AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1925, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

-SHARKS AND SURFERS. SAFEGUARDS IX SYDNEY. SYDXEY, Aug. 13. With the gradual coming of summer, all sorts of devices are once again being suggested to protect from sharks surfers on Sydney’s beaches. The Randwick Council, in whose domain lies Coogeo. one of Sydney’s most popular resorts, has been offered the. free use for a year of an anti-shark device. But the sting in the offer is that the inventor should be paid £'20.000 for the device if it: proves efficient. It has been suggested, somewhat ungenerously, that the most convincing test would he for the inventor to arm himself with his device and pit himself against a hungry shark, and the sharks that infest Sydney’s beaches are hungry, judging from the toll they take ol lilo each summer. A few years ago someone claimed that he liad solved the problem of sharks by an electric loud-sounder, which produced in the water, a recurring vibration unpleasant to sharks. But. the idea that sharks could be swept from the beaches merely by distasteful noises did not appeal to the authorities. On some of Sydney’s beaches now arc lofty watch-towers, in which a paid attendant scans the horizon during the bathing hours, and rings a hell of warning if he sees a. shark. But the sharks still come into comparatively shallow water, and leave tragedy in their wake. SYSTEMS OF PAVING. CONCRETE V. ASH PH ALT. SYDXEY, Aug. 13. In the old battle of concrete versus asphalt, the engineer to the North Sydney Council, the principal local governing body on the north shore ol the metropolis, has taken the held with a report of especial interest to local government throughout. Australia and New Zealand, in relation to footpaths, because it deals not merely with the cost of const ruction, but also with the life and maintenance cost ol the two porploxi ng systems. In prime cost flic advantage is entirely with llie tar-paved fool path, bill over a period of years the advantage gained ar the outset is entirely bet. The far-paved iooipath cosls only -Is pov square yard as against 6.x lor concrete. Once laid down properly, the concrete path costs practically nothing to maintain, but. the engineer, to be on the safe side, debits ii with a maintenance cost of one penny per square yard. The asphalt path requires to be lar-paioted every two years, entailing a maintenance cost of 2d per square yard per annum. 'I he estimated life of tar pavement he gives as fen years, and of the concrete as 2- 1 years. 'Spreading llie cost of construction and maintenance over the life ol both palhs, asphalt costs 7d per square yard per annum, and concrete only Id. The engieer. incidentally, instances the fact that the first concrete path known to him was constructed in Brighton. England, and that in 1f)2.3. after -12 years, if was still in existence, although, a stone pavement: adjoining it had been twice replaced. Concrete, on this showing, therefore wins. STEAMER ON CORAL REEF, f Australia & X.Z. Cable Association.] SYDNEY. August 21. The steamer AVonsuiig Mam is rushing to the relief of the stranded steamer -Svdney Marti. Details show that tho la tier's stem is held firmly on a coral reef, outside of which there is One hundred fathom- ol water. i I"' passengers and the cargo are sale. Ihe weather is favourable. The Warning Maim i- expected |o leach the stranded vessel to-night.