TRIP TO BLENHEIM.

Otaki Mail, 24 July 1922, Page 3

TRIP TO BLENHEIM.

| Mr F. G. Davies (engineer to the j Otaki Borough Council) visih/d iileni heim last week on business connected with tho Council. He was to hav.o been accompanied by Mr J. P. Brandon j (Mayor) who, however, was detained J at the last minute through having important business. The trip across tho strait was a. fairly good one, taking three hours to Queen Charlotto Sounds, with a further li hours to Picton. In | summer the sail up the sounds is a lino one, but not so in wet weather. Mr Dnvies encountered rain at 4.30, and thus the trip was dampened. The distance from Picton to Blenheim is 18 miloti, and the train, which by the way runs right up to the wharf, does not ( leave till (i.lj. This long wait has been I

i reduced by an enterprising motor-bus driver at Blenheim, who meets the boat ;>iu\ takes passengers on for 3d more than the single fare, viz., 3a lid instead rf :••- 3d. This healthy competition has not improved the rolac'on-hip between the Math ii-niaster and the bus propricloi. Blenheim was reached at 0 p.m. in time (or dinner, an I fidly li hovs before the schedule train time. On Tuesday the .Mayor, Town Clerk, Borough Engineer, and Clerk of Works met. Mr Davies at the Council Chambeis. Mr Parker (Mayor of Blenheim) instructed the •rficers to afford him all in formation re water works (details of which, vvill be given in a confidential report to Council) but preferred not to accompany him. Blenheim is a nice town and gives a visitor tho impression I of being quite a busy little place. The ■ I present population is about 3000. This' j town was left at 3.30 Wednesday, and! j Mr Davies nrrh ed in Picton at 4.30. j Av this town a fine p : ece •■' sewage I ; work is in course of erection, and fa- ! I .-.ilit'-'s were given him to examine an J Al breakfast time on Thursday morn- I ing the electric light suddenly failed.! and on enquiry as to the cause he v.utaken to the power-house t to look at about as big a wreck of an engine us To h.p. gas engine, measuring 7ft. in diameter and weighing about four tons.. hail been thrown about 10ft. and every spoke had been snapped clean off. The piston had been shot clear of the i-ylin-power-house alone; with ! m ■:: .ting. whilst the main beaiing.- m -rumbled up. The mishap was due m a "aw i:t the steel webb on t! e cinnk -haft. which at this point consists of a mas sive piece of steel mem urn:: aboui lain, by ."lin. The damag. to the building was enmparatively slight, while the Engineer must have been in hn-k's way to escape uninjured. The weather on leaving IMcton was wet and windy, and prt>\ ide.j a lou.-rii passage to Wellington, inking «J hours to return against 4' luo.n - l.i ~0.