LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23625, 8 April 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Jfewly-fledged Bird 3 Newly-fledged thrushes and silvereves have appeared in a garden in the Waitakeres, an unusual thing at this time of the year. Sparrows are also building licsts, although this is not so uncommon. Plants and trees, both native and exotic, are exhibiting unseasonable activity.

Footballer Hurt A fracture of the left arm was suffered by a League player, T. W. I* urncll, of Pah Road, Epsom, while playing for the Richmond team against Marist* at Carlaw Park on Saturday. He was taken in a St. John ambulance to the casualty department of the Auckland Hospital, but was discharged after having the arm set.

Fire in Newton Fire caused slight damage to the weatherboards and door of a large twostorev wooden factory on the corner of Hopetoun Street and Hereford Street, Newton, shortly after five o'clock on Saturday night. The outbreak occurred in a rubbish tip alongside the building. Engines from the Central and Western Districts stations attended, and the fire was quickly extinguished with first-aid equipment.

Air Force Footballers A sign of the unusual times through which New Zealand and the Empire are passing was shown by the presence at the annual meeting of the Taranalu Kucrby Union of delegates from the Royal' New Zealand Air Force School at Bell Block, which intends taking part in some of the competitions. The delegates were welcomed by the president, Mr. F. J. Nolan, Stratford.

Car Strikes Waiting-shed Considerable damage was caused , to the woodwork of the bus waiting shed at the corner of Okahu Street, Orakei, when it was struck by a motor-car which ran off the waterfront road while returning to the city in the early hours on Saturday morning. Portion of the front of the building was completely destroyed, and the vehicle was also badly damaged, but 110 one was injured.

Goods Held Up Importers claim that overseas goods ordered some months ago in anticipation of the issue of third-period licences which are still in the consideration .stage by the authorities have arrived in Auckland and await release. Some consignments have been held on the wharves for weeks. In instances, delivery has been permitted to consignees under seal in order to sa\e stoiagc charges, the condition being that seals will "not be broken until licences are issued.

Fire Engine's Excursion While Grafton Bridge was crowded early yesterday afternoon with persons on their way to visit patients in the Auckland Hospital and others enjoying a walk in the pleasant sunshine, a fire engine from the central station screamed its way along Karangahape Road and across the bridge. Lts passage was followed with considerable interest, and the bridge was promptly cleared of other vehicular traffic. The brigade answered a call to a small grass fire under the bridge, no material damage being done. Damage by Frost Much damage was caused by a frost which was recorded in Palmerstou North and district last week. In many gardens, pumpkins and marrows, as well as beans and other plants susceptible to winter s cold, were completely blackened and further growth destroyed. Only those who took timely precautions or had their plants under shelter escaped loss. In the Kairanga district the frost was more severe, and for some time after sunrise lay thick upon the grass. Freedom From Accidents No accidents of a serious character • occurred in Auckland during the weekend. A child, June Manning, aged five, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Manning, of 314- Blockhouse Bay Road, Avondalc, was knocked down by a racing bicycle while running across the road near her home on Saturday afternoon. She suffered slight injuries to her scalp and right ankle, and was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance, but after treatment at the casualty department she was discharged. Seagull Takes Bait A man fishing from a city wharf yesterday was surprised to find op returning after an absence from his line that a young seagull had flown off with the bait, hook, line and sinker. Tempted by the meat bait, the bird had been caught by the hook and when it flew off the weight of the sinker brought it down on the water. The sinker was dragging its head under water and would have drowned the gull had not the fisherman hauled in the line and removed the hook from the bird's beak. Achilles Men for Wellington Having been required for duty when the main party from the ship made their visit last Tuesday, about 200 men Irom H.M.S. Achilles will leave for Wellington to-day to be received by the city to-morrow. When 20 officcts and 400 men went there last week it was arranged that the remaining members of the ship's complement should also go, and they will receive the satnc hospitality as that accorded the main body, including freedom of the Centennial Exhibition. The-party will return to Auckland on Thursday. Sickness Among Bees Sickness which affected bees in the Leeston district, Canterbury, and was alleged by prominent beekeepers to be Kuropean foul brood has been shown hv investigation to bp neither this disease nor ' American foulbrood. Mr. R. S. Walsh. Apiary Instructor of the Department of Agriculture, said that certain authorities had* suggested that the disease was a seasonal condition brought about by the extraordinarily dry summer. Whether this explanation was true or not would be discovered next spring when, if it was seasonal, the sickness would not recur. Proposed Hospital Loan The Auckland Hospital Board has received replies from a number of its contributory local authorities to a circular letter in which.the board formally notified them that it intended to apply to the. Local Government Loans Board for approval of a loan of £200,000 for the purpose of providing additional accommodation, equipment and services for patients and staff at the Auckland Infirmary, The chairman, Mr. Allan .1. Moody, said yesterday that a number of bodies had acknowledged the letter and had made no objection. Several had offered suggestions, which would be considered by the board in due cour6e.