LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23565, 27 January 1940, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Damage by Vandals Vandals are already at work on the new meeting-house that is to be opened at the Waitangi celebrations at the beginning of next week. Paua shell from the eyes of the carved figures on the porch of the house has been removed, presumably by tourists, as souvenirs. New North Head Canteen A commencement has been made with a new canteen building for the troops at North Head. Hitherto they have had to use a building which was once a stable, and complaints were made last year about the lack of ventilation and the general unsuitability of the accommodation. The new building will be large enough to act both as a canteen and as a cinema theatre. Cricket Team Goes South Among the passengers who left for Wellington by train yesterday afternoon were tho members of the Auckland Working Men's Club cricket team. They will play a two-day cricket carnival with the Petone Working Men's Club and will visit tho Centennial Exhibition on Monday, returning to Auckland the following day. A number of club members accompanied tho team. Soldiers Like Milk Milk is a favourite mid-day drink at the Papakura camp, where *the second echelon is now in training. For many years tea, fairly strong, was the favourite mid-day beverage, but when the men at I'apakura were asked if any of them would prefer milk the show of hands in favour was most pronounced. Accordingly, any man who desires it can now have two large mugs of milk with his meal. Gum Tree Scale Most eucalyptus trees in North Taranaki are affected to a greater or less degree by attacks of "gum-tree scale," a pest which, if unchecked, will sooner' or later destroy tho affected branch and eventually the whole tree. The Department of Agriculture has transported a large number of ladybirds to New Plymouth and is having them distributed free of cost to farmers and gardeners who have gum trees affected by scale. Heavy Train Traffic

An exceptionally large number of train travellers, taking advantage of the long week-end, left Auckland yesterday. Traffic to Wellington was particularly heavy. Four trains left during the day for Wellington, the after-' noon and limited expresses being augmented by an excursion train at 6.10 p.m., on which every seat was taken, and a relief express at 7.35 p.m., which was also well filled. Yacht Innocence The well-known 14ft. yacht Innocence is expected to arrive this morning from Wellington to take part in the Ponsonby Cruising Club's race for Y class boats this afternoon and also to compete at the Anniversary Day regatta on Monday. The owner and skipper, Mr. C. D. A. Highet, arrived in Auckland yesterday afternoon, accompanied by two of his crew, Messrs. D. M. Prendeville and P. C. Stannard. Mushrooms on Market The warm rain of the past few days has started the growth of mushrooms, and small quantities were offering at the City Markets yesterday, realising high prices. Retail prices range from 2s to 2s 6d per lb. Holiday makers on Waiheke Island have been picking mushrooms for several days past around Ostend and Palm Beach, but they are very small and wel' scattered. No mushrooms were quoted by city retailers at this time last year.

Papal Flag Flown The ship which bore tho Papal Legate, Archbishop Panico, and his suite from Australia to New Zealand flew the Papal flag at the masthead, a circumstance hitherto unrecorded in this Dominion. The emblem 'of the Papal State also decorates the front of the Legate's car. and "ill Hy above? his residence when lie is in attendance there. It will be struck each time in the same way as the Union Jack is struck when the Governor-General leaves Government House.

Policemen in Disguise Considerable amusement was caused in the Taumarunui Police Court during the cross-examination of two, special constables from Auckland who gave evidence in cases concerning the sale of liquor in tho King Country. Asked by counsel if they had appeared in tho main street of Manunui arm-in-arm with a local resident singing "Boomps-a-Daisy" as they rolled along the pavement, the constables did not deny it. It was their duty, they said, to avert suspicion as to their real identity.

Colony o! Glow-worms Providing a free nightly show for camp visitors a colony of glow-worms forms an unusual attraction at Opunake Beach camp, Taranaki. The colony has found a natural habitat on tho cliff face beside the motor track leading to the camp, a slight overhang apparently providing tho desired conditions, while a growth of ferns and other plants supplies shelter and a screen through which they may bo observed. Glow-worms were known to exist there previously, but, this year they are in greater numbers than ever before.

Tram Traffic Delayed A delay of about a-quarter of an hour was caused to city-bound tram traffic shortly before six o'clock last night when two : tram cars went off the rails at the intersection of Khyber .Pass and Symonds Street. The first tram took some time to get back . on the lines, and after three others had followed it in safety across the, curved section of line another 1 went off. By the time the service wap resumed the line of waiting trams stretched, well down into Eden Terrace. A similar accident occurred at the same spot at about the same time a' few months ago.

Cream Carton Shortage An investigation of a threatened shortage of cream - cartons is to he made by the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council. It was stated by Miss E. Melville at a meeting of the council yesterday that there had been complaints concerning the quality of cartons, some purchasers claiming that when the containers were tipped sideways the contents spilled through the lids. The chairman, Mr. I. J. Goldstine,'pointed out that his advice suggested that there would be very few, if ' any, l cartons available in the future. He added that if the purchaser supplied his own container he was entitled to an. extra fluid ounce of cream.