morning. The weather was perfect and excellent arrangements made by the Government for the entertainment of passengers included a drive to tho village of Ana, five miles away, where a native programme was given. Great assistance and kindness was received from United States naval officers. The Maunganui left Pago Pago on Friday afternoon for Levuka. Bank of New Zealand Building Working plans for the proposed new Bank of New Zealand building in Queen Street are still in course of preparation: These involve many problems arising from the use of steel in the frame and, while progress is steady, it is necessarily slow. It would appear that it will he somo considerable time yet before the plans are ready for the quantity surveyors. Since its original announcement of the intention to build the directorate of the bank has mado no further statement on tho matter. Use, not Preservation When the Carnegie Corporation makes gifts to educational bodies it contemplates that they will be used to the fullest extent, even at the cost of wear-and-tcar. The Auckland Training College is shortly to receive from the corporation an art teaching set, consisting of hundreds of photographs, and a large collection of books. Tho lecturer in art at tho college, Mr. R. Donn, said yesterday that while in America he had been informed that, in J the corporation's view, tho material ( should bo showing signs of wear in five years, and should bo quite worn out in ten. Building by Volunteers A gymnasium costing £IBOO is being erected by tho Morrinsville Physical Culture Club, which for five years has been carrying on boxing and wrestling classes in leased premises. The carpenters employed on tho building receive assistance every Saturday from working bees of club members, among whom are a number of building tradesmen. All the money for the building has been raised by means of debentures of £5 each. The Morrinsville Borough Council has expressed its support of tho club by remitting the building permit fee, and business firms havo mado substantial donations of material, while tho architect gavo his services free. Popular Ship's Dog A certain indication of the arrival in port at Auckland of tho Union Company's cargo steamer Waimarino i? tho presence on tho waterfront of tho ship's dog, a largo fox terrier named Skipper, which for five years has travelled with the vessel on voyages up and down the Dominion coast. The dog is always tho first ashore, and has gained a thorough knowledge of tho city wharves. Tho present master of tho Waimarino, Captain W. D. Cameron, said yesterday that oven if the ship moved to a new wharf during Skipper's absence the dog had no difficulty in locating tho vessel. Although a number of other Union Company ships aro similar to the Waimarino, tho terrier never hesitated in returning to his home. Coverdale's Bible An old medal in tho possession of a Remuera resident is a rather quaint reminder of past religious controversies. It was struck in 1835 to mark the 300 th anniversary of tho completion of Miles Coverdale's translation of the Old and Now Testaments, comprising tho first comploto English printed Bible. Tho obverse shows Covcrdale seated in a Gothic chair at a table on which lio pons, ink and a Biblo with rays of light proceeding from its pages. On tho floor aro a padlock and a broken chain. On tho reverse of the medal arc a Biblo bound round with a chain and tho inscription: "Great Britain under tho dominion of tho Church of Rome. Tho Bible and tho Bible alone is tho-religion of Protestants." Dangerous Intersection "It would bo a wise precaution if the traffic control authorities could insist on a compulsory stop for motorists coming out of Exmouth Street," said tho engineer-manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, in a report to tho Auckland Transport Board yesterday dealing with dangers to traffic turning into Eden Terrace; Tlio report added that there was littlo tlio Transport Board could do to inako tho intersection safer. Tho real risk lay with motorists colliding with each otljeiv There was no record, of serious accidents with trams. Mr. J. Sayegh, "who had requested the report, said lie agreed with the manager, although there was 110 doubt the.intersection was dangerous. In his opinion, the corner should be widened" to give better visibility. Ho intended bringing up the matter at a meeting of another body.