DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1926, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TUBERRAI’IT —I’ER TRESS ASSOCIATION.]

A SUDDEN FLOOD. BLENHEIM, Jan. 25

As the result of a sudden flood in the Awntere River the Aloleswortli mail contractor, AL' J. Peters, suffered a severe loss, having his motor lorry swept away and very hadlv damaged. Air Peters left Blenheim for Molcswoi'tli on Sturday morning with a heavy loud of general cargo and tho mails. He had one passenger, Mr Clolaiul. of Aloleswortli, who was returning home. On reaching the Lime-y stone ford it was noticed that the / liver was up a little, hut wading de- A mon-trated that it was only knee deep, and Mr Peters essayed to run the lorry across. About half-way a boulder impeded progress and the engine stalled and could not be restarted. Air Peters and bis passenger made their way ashore, the water lioing then up to the lorry’s running hoard, and they returned with horses in about an hour, only to find that the water had risen to the driver’s sent, making it impracticable to move the truck. The mails and cargo were got to the bank hv means of the horses, and steps were being taken to secure the car *- when a sudden wall of water cam© down the river sweeping the vehicle from sight. An anxious patrol was maintained until yesterday, when it was discovered about two chains down stream almost completely buried in shingle and surrounded by deep water. So far it has not been possible to retrieve the truck, which will have to 1m? dug out. It is apparent that the cab lias been broken away and tho wind screen smashed, and there is evidence that the general damage will lie severe. Air Peters is covered by a comprehensive insurance policy of £2OO in the Phoenix Office.

STATE FOREST SERVICE. ADDRESS TO EX-MINISTER. WELLINGTON, Jan. 27. Sir Heaton Rhodes lias been presented with an illuminated address on the occasion of his bidding farewell to the Forest Service, whirl) now comes under the control of the Hon. O. J. Hawken. I lie address, which is signed by all members oi the Forest Service, sets out tluit during Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes’ administration, the total revenue of the State Forest Service had increased five fold and the area of State forest plantations had increased from thirtynine thousand acres to seventy-nine *-■ thousand acres. THE FREEZING WORKS. GO-SLOW AGAIN ADOPTED. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 27. The go-slow was resumed in two freezing works yesterday afternoon. Islington and Borthwicks are the works concerned. NORMAL TRAINING COLLEGE. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 27. Complaints have lieen made that Canterbury students are excluded from the Normal Training College, Christchurch. while the students of other V: districts are admitted and the chairman of the Education Board explains that this is necessary as the Board has to train 1200 teachers yearly a inmost consider districts like Wanganui, 1 Taranaki. Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Southland, which have no training colleges. CHRISTCH URCH TELEPHONE DEM Am CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 27. Eighteen hundred Christchurch people are waiting to he connected with the telephone and four hundred of them must wait eighteen months yet. This state of affairs was disclosed by an enquiry at the Telegraph Office. The department can never catch up with the demand, they say.