LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24202, 18 February 1942, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Trenches Filled In

Several of the shelter trenches lately dug at the foot of Constitution Hill have had a short existence, for they have been filled in as a preliminary to work on the new tunnel shelters, which will be driven into the hill at that point. Passers-by who saw the earth being shovelled back into place could not help casting their minds forward to the hoped-for time when the return of peace would enable all such scars to be removed from Auckland's open spaces.

Cable Communication Anniversary Cable communication between New Zealand and the Commonwealth was first successfully established on February 18, 1876, 66 years ago to-day. The event did not cause much comment at the time, its full significance apparently not being realised. The landing of the cable at Wakapuaka, near Nelson, from the Edinburgh, was successfully completed the previous day. For the first few days the cable did not operate as desired, but on February 23 the New Zealand Herald published the first series of cable news messages to be received in the Dominion.

Inequality of Sacrifice The fact that there was notable inequality in the positions of men engaged in Army work was again remarked upon at the meeting yesterday of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board. The chairman, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, referred to the cases of men employed in the same trade, some on Army pay and others at high wages. It was pointed out in reference to a similar case by Mr. T. P. McCready, another member of the board, that difficulty would be created if some men received military pay while workers above military age earned the award rate.

Good Demand for Vegetables Vegetables were ottered in good variety at the City Markets yesterday and most lines realised high prices. Potatoes were in heavy supply and prices were lower than at last week's sale. Green peas and beans were fairly plentiful and sold at high prices. Cauliflowers came forward in better quantities, values being consequently lower. Now season's kumaras were scarce and realised very high rates. Cucumbers and onions, sold well. Lettuce and celery were plentiful, with fair rates ruling. Carrots were offered in good quantities and quality lines brought high prices. E.P.B. Contribution

A report w'as received yesterday by the Auckland Harbour Board ntaiing that the central conimitteo of the Auckland Metropolitan Area Emergency Precautions Service had found it necessary to - call up an additional £20,000 to meet current commitments and future liabilities, of which the board's proportion would bo £BOO. The chairman, Mr. Hendry Luke, said the payment would bo in accordance with previous decisions of .the board and the report was received. The payment of the levy, it was also stated, would bring the total of the board's contributions to £1672. Sporting Barristers

Their past and present sporting bents wore used by two counsel in a caso bofore the Supreme Court yesterday to give point to the questions they put to witnesses in a claim for damages. One suggested that the condition of a workman's muscles had a bearing on his capacity to lift weights and sustain the strain. "I used to be able to do the 440 yds. sprint in about 51 seconds, but my muscles would not carry Die so well now," said counsel. The other counsel, in accepting a witness' statement that a sheatn block weighed about 61b., tested the article, and remarked: "I have done a.bit of fishing and wouldn't mind hooking a trout like that if it only weighs 61b."