LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost at Gisborne A frost of more than four degrees was registered in Gisborne yesterday morning, this being the lowest thermometer reading for two months. The frost, which followed a period of changeable southerly weather, was succeeded by bright sunshine all day. Little damage has been reported. All-night Parking Further recent night inspections by the Onehunga traffic inspector has resulted in 45 cars being ticketed for all-night parking on the streets. So far a number of owners has been prosecuted and other prosecutions are pending. The inspector reported to the Borough Council last night that the menace of unlighted parked cars has now been definitely minimised in the borough. Investment of Savings Local bodies report that persons with small savings are. seeking investment by the purchase of debentures. A fortnight ago the Newmarket Borough Council invited subscriptions for a loan of £20,000 to provide an Olympic swimming pool. Applications for debentures exceed the amount required by over 50 per cent, and most of the applications are in respect of sums of £2OO and £3OO. Tuis in Devonport Garden Considerable interest has been aroused in Devonport by the appearance of two tuis in Buchanan Street. The birds, which have been feeding on a kowhai tree in the garden of Mrs. J. May's house, are often seen in' the branches of a pohutukawa tree near by. Mrs. Mays, who has lived in Devonport for 49 years, said yesterday that it was the first time she had heard a tui in the district. Building in Onehunga Increased building activity in Onehunga was indicated last night by a report from the council's building inspector. During the half-year ended September 30, i 938, 101 permits to the value of £17,711 were issued For the same period this year 206 permits to the value of £70,325 were granted. The latter figures include the construction of 63 residences, of which 18 liava been built by the Government Housing Department. ♦ Huntly Bridge Repairs While repairs are being made to the. ; combined road and railway bridge at Huntly it will be closed to road traffic between certain hours. The bridge is that which crosses the Waikato River, giving access to Rotowaro, Pukemiro and Ruawaro. It is used fairly extensively by farmers in these districts, who may now have to use the bridges at Ngaruawahia and Kangiriri as alternatives during the hours repair work is in progress. Safety Zones Painted Fresh coats of paint were applied to the concrete buttresses at the ends of the tramway safety zones in Queen Street yesterday. Two men were engaged on the work, covering most of the buttresses with shiny silver paint, as well as applying it to the lamp standards. Black paint was used to provide a relief. In addition to improving the appearance of the.zones, the new paint will be of assistance to motorists on nights when visibility is poor. Jurors' Excuses "I wish to appeal for exemption on the grounds of deafness in the right ear," said a juror in the Supreme Court at Wellington yesterday. "Very well, you are excused," said Mr. Justice Blair. "You have to hear both sides in this Court." Another juror produced a doctor's certificate in support of his application for exemption. His Honor studied it for some moments, then said': "That's all right; I can't read what he says is the matter with you, but it looks all right." Applications for Import Licences When the third term scheme for the importation of goods was announced, many importers had already lodged their applications with the Customs Department. A number of these have now been returned for amendment in view of the changed situation for licences in the first six months of 1940. There wa p , a steady stream of applicants in addition at the Customs Department offices yesterday, but no new licences yet appear to have been issued i Revival of Irish Language An experiment inaugurated in 1922 to re-establish the Irish language, out of common use for more than a century, now seemed assured of success, said Rev. Dr. F. H. Terry, of Auckland, who has returned after spending some years in Eire. Dr. Terry said that every school child was required to learn Irish and English and to enter any profession or business it was necessary to be familiar with the Irish tongue. The movement was being watched with interest by European educationists. The Fruit Market Partly as a result of several days of warm sunny weather,'the quantities of strawberries offered at the City Markets yesterday were larger than in the previous week. The berries, which were of the Captain Cook variety, were of very fair quality, and prices were good, ranging from 2s 6d to 3s 3d a chip. There was a particularly strong inquiry for apples, and pears also were well sought. There was a keen demand for New Zealand grapefruit of extra choice quality, but poorer sorts were slow of sale. High Cost o! Packing Oases Importers of goods from the United Kingdom are faced with a rise of some hundreds per cent in the costs of packing cases. 'l x his is a result of a timber scarcity in Britain caused by Germany sinking shipping from tlie Baltic countries, from which most supplies are drawn. On consignments of printing paper, cases about 2ft. by 3ft., which formerly cost importers from 5s to 6s each, are now debited at 22s 6d sterling. Crates containing scwt. or less are charged for at 20s, and bales, which contain timber at two ends only, now cost 15s. i Work on Oity Aerodrome It is not likely that any construction | will be done on the proposed municipal commercial aerodrome on the Manukau mudflats during the war. After this site had been recommended by a committee of Government experts a survey and engineering investigation was undertaken by the city engineer, Mr. •I. Tyler. This wa- estimated to cost £2OOO, of which the Government i agreed to find half. So far about £1565 lias been spent on the work, which is now expected vto be completed by the end of this year. Advice has now been received by the Auckland City Council that so far as the Government is concerned no construction work will be undertaken on the 6ite during, the war.