LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23965, 15 May 1941, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Firm Market at Westfleld The continuation of good weather has resulted in an unusual amount of feed for this time of the year, and yardings at the Westfield fat stock market yesterday were again average. Competition tvas steady in most sections, and prices maintained late rates.

Oranges and Grapes Early supplies of Island oranges have made their appearance in city shops. It is expected that larger shipments will arrive shortly. Hothouse grapes of excellent quality still continue to be in plentiful supply. With the season coming to a close, first grade fruit are realising up to -is per lb., while others are selling from about 2s 6d per lb.

Metal Scraps from Roads i In 2o working days the Main High- ! ways Board's magnetic truck recently | swept up 16861b. of puncture-producing J metal scraps from 603 miles of road. ! according to information received last j night by the council of the Automobile | Association (Auckland). Iho associaI tion had written to the board inquiring i what steps were being taken to deal I with such scraps. I Traffic Offences i Over 40 offenders appeared befor« I two magistrates at the Police Court yesterday for breaches of the traffic laws. The list again included a percentage of motorists charged with parking without lights, although the number was smaller than last week. Other defendants were dealt with for failing to renew heavy traffic licences, parking in forbidden areas and tailing to carry current warrants of fitness. Fines ranged up to £2, with costs. Highway Widening Urged The Automobile Association (Auckland) decided last night that the Main Highways Board be urged to proceed with the widening of the bottle neck on the Great South Road between the tram terminus and Penrose overhead bridge. Mention was made of a recent statement, that surveyors were not available, but it was considered the importance of this work would warrant their release temporarily from other Government departments. Hospital on North Shore The need for a maternity ward to be included in the hospital on the North Shore, representations for the provision of which have been made to the Auckland Hospital Board, was emphasised by the Mayor, Mr. J. Guiniven, at a meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council last night. Commenting on a letter received from the Hospital Board, which stated that the matter was still under j consideration. Mr. Guiniven said a hospital was long overdue. Old Lady's Paintings Several water-colour landscapes and a still-life in oil, shown in the Auckland Society of Arts' annual exhibition, represent a remarkable achievement by an Auckland lady of So. Miss Minnie Walker. Until a few years ago, Mis? Walker had done only a little painting in water-colour, and before reaching the age of 80 she had never handled oil paint. Nevertheless, a series ol sketches executed recently on the V\ est Coast shows a, vigour and surencss that most younger artists might envy. One study of seas breaking on n rocky coast under a grey sky has received the highest commendation from authorities in Auckland, who regard it as an almost | masterly statement of the subject. j

Jean Batten Place It wns reported to the City Council lust night that tlio new roadway in Jean Batten Place, providing a thoroughfare between Shortlnnd and Fort Streets, will not be available to the public for senile months. The Mayor. Sir Ernest Davis, said the council would not be able to form the road until the Government building had been completed, and the alteration to the western wall of the National Bank building had been carried out. The directors of the bank have lot a contract for the erection of an attractive wall along the Jean Batten Place frontage, incorporating a new entrance, and when this is completed the existing entrances in both Shortland and Fort Streets will be closed.