LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Steamer For China After two years of idieness at the Patent Slip wharf, Wellington, the fcfPmer inter-island steamer Maori has gone on the fioating dock for painting and minor repairs. Arrangements are being made with a Sydney firm to have the Maori towed to China, the vessel having been bought by a Chinese shipping company. Emlbaikation of J-Force The pro'oable date oi embarkation of the first section of the J-Forces to relieve the New Zealand occupation force in Japan, would be during the last week of May, stated the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, in reply to an inquiry. He added that this section would travel in the Empire Pride which was expected to arrive in New Zealand for this purpose towards the* end of the month. A Matter of Voice Pitch! "Perhaps the acoustic properties of the courtroom are at fault, or perhaps I should pitch my voice a bit higher," drily commented Sir Archibald Blair in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North yesterday when counsel indicated that he ' had not heard clearly some remarks ! made by his Honour. "You know," l said Sir Archibald, "if I like to pitch ; my voice up to the tenor range you would be able to hear it way down there at Levin." j Visit by Skymaster Making an official proving flight with representatives of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, ,a PanI American Airways Skymaster is i expected to reach. Auckland from | San Francisco on Thursday. The j Skymaster, which is travelling by I way of Honolulu, Canton, Suva, and J New Caledonia, is carrying five pasI sengers and 15 members of the ! crew. The offlcials will spend three j days in conferences and inspections ' at Auckland and the aircraft will | leave next Monday on the return ! flight. | Gift of Fur Coat | A fur coat has been donated to : the Levin branch of the Lady Gal- ! way Guild to be used in a manner i which will give the greatest possible ! assistance in providing clothing for | Britain. Accordingly, the branch | has decided to offer it for sale and j use the pfoceeds towards purchasing more suitable clothing. The I coat, which is' in first class condi- ■ tion, is priced at £10 and may be [ seen on communicating with the" j branch president (Mrs. C. S. Keedwell) .

Meeting in PdorHouse y "We are met to celebrate this occasion in a poor house," declarod I the chairman of the Canterbury | College CoUncil (Mr. J. H. E. j Schroder) , when presiding at the j Commemoration -Day celebration. He explained that there was a mistaken impression that Canterbury College' was a .wealthy institution. It had been well endowed, but an increase of two and a half times as many students compared with when revenues were at their peak, plus a reduction of revenue by half, and 100" per eont. increase in costs, meant that endotvments were now only one-tenth of their former value. At a later stage, the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) described the college as the/ most magnificent poor house he had seen. Roatl Fatalities Rise The rising trena in the number of fatal inotor accidents continued during April. Figures issued hy the Transport Department show i5 deaths, compared wiwi five during April, 1945. The total road fatalities since the beginning of the year number 64, precisely twice the number recorded up to the end of April last year. Five of those killed in April were occupantg of motorvehicles, three others were riding on motor-cycles, three were on bicycles and four were afoot. No less than 10 of the 14 accidents occurred after dark or at dusk. "The lack of ability to see clearly is a potent cause of road accidents at night," commented the CommisSioner of Transport, Mr. G. L. Laurenson, "and everyoiie using the road during hours of darkness, whether at the wheel, riding or on foot, should be doubly cautious. With the shortening of daylight hours ,many people will be leaving for worJk and 'returning home in 'the dark during the • next' few months. These hours have in previoiis years been fouhd to be potentially hazardohs and added care is the one effectiV6 remedy". 1