DOMINION NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1921, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

OTIRA TUNNEL PROGRESS. By Telecrapla.—Pre« Association Hokitika, Sept. 19. The Westland Chamber of Commerce has been advised by the Otira representative that the lining of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel was completed on Saturday night. This is very satisfactory news as the work was not expected to finish before Wednesday. The occasion has marked the completion of another stage of the great work. NO FOUNDATION FOR BRIDGES. Tauranga, Sept. 19. At Tauranga serious difficulty has developed in connection with the sinking of the cylinders for the railway bridge across the harbor. Four sets are down nearly 70 feet below the harbor floor and there is no sign of a stable bottom. The cylinders are very large, weighing over a ton per foot, and as it is advolutely necessary to find a solid foundation the engineers are faced with a difficult problem. PETONE IN FLOOD. Wellington, Sept. 19. Considerable damage was caused at Petone by the drains being unable to cope with the storm water. Some streets were knee deep in water, gardens ruined and poultry destroyed. Heavy slips came down on the Hutt Road, one at Ngahauranga and another further on, almost blocking the traffic. The Hutt River was also heavily flooded. FARMERS’ SHIPPING SCHEME. Christchurch, Sept. 19. On Saturday Mr. Polson, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, received a telegram from the Director of Agriculture, permitting him to divulge a scheme over which up till now the Government requested secrecy. The scheme proposed the establishment of a Shipping Board, comprising representatives of the woolgrowers, meat producers, dairy factories and other branches of rural industry. Such board would have legal powers to strike a special rate over wool, meat and dairy produce, such rate to be supplemented by a £ for £ subsidy by the Government. Those contributions would be the capital of the Producers’ Shipping Company. Script would be issued. The contributors’ scheme had to be submitted to the Cabinet and the Government would not be in any way committed. When Mr. Massey returned the matter would be considered and the farmers should let the Government know that they expected some practical result from the proposal.