LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23721, 30 July 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost at Pukekohe A light frost was experienced at Pukekohe yesterday morning. Tho recording at tho Technical High School was one degree. Clouds screened tho sun until well on in the day, with the result that a southerly wind, coming over tho frosty ground,'made the morning one of the most chilly of the winter. National Day ol Peru

Commemorating the independence of Peru, won from Spain and proclaimed in July, 1821, the National Day of the republic fell on Sunday. Members of the Consular Corps in Auckland and representatives of civic authorities were received officially yesterday by Mr. G. H. Baker, Consul for Peru in New Zealand.

Need for Wool "It is absurd that we cannot get wool in this, a wool-producing country," said Mr. J. H. Frater, chairman of the Auckland branch of the Navy League, at the branch's annual meeting last night. Ho said tho league could make uso of 10 times the quantity of wool it could procure on behalf of its lady members, who had undertaken to knit garments for naval men on active service. Now Use lor Recruiting Depot After serving for many months, tho recruiting depot that stood outside the Chief Post Office has now been removed and in future will bo used as a cookhouse at one of the city guard points, manned bv ex-servicemen. The work of removing the building was carried out yesterday by a party of workmen, its usefulness as a recruiting depot having ceased with the introduction of conscription. Firearms in Motor-cars Tho risks involved in carrying guns or rifles in motor-cars aro acknowledged by a' provision, in recentlyGazetted amendments to the traffic regulations. It is now enacted that, except for police or defence purposes or in terms of a permit issued by tho police, it is illegal to operate a vehicle on which is carried any firearm loaded with a cartridge in tho breech or magazine. / Nurses at Dunkirk

The kindness of the Royal Navy to nurses who were among those evacuated from Dunkirk is told in a letter received in Auckland. "A party of women nurses huddled on tho beach in tho rain, drenched to tho skin," it says. "At length they were taken on a destroyer and during the night crossing they slept soundly in dry clothes from sheer exhaustion. Next morning they were presented with their uniforms, which had been washed, dried, pressed, and, where necessary, starched 1)3 T men of the destroyer." No Air Force Privileges "There can be no special privileges for members of the Air Force," remarked Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Otahuhu Magistrate's Court yesterday, when dealing with cases of drinking in the vicinity of dance halls.-'' Ho quoted from aJotter received fronj an officer stating that a conviction against a defendant who had since enlisted would affect his prospects in the service. The magistrate said the defendant would have to suffer the same penalty as others convicted of this offence. Waitakere Drive Much regeneration of bush on land adjoining ' the Waitakere scenic highway is now noticeable, there having been a good deal of growth recently. When road excavations were made pieces of bush were inevitably destroyed by filling, but manuka, koromiko and other shrub is covering these areas. Young trees have also been planted by the Public Works Department. Several large trees bordering tho highway have recently died,'possibly because filling was deposited over their rooting area, and these will be cut out in order that natural regeneration can follow. State Mortgage Analysis

Of the 66,482 loans totalling £51,394,200 under the administration of the State Advances Corporation as at March 31, there were 15,207 mortgages amounting to £11,455,641 in the Auckland district. They included 10,935 loans on residential properties for an aggregate of £6,963,442, and 4272 for £4,492,]99 on farms. In tho Hamilton area thero wore 4600 farm mortgages for £5,890,379, and 4102 on homes totalling £1,941,871. The largest number of loans in one district wero the 15,982 in Wellington, representing £12,351,231, and including £9,149,142 on 13,471 residential mortgages.

Safety in Flying * Now Zealand's unchallenged record in having no paying passengers killed on its civil air lines was 'ascribed yesterday by Professor T. D. J. Leech, Professor of Engineering at Auckland University College, to the severe conditions imposed on the Dominion's commercial pilots. Speaking at tho Auckland Rotary Club's weekly luncheon, he said that the conditions imposed in the Dominion were moro severe than in any other part of the Empire, or, for that matter, of the world. Australian pilots visiting New Zealand were apt to complain of these conditions, but there could be no doubt that tho complete answer was furnished 'by tho Dominion's record of safety. Karapiro Power Works

' Between "0 and 80 men are now engaged on tho hydro-electric power works at Karapiro, and arrangements aro being made to extend the camp so ,that tho number of workers can bo increased. Nq_ announcement has yet been made regarding the ancthod of power supply for construction needs. The power transmission lines are close at hand, but it will be necessary to instal a transformer and other provision in order to use this source ot supply. Work has started on the sinking of shafts close to tho riverbank. The diversion tunnel will extend from these shafts; and during its construction spoil will bo hoisted up tho shafts by electrically-driven lifts

Price of Vegetables With tlio exception of kumaras, all varieties of vegetables are considerably cheaper in Auckland this year, due mainly to continued favourable weather. Although the demand has been ljieavy, supplies have been more than adequate. Ohakunc potatoes, which at this time last year were 10s to 17s a bag. are now selling at tlio City Markets at 3s 6d to 4s 13d. Cabbages, which last year cost 2s to 3s 6d a dozen, may now bo obtained wholesale for Is 6d to 2s. A great decrease is shown in.the price of cauliflowers, which last year sold at 4s to 10s (3d a dozen, but aro now quoted at Is 6d to 2s 9d. Carrots are 6d to Is a dozen, compared with Is to Is 6d last July. Kumaras, however, have had an unfavourable season and are about 2id per lb. higher.