NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Akatarawa Road. The Akatarawa-Waikanao Toad, blocked for a time by recent slips, is now sufficiently cleared to allow traffic. "An Awful Nuisance." "They are an awful nuisance," declared a member of the Wellington Automobile Club executive, calling attention last night to the great number of cars parked alongside the signboard at the northern end of Lambton Station, and outside a garage opposite to it. The executive decided to communicate with the City Council in regard to the subject. Governor-General and Bull. "The relationship between town and country was brought very forcibly before my notice on the last occasion I visited Hamilton," said the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson, at a luncheon of the Hamilton Eotary Club on Monday (states the "New Zealand Herald"). His Excellency added that he had opened the Waikato Winter Show and was walking up the street when he was threatened with an attack from a bull. Fortunately there was a heavy telegraph pole between him and the bull, and he was able to dodge round it and take refuge in a shop. On that occasion one of the problems of the country was brought home' to him, and he had to confess that the country won. The South Island Main Trunk. When in Wellington last week, Mr. R. M' Callum, a former M.P. for Wairau, had an interview with the Prime Minister (the Bight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) with reference to the South Island Main Trunk railway. In a statement made to the "Marlborough Express" on his return to Blenheim, Mr. M'Callum said that Sir Joseph, when questioned regarding the small amount voted this year for the South Island Main Trunk line; said that need give no concern to Marlborough people, for, as authorisation for the line had been secured, the extent of expenditure per annum was entirely in the hands of the Government. "You need have no fear now," added Sir Joseph, "your railway will be completed, and it will be pushed on with the least possible delay." Mr. M'Callum stated that he was happy to be able to tell the Prime Minister that, in addition to having no personal enemies in Marlborough, lie had hardly a political one now that he was proving that his important promises to Marlborough could be relied upon. New Fire Station' for Dunedin. The acceptance of a tender of £38,177 for the erection of a new fire station for Dunedin is of interest to Wellington at present in view of the discussion regarding the Wellington Central Station, but the conditions are entirely different in the two cities, and the Dunedin price may not be much of a guide as far as Wellington is concerned. The site, in two sections, totals one and a half acres, much larger than anything available in Wellington. The engine hall will give space for sis machines, ana will allow of rapid exit. Thanks to the big area of ground available, the twelve married firemen and their families will enjoy "residences," m place of rooms, and will each have a garden plot; the single men will be accommodated in the usual brigade cubicles. Up-to-date workshops, a practice tower, and a large exercise and training yard will take- up the remainder of the land, with the exception of about quarter of an acre, which has been acquired with a view of extensions in the future. Whereas the Dunedin station has been able to stretch out, two stories high/ the Wellington station, whether it goes across Jervois" quay to the boating shed site or is rebuilt where it is, will have to go upwards, four, five or more stories. "A Foreigner." Sir W. Lennon Baws, speaking at the Wellington Eotary Club luncheon yesterday, saia that he had visited Rotorua and smelt the sulphur and the burning, and had undergone a treatment there. (Laughter.) The attendant who ministered to him said: "You are a foreigner, aren't you?" And when he pleaded guilty to the soft impeachment, that question was promptly followed by another—"Melbourne or Sydney?" (Laughter.) Of course he hailed from Melbourne, and he supposed Australia and New Zealand did treat each other in some respects like foreigners. (Laughter.) He hoped, however, that that would not always be the case. Touring both Islands, he had crossed many beautiful rivers with most unpronounceable names. (Laughter.) He had seen many great gorges and ravines and many tall mountains, and had been greatly impressed by the beauty and variety of New Zealand scenery. Travelling a great part of the way by road, he had got the impression of an almost endless succession of hairpin bends. In fact, so much had his mind been impressed by those bends that, coming up to Wellington by the ferry steamer, he had found great difficulty in thinking in a straight line to prepare a few remarks for the Eotary luncheon. (Laughter and applause.)