LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23413, 1 August 1939, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Auckland Bankruptcies Five bankruptcies were registered in Auckland last month, bringing the total for the year to 33. This figure represents an increase on that for the same period last year, when the total was 20. The number included a farmer, a radio dealer and an electrician.

Firm 3 Quote One Price, Four tenders were recently received by the Auckland Electric-Power Board for a quantity of mild steel, and all tho firms quoted the same price. The board at a meeting yesterday confirmed a, decision made by the purchasing committee to split the order among three firms. The successful firms were decided by lot.

Kingfisher Kills Mouse The unusual sight of a kingfisher attacking and killing a mouse was witnessed by several residents of Onetangi, Waihcke, yesterday morning. The bird caught a mouse in some rushes on the side of the road, and, holding it by tho tail, flew on to a fencing post. There it tossed the mouse from side to side until it was dead. Warrants of Fitness Failure of motorists to produce current warrants of fitness for their vehicles during a recent check on the main highway in the Otalnihu district resulted in a number being prosecuted yesterday in the Magistrate's Court at Otahuhu. Oversight was pleaded in most cases as the excuse. Fines of 10s and costs from 10s to 12s were imposed.

Orang-outang for Zoo Permission to secure an orang-outang in the Dutch East Indies and to bring it to New Zealand has been received by the Auckland Zoo authorities from tho Netherlands Government. Tho Singapore Zoo officials will act as agents for the Auckland Zoo in tho transaction and will forward the monkey in the spring. On arrival it will be placed in the same quarters as a young chimpanzee which has been for many months without a companion. Insulation "Perhaps in view of the small extent to which its implications have been worked out and realised, it is unfortunate that the term 'insulation' was ever introduced," said Mr. J. 0. Shearer, lecturer in economics at Victoria University College, speaking on "Administration in a Planned Democracy." "We must realise," he added, "that all we can do is to control tho way in which changes outside impinge on the New Zealand economy. We cannot eliminate either losses or gains completely." Transport Board Loan

Judging by the experience so far, the second debenture issue of £IOO,OOO of the Auckland Transport Board's £500,000 consolidated redemption loan will be absorbed as quickly as was the first. The issue was opened for public subscription on July 20, and by noon yesterday approximately £48,000 had been subscribed. Mr. C. R. Gribble, secretary of the board, said yesterday that one application -was for £IO,OOO, and there have been several for amounts over £IOOO.

Jury Service Duty "Jury service is one of the things that every citizen has to give," said Mr. Justice Ostler yesterday when refusing exemption to a man who said he had 50 men in his employ. The man complained that he was called for jury service only three months ago. "That is probably your bad luck," said His Honor. "You may escape now for another 10 years." Exemption was granted to another man who was in business in a very small way, so that its continuation was largely dependent on him personally. Maunganui's Socond Cruise

Taking a full complement of passengers, the Union Company's cruise steamer Maunganui left Wellington last night on her second visit to the Islands. She will reach Nukualofa on Saturday and then visit Vavau and Apia. Between Apia and Fiji she will stop off Niuafoou to drop the "tin-can" mail, comprising about 9000 letters from Now Zealand and Australia. The cruise will continue to Levuka and Suva and the ship will reach Auckland on August 16, leaving tho same day for Wellington. « Night-flying Flares

. For use in flying between sunset and sunrise, largo landing flares, mounted on floats, have been assembled at the base in Mechanics' Bay in readiness for the inauguration of tho Tasman air service. When a landing or take-off in darkness is necessary, six of tho flares will be towed out into the harbour by the base control tender and, attached by light lines, they will bo placed at 20b-yard intervals in tho form of a letter "L." This will provide a 1000-yard runway for tho flying boats. Kerosene is used for illumination and the powerful, flickering lights will bo easily visible to pilots. New .Westfleld Reservoir

Good progress is being made with tho erection of tho small service reservoir being built by tho Auckland City Council on Hamlin's Hill, near Westfield, as part of tho plan to meet tho growing demand for city water by plants in tho Wostfiold industrial area. The concreting of the floor has been finished, and workmen aro hoav erecting tho boxing for tho first lift of the concrete walls. This reservoir will bo in tho form of a huge circular concrete tank, with a diameter of 110 ft. and a depth of 18ft. It is planned to have tho reservoir in use by the beginning of tho coming summer to meet tho xioeds of tho freezing works when tho busy period commences just before Christmas.

On Ski to Pigeon Bay A Christchurcli skier, Mr. J. F. Kinghorn, mado a long ski trip across Banks Peninsula on.Saturday from Little River to Pigeon Bay, via the Hilltop, to visit relatives. Ho crossed drifts as high as 50 foot and lmd a difficult journey. Mr. Kinghom went along tho Summit road route and tho cattle track from the Hilltop, then down into Pigeon Bay on fairly soft snow. The trip back to the Hilltop was made against a stiff wind which, with snow, turned into blizzard. Taking advantage of tho exceptionally line opportunity of ski-ing in an area where it is seldom provided, a party of members of tho Christchurcli Ski Club visited the Hilltop during the week-end. On Saturday there was a good depth of snow on the slopes, and conditions were ideal and well varied. A novel asncct of tho sport was provided by tno discovery of glades in patches of bush where skiers were able to enjoy wood-running, which is not often possible in New Zealand.