NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20061, 6 October 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Men on Active Service The committee of the Wairoa RacingClub has decided to adopt the recommendation of the annual meeting that members of the club on service be made honorary members of the club during their absence, and that soldiers in uniform be granted free use of the club’s facilities. A similar decision has been made by the Wairoa Club.— Special. No Further Developments Although inquiries have been continued for the past few days no further developments have occurred regarding the destruction by fire of the Morere post office building last week-end. The police believe that the fire was caused wilfully following the theft of mailbags which had been deposited at the post office from Napier, Wairoa, Gisborne and Nuhakn. Ruangarehu Rainfall The September rainfall at Ruangarehu station, inland from Tokomaru Bay, totalled 9.02 in. for 15 rain days, compared with 5.04 in. for 16 wet days in September, 1938. The heaviest fall for a 24-hour period last month was 3.23 in. on September 25. For the first nine months of the year Ruangarehu ha,s gauged 42.35 in., compared with an aggregate of 107.91 in. for the corresponding period in 1938. Disastrous Frost Yesterday morning’s frost, although light in some parts of the town and district, was heavy enough In others to cut back potato, tomato and bean crops, much damage being done in some areas. One of the peculiar features about the frost was that, while some plots were entirely untouched, crops on the other side of the fence and only a few yards distant were severely damaged. This was reported in several instances^ Restriction at Wainui That a speed restriction of 30 m.p.h. was necessary at Wainui Beach owing to the increasing popularity of the locality was stressed yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the Gisborne idvisory committee of the Automobile Association (Auckland). The subject was brought before the notice of the meeting by the resident patrol, Mr. G. V. Merton, who thought that the restriction was well warranted. On the motion, of Mr. E. W. Forrest, it was decided to ask the approval of a restricted area between the Wainui Surf Life-Saving Club’s turn-off near the Okitu bridge and a point on the town side of the Wainui Hall. New Building Commenced A two-storey building, comprising ■uites of modem offices, is to be conitructed for the Gisborne Finance Company on a site in Lowe Street idjacent to the Coronation Hotel, replacing a building destroyed by fire last year. The former building was occupied principally by Messrs. Booth, MacDonald and Company, and T. C. Nicol and Sons. The plans for the new building, which* have been prepared by Mr. L. G. Williams, provide for a structure on up-to-date lines and a feature of the design is a large area of window space. Mr. A. Kirk has the contract for the building and at present the workers are engaged in preparing the foundations. dangerous Bridge Parapets The danger to traffic caused by the high parapets of the Peel street and Xaiti Bridges was stressed yesterday ifterndon at a meeting of members >f the Gisborne advisory committee if the Automobile Association (Auckand). Mr. E. Swinnerton, who brought the question before the no.ice of the committee, spoke on be half of the drivers of the smaller ype of car and said that it was impossible, when on the bridge, to see traffic approaching from the side streets. No action was taken, the matter being deferred to a later meeting, but it was placed on record that members of the executive agreed that the parapets were a source of danger and might be responsible for i serious accident occurring. Cause of Accidents ■After explaining that he had made a study of the causes of many motor accidents, Mr. H. H. De Costa yesterday afternoon told members of the Gisborne advisory committee of the Automobile Association (Auckland) that most were contributed to by the fact that, motorists often speeded up by placing their feet on the accelerator Instead of the brake when in an emergency. In some cases the driver’s foot slipped off the brake pedal on to the accelerator and in others an attempt was made to accelerate to get out of trouble. It was decided to write to the Auckland association suggesting the publication in the next official bulletin of a warning to motorists that trouble should be met by applying the clutch and brake. Exhibition Taken Over The Centennial Exhibition Company has ;taken over the buildings and grounds at Rongotai from the contractors, Messrs. Fletcher- arid Love. Henceforward until the opening day, November 8, no members'of the general public will, be admitted on any pretext, save on production of an official pass identifying him or her as a worker engaged on the construction and preparation of exhibits, or as an exhibitor. One reason for this, it is stated, is that workmen will be able to carry out the final preparations free of interruption or congestion, and it will be easier to have the place complete, clean and tidy to the last detail ready for the opening day. Hitherto it has been- possible for many visitors to inspect unofficially the progress of the work, and only one or two courts such as the Dominion court have been kept close secrets.