General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 10

General News

Sympathy Acknowledged The Governor-General (Lord Galway) has received irom the Duke of Connaught the following reply to the message sent by his Excellency;—“My most grateful thanks to you and Lady Galway for your kind message of .sympathy, Please convey to the Government and people of New Zealand my deep appreciation of their touching message in my profound sorrow* Signed, Arthur.” —Press Association. Anxious Questioners Only when events of great importance and presumably of the deepest general concernare taking place do people approach total strangers to ask them the latest news. So it would not have been surprising if a reporter on duty at the railway station last evening had been plied with anxious questions about Czechoslovakia. Actually, he was questioned by total strangers stepping off the tram from the south. But they were not about Czechoslovakia. They were about the Ranfurly Shield match between Wellington and Southland. International affairs were no match for interprovincial Rugby. “Education to Lawyers” “Engineers’ bills are often an education to lawyers,” said Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., during the hearing of an accident, claim at. the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when counsel disputed the cost of repairs to one of the cars involved in a collision on a one-way bridge. Counsel said that the cost of repairs by a garage at Kurow were considerably higher than Dunedin charges, and he could not understand how they were arrived at. Proposed Transport Charges The proposed schedule of transport charges for the district from the Waipara to the Rangitata, which was drawn up recently by carriers, was considered yesterday by the transport committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The secretary of the chamber (Mr J. Roy Smith) said that it was intended to apply to the No. 3 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr T. H. Langford) for an adjournment of the sitting of the authority next Monday so that interested bodies could give more detailed consideration to the schedule. Fire in the Foothills Farmers owning property in the North Canterbury foothills have taken advantage of the strong north-west wind during the last few days to set alight large areas covered in tussock. This is done once every three or five years so that after pastures are burned they may be renewed and sweetened for the ewes and lambs. At night the glow in the sky from acres of burning tussock can be seen for miles around. Constable’s Feet Measurements “I made it 12 feet by my feet rule and they’re small feet,” said a constable (a witness) during the hearing of an accident claim at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Oamaru yesterday before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. These boot measurements were queried by one counsel, but their accuracy was defended by the constable, who said that the Police Department did not provide facilities for more accurate measurements. —“The Press” Special Service. Pine Planting in Reserves The planting of pines, which should eventually prove a valuable asset has been further advanced on the Waimakariri River Trust’s reserves this season. The engineer, Mr H. W. Harris, reported to a meeting of the trust yesterday that 300,000 trees had been planted out this season. This was less than it had been expected to have available, because of tho “drowning out” of a number in the nursery. Mr Harris said that an additional area would be available in the nursery this year and it was hoped to raise half a million trees for next season. Young tamarisks from the nursery were being planted out along the Styx immediately downstream from the Styx bridge. New Freight Schedule The freight schedule prepared by licensed goods operators between the Rangitata and Waipara rivers will be considered by consumers as well as by carriers at the public sitting of the No. 3 Transport. Licensing Authority (Mr T. H. Langford) on Monday. The schedule will be the first of its kind in New Zealand, in that it will consist of a price agreement approved by the licensing authority, the complete observance of which will become a condition of a goods licence being both granted and retained. Accidents to School Children Thirteen hundred school children were involved in street accidents in the 12 months ended on March 31 of this year, according to departmental figures quoted at a meeting of the Canterbury School Committees’ -Association last evening. The chairman, Mr W. T. Langley, appealed to members to concentrate the attention of school committees on the education of children in traffic rules and road safety. Several delegates said that much time was already spent in teaching the chUdrem in this way and in making all possible provision for their safety on the roads. The meeting decided to suggest to the Transport Department that it might introduce a still more extensive campaign for road safety among school children. Roads to West Coast Blocked Motorists will not be able to travel between Christchurch and the West Coast by either the Arthur’s Pass road or the Lewis Pass road for two or three days, according to advice received by the Automobile Association. Canterbury, last evening. The north-west winds of the last two days have brought heavy rain in the mountains and slips have occurred on .both roads, completely blocking them. The slip on the Arthur’s Pass road is on the Otira side and the one on the Lewis Pass road is on the West Coast side of Springs Junction. Advances to Fruitgrowers “To meet the convenience of fruitgrowers who desire an advance on account of the local market guarantee, arrangements have recently been completed whereby the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation will, where necessary make advances at the rate of Is a case along somewhat similar lines to. those at present obtaining in the export guarantee,” said the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) in a statement last night. “The advance will be based on sales actually effected to July 31 last, in accordance with returns submitted to the Department of Agriculture,' and the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation will, it is understood, circularise growers within the next few days advising them of the procedure to be adopted by those who require advances.” —Press Association. Praise for Air Travel The opinion that air travel in New Zealand compared very favourably in speed and comfort with that experienced in Australia was expressed bv Mr A. van Bochove, actingmanager in Sydney of the Royal Packet Navigation Company, Ltd., in Dunedin recently. Mr van Bochove has had a very short time at his disposal to cover a considerable amount of territory, and he has flown everywhere possible. The type of machine in use in the North Island, he said, was similar to that employed by the Dutch air lines in the East for passenger trans- , port. ' Gale Interrupts Air Service . A gusty wind which at times reached a velocity of 68 miles an hour at Rongotai aerodrome necessitated the cancellation of Cook Strait Airways’ services after 10.45 a.m. yesterday. Three outward-bound machines left in the morning as usual, including the 10'.45 a.m. aeroplane for Blenheim which carries mail and passengers to connect with the Union Airways’ aeroplane from Palmerston North. Union Airways’ service to Auckland was run to schedule. It is hoped that it will be possible for an extra aeroplane to be run to-day, leaving Rongotai aerodrome at 9 a.m. If this is done, the 7.45 a.m. aeroplane will leave at 7.15 a.m.—Press Association. Rest-home for Mothers The Dominion Advisory Board of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union has decided to take over the girls’ Flock House, Awapuni, from the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Fund Trustees, as a rest-home for mothers and a training centre for domestic workers. Negotiations were completed in Wellington yesterday morning.—Press Association.