LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23542, 30 December 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Holiday Season The New Zealand Herald will not be published on Monday, New dear's Day. For the convenience of advertisers the Queen Street office will be open on Monday from 5 to 10 p.m. Throughout the holiday period, Herald agents at all holiday resorts will receive additional supplies to meet the requirements of visitors, but to avoid disappointment orders should bo placed in advance. Control ol Ragwort A warning that if the usual chemicals for the eradication of ragwort were not available any means whatsoever should he resorted to in order to exterminate the weed, was given by the noxious weeds inspector, Mr. H. T. Brill, at a mooting of the Matamata County Council. Mr. Brill stated that prosecutions niight follow in cases of neglect. Coded Cablegrams to Fiji In addition to other Empire countries to which overseas telegrams in code can bo despatched as from Monday it will bo possible to exchange telegrams in selected codes to Fiji. Tho chief postmaster nb Auckland advised yesterday that notification has been received from tho Administration of Fiji admitting cabled messages under this condition. Veterans of the Church The annual camp of the Seventh Day Adventist Conference is no novelty for many of the 800 persons under canvas at the Epsom Showgrounds. Many have attended similar gatherings for years past and, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Church, there are 12 members present who took a part in the pioneering work in the Dominion half a century ago. Troops Leave for Burnhani To the strains of "Cock of tho North." played by kilted pipers, more than 100 soldiers embarked on the 7.35 train at tho Auckland railway station last night on their return to Burnham camp after Christmas leave. The troops, who travelled in two carriages of the express, were farcwelled bv a large crowd. In addition to the soldiers, tho express was well filled with travellers on holiday. Visitors to Military Camps

Both military camps in tho northern military district, at Papakura and Ngaruawaliia, will be closed to the public to-morrow. They will be open instead after the ceremonial parade at the Auckland Domain next Wednesday. For the convenience of visitors to the camps, a train will leave Auckland for Papakura at 2.15 p.m. next Wednesday, returning at five o'clock. There will also be a train leaving Hamilton at 2.40 p.m. for Ngaruawaliia, returning at 5.20 p.m. Judge's Bay Popular Bathers have recently shown a greater measure of attention to Judge's Bay for the enjoyment of a harbour swirn. A large number of visitors to the city for the holidays have selected the bay for its sheltered position and attractive surroundings, made morn beautiful at the moment by the profuse flowering of many magnificent pohutukawaw. Suitable tides have also enhanced the popularity of the beach, and the temperature of the water has been so mild as to be almost lulce warm at times. Cadet Ambulance Camps More than 80 boys, representative of Auckland St. John ambulance cadet divisions, are in camp under canvas at Ferndale and at Campbell's Bay. The camp at Ferndale is under tho leadership of Mr. N. L. Wright, cadet superintendent, and that at Campbell's Bay is in the charge of the Rev. C. J. BushXing, assisted by Mr. J. E. Hughes, cadet superintendent. During the week both camps were inspected by Mr. G. T. Paterson, corps officer, who expressed satisfaction at the standard of ambulance training and at arrangements for the welfare of the cadets. Native Birds in Suburbs

In some Auckland suburbs, where there ore many trees and thick live fences, native birds are nesting; this season in large numbers, according to Mr. E. G. Turbott, an ornithologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. He has received reports from trained observers indicating a surprising amount of nesting still in progress among fantails, grey warblers, silver eves and others. Many kingfishers have been observed on the shores close to the city and, now that the poliutukawas are flowering, tuis have made their appearance. About a dozen were observed the other day in a defenco reserve at Chelsea. Auckland Bankruptcies

The total number of bankruptcies dealt with by the Official Assignee at Auckland during 1039 is 48, an increase of seven on the corresponding figure for last year. There were three liquidations, against one in 1938. During December only one bankruptcy has been recorded, against six in December Inst year. Contrary to the experience of recent years, farmers provide only a very small proportion of the failures, oniy three of them appearing in this year's records. A large number of trades and businesses is represented among the others, but there are no professional men among them.

Surplus Zoo Stock Through, export difficulties on account of tho war the Auckland Zoo has temporarily lost an important source of incomo from tho sale of surplus stock overseas. In tho past the zoo has sold considerable numbers of animals and birds abroad, the transactions not only proving remunerative but also resulting in additional space being available for new stock. Zoos in Australia, in the United States and Canada, and in England and Germany have been customers and such animals as hippopotami have brought attractive figures. Among surplus stock now at tho zoo aro a large number of native keas.

Slip Invades Whare The occupants of a whare at the Bed liocks, Sinclair Head, near Wellington, had a remarkable escape from death or serious injury during the torrential rain early on Wednesday morning, when a considerable portion of the hillside behind tiie residence came away and invaded tho rooms. Heavy boulders and a vast quantity of sodden earth descended upon tho whare, breaking in through the back. Fortunately, one of tho occupants was awake at the time and a hurried escape was made through the front window as the slip smashed in tho back. The whare was seriously damaged and the rooms were partially filled with debris.