NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 262, 4 August 1942, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF

Quake Delays Trains Two trains which arrived at Auckland on Sunday morning were each about two hours late because of the need for cautious travel in the Wellington district after the earthquake. Though the earthquake was not generally felt iu Auckland, residents in several parts of the city and suburbs were awakened at 12.34 a.m. on Sunday and observed that suspended light fixtures were swinging slightly. Persons on the upper floors of large buildings felt the oscillating motion of the tremor distinctly. House Burnt Down. t Fire on Friday night completely destroyed the 10-roomed residence of Mr. Harold Corrigan, Otaki Gorge. Record Waikato Frost. A record frost of 17.5 degrees was registered at Ruakura on Saturday, while 12 degrees were recorded in Hamilton. Ice covered all pools of water, and pipes and cisterns failed to function. Canterbury Potato Plantings. Officers of the Department of Agriculture are confident that Canterbury growers will plant the acreage of potatoes set for next season. It is even considered possible that the area might exceed any previous record and reach up to 15,000 acres. Derelict Cars. ’ A problem in Auckland is derelict motor-cars being abandoned on the streets. They usually have flat tyres and have not been re-registered. The city traffic superintendent, Mr. C. Bland, said there was trouble in finding the owners, and some of the cars were not worth storing. The owners were liable to prosecution. The cars should be taken to a car wrecking establishment. — P.A. Juryman Discharged. Part way through the hearing of a motor collision damages claim in the Supreme Court, Auckland, a juryman told the judge that, while he was ready to continue, he felt he should explain that he was a party in a similar class of claim yet to be heard.' After Mr. Justice Fair had conferred with counsel, the juryman was discharged and the hearing proceeded with 11 jurymen.—P.A. Sheep Left Unattended. From a preliminary survey made available by the newly-appointed executive committee of the Wairoa District Council of the National Council of Primary Production, it is revealed that there is a marked shortage "of labour on back-coun-try stations. On the larger stations there are many instances of flocks of 5000 and 6000 ewes left completely unattended, due to the call on men for the services. E.P.S. Extinguish Fire. A minor fire in one of the Murrayiield Flats in Tinakori Road early yesterday morning is thought to have been caused by a cigarette-butt dropped into the seat of an upholstered chair. Though the Thorndon and Central brigades responded to the call at 5.30 a.m., the fire was actually extinguished by one of the E.P.S. fire section with the emergency equipment available in the flats.

Misuse Of Taxis. Comment on the misuse of taxis was made by a driver at a meeting of the Auckland Taxi Control Committee. “I have had cases where my car is ordered the night before to report at a house some distance from the city at . about 4.30 a.m.,” he said. “I have been instructed to tap gently on the front window and on doing so I have found 1/6 handed out to me and 'a voice has said the car was no longer required. All the person needed was someone to waken him without disturbing the rest of the household.”? National Savings. The following cable has been received by Mr. T. N. Smallwood, chairman of the New Zealand National Savings Committee:—“l have heard with much interest of the progressive success of New Zealand’s national savings campaign. Hearty congratulations to all concerned, particularly New Plymouth, Ashburton, Hawera and other centres on having attained their quota weekly since, the beginning of the present scheme.” The cable is signed by Lord Kindersley, president of the National Savings Committee, England. Building Control. Special control is to be exercised over building operations in 17 boroughs which were in the zone of the June earthquake. These are Marton, Feilding, Foxton, Shanuon, Levin, Otaki, Upper Hutt. Petone, Eastbourne, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough, Woodville, Pahiatua and Eketahuna. A proclamation published in the Gazette provides that in these towns no building shall be erected, re-erected, reconditioned, altered or removed ■without a building permit being obtained from the council concerned.

Patriotic Donations and Tax. If the Government would allow donations to patriotic funds to be deductible from income tax assessment he would guarantee Wellington would get its patriotic appeal quota very soon, said Cr. W. Appleton at last night’s Wellington City Council meeting. If this were done some firms would increase their present donations fivefold. The mayor, Mr. Hislop, said Wellington patriotic organizations had sent a recommendation to the National Patriotic Council with a view to representations to the Minister concerned. Cold Baths in Vogue. Many Wellington people, particularly those living in hotels _ and boardinghouses, have been making a virtue of necessity since the second severe earthquake. While electric hot water systems in most homes escaped damage, so that householders have not been deprived of what has come to be regarded as a necessity, appliances for supplying' hot water in hotels being on a large scale did not aiways survive the shake. In several cases damaged chimneys or cracked boilers have cut off all supplies of hot water in hotel bathrooms and kitchens. The comparative mildness of the weather has been for many the sole redeeming feature of enforced cold baths and showers. New City Sounds. ... Earthquakes are noisy visitations, but it is not only the rumbling preceding them, the Creaking of wooden buildings during the shake, and the crashing of bricks immediately following, that many people will associate with these natural phenomena. Wellington yesterday was loud with sounds not heard since a start was made with clearing the debris of the severe shake on June 24. There were few streets in the city where, even late m the afternoon, the tinkle of glass could not be heard as the shattered remains of windows and showcases were pushed across pavements or floors by sweepers. Associated with this was the noise of hammering as temporary shields against the wind and the rain were erected, the staccato tapping of workmen removing splinters of glass from window frames, and the harsh sound of broken ' bricks and masonry being gathered into piles for removal.

Money Held by Base Records. Information to the effect that it was necessary for probate or letters of administration to be produced to base records before the pay and allowances to tlie credit of a deceased serviceman could be paid to his executor or administrator, was received by the N.Z.R.S.A. at a recent meeting of the Dominion executive committee. On the ground that provision is made in the Post and Telegraph Act whereby the whole amount not exceeding £2OO standing to the credit of the depositor in the Post Office Savings Bank at the time of his death may, in tlie discretion of the Postmaster-General, without requiring production of probate or letters of administration, be paid to cer-

tain persons, including the widow of depositor, the executive committee decided to make representations for similar pro vision in respect of moneys held by base records, provided that there are no other assets in the estate of -the deceased serviceman.