LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Soldiers' Wills At tl 10 instance of the Waikato Returned Soldiers' Association, arrangements have been made by the Hamilton Law Society for members to attend the Hopuhopu military camp and assist the soldiers-in making their wills. Visits have already been made by two solicitors, and. their voluntary services have been fully availed of by the men.

Arbitration Court's Sitting The Arbitration Court will sit this morning to make fixtures tor the remaining cases on the list to be dealt with in Auckland. Although a considerable amount of business has been transacted since the Court began its Auckland sitting, a large number of matters still await its attention. There are 18 disputes and about 40 compensation cases which have not yet been considered.

Sale of Health Stamps Postmen in the Auckland district will make their annual canvass for the sale of health stamps during the next few days. Last year they disposed of stamps to the value of over £SOO and they hope to improve on that amount this year. The effort by the postmen is on a competitive basis, and the man disposing •of .the largest number of stamps holds for the ensuing year a handsome rose bowl contributed by John Burns and Company, Limited.

New Dinghy Lockers Good progress is being made by the Auckland Harbour Board with the establishment'of dinghy lockers on the Hobson Bay waterfront as part of the eastern boat-harbour scheme. A concrete base wall has been completed round the deck, 'arid brick walls are now rapidly approaching completion. The three approach ramps to give access to the lockers from the waiterfront road are in position and timber and piles are being prepared for the skidwavs.

Examination Facilities A decision to ask the Senate of the University of New Zealand to grant the same examination facilities in wartime to accountancy students at technical colleges as were given to those attending the university was reached at a meeting of the board of managers of the Seddon Memorial Technical College yesterday. The principal, Mr. G. J. Park, said he thought the request was a reasonable one. The college's accountancy classes had a good record for some years past.

Museum Acquisitions. A small model Maori war canoe prow rather crudely carved in pumice, found in the old inner harbour at Napier, is included among a number of interesting articles recently acquired by the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the past few weeks. A beautiful stone flute from Oruarangi and a 17thcentury water clock are other gifts of note that have been deposited. The president, Mr. C. R. Ford, presented the arts section with an English saltglaze stone-ware jug. Reserve Complimented

A statement that in proportion to the returned soldier population the attendances at weekly parades of members of the Hamilton company of class 2 of the National Reserve were the highest in New Zealand was made by Mr. C. A. Barrell, M.P., when addressing the Hamilton company of the reserve. Mr. Barrell said he was greatly impressed by the large attendances at each parade. If the war lasted any length of time the need for men of experience to guide the younger soldiers would become greater.

Damage to Signposts Automobile Association signposts on the main highway between Auckland and Helensville have recently suffered at the hands of vandals. One of the association's patrols reported yesterday that the signposts on three separate corners had been damaged, one being removed from the supporting upright and deposited on the side of the road half a mile away. The association has offered a reward for information leading to the conviction of any persons who may have been responsible for what is believed to be malicious damage.

Letter Long Unanswered The fact that a letter from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to the Minister of Customs had not been answered for four months and two days was the subject of considerable criticism at a meeting of the council of the chamber yesterday. "Surely the commercial community is entitled to better consideration than that," said Mr. Gainor Jackson, who added that he did not blame the Hon. W. Nash for the delay because he had been abroad for much of the time. It was decided, however, to draw Mr. Nash's attention to the matter.

High Potato Prices Ohakuno and Californian potatoes rose to the highest price known for ninny years in Auckland yesterday, when retailers were selling them at (3d per 11) Sacks of those potatoes commanded very high prices at yesterday's auctions, hut with larger stocks of new potatoes coming forward it is expected that the demand for old potatoes will decrease. New potatoes are being retailed at from Id to Sd per II). A large retail produce merchant said yesterday that there was an unaccountable inquiry for old potatoes, people possibly requiring them for planting.

Novelty lor Exhibition One of tbe novelties likely to be exhibited for the first-time, in Now Zealand at the Centennial Exhibition is the lamp which sterilises by ultra-violet radiation. This ray has been harnessed and adapted to lamps of all shapes and sizes for various uses. It is now being used in America in operating rooms, where it renders harmless any noxious germs that may be in the room or upon the person to be operated upon. The lamp can also be fitted in freezing chambers or merely cool chambers, and it is of hygienic value in hotels, restaurants, and cafeterias, for the purification of anything in the form of noxious germs.

Movements of Flying-boats For record purposes,.tho Pan American Clipper and the Tasman flying-boat "Aotearoa are regarded by the Auckland port authorities as surface craft as soon as they touch the water. The time any of tho machines lands on the 'harbour or takes ofT is logged with ordinary shipping movements and the name of the,captain and last or next i port touched arc also included. Reference to their movements was contained in the Harbour Board's.? summary of arrivals and departures for last month. Contributing to the inward" tonnage was one British flyingboat of 21 tons, and the outward total was augmented by two British flyingboats, of 42 tons, and one American , Clipper of 41 tona.