NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Chimney Fire. The New Plymouth fire brigade received a call late on Wednesday night to a chimney on fire at a residence in Eliot Street. The brigade was soon on the scene and the blaze was extinguished. Military Pensions Board. * A sitting of the Military Pensions Board was held at the New Plymouth courthouse yesterday. Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, chairman, Mr. J. D. Harper, representing the returned soldiers, and Dr. Marshall Macdonald arrived at New Plymouth on Wednesday night. Dives Avenue to Lose Trees. Hawera is about to lose one of its distinctive features, the ancient pine and macrocarpa trees which overhang Dives Avenue. The Hawera County Council yesterday received a petition from residents of the avenue and decided to call tenders for the removal and sale of the trees. Ladder-Holding Device. Mr. J. Smith, an ernployee of the New Plymouth Borough Council, has invented a device for holding ladders securely on the roofs of vans, which has been fitted to electricity department vans. The device, simple, but effective, consists of two horns working on an axle and actuated by a sprung level. Held firmly against the ladder by the spring, the horns prevent the ladder from chafing against its rest and wearing deep grooves in the woodwork. The invention is also quick to operate and obviates fumbling with a strap high on the roof of the van. Schoolchildren's Offer. When the Levin School of 690 children reassembled after the vacation a mass meeting was held to see jn what way the children could help in the war effort. The childreri's decision was to forego the daily allowance of milk so that it could be used for butter or cheese making. However, the school committee, while appreciating the spirit in which the offer was made, thought that the good being derived by the children from the daily milk ration was greater than the help its conversion into cheese would be to Britain. Electric Trains. Electric traction on the WellingtonPaekakariki section of the Main Trunk line, a distance of 241 miles, is giving every satisfaction. The new Ed class electric locomotives are now hauling all important trains to and from Wellington. Electrification of the line was completed more than two months ago and after preliminary tests the change-over from steam to electric haulage was effected gradually. As yet it has not been possible to run all trains between Wellington and Paekakariki by electric traction. One or two freight trains are still being hauled by steam, but this is only a temporary measure. Fire Equipment Deteriorated. The poor condition of the fire fighting equipment at the Auckland infirmary was referred to in a report received at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital board. It was stated that when the water was turned on during a recept weekly practice it was found that the five 100ft lengths of hose were in a bad state and that the rub'oer washers in the connections were perished. It was decided to ask the superintendent of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board, Mr. M. L. Wilson, to inspect the equipment and to submit a report. Refugee Student. Approval for the training of a female refugee medical student in the Auckland hospital during 1941 has been given by the hospital board. The question arose from a report by the joint relationship committee, consisting of representatives of the board and the medical faculty, which had agreed to co-operate with Otago University in the training of such a student "whose home was believed to be in the Auckland district." That the training should take place in the Auckland hospital was gpproved on the recommendation of the finance and purchasing committee, Petrol and Avt. After several years' successful work in bringing modern art under the, notice of country folk, Ihe Auckland Society of Arts finds that petrol rationing has laid an almost complete ban on its efforts. Some time ago the society built up a large collection of colour-reproductions of paintings by the greatest modern masters. These have been shown in all parts of the province and lectures upon them by members of the society have been greatly appreciated by women's institutes, schools and the people generally. Now petrol restrictions prevent farniers and others from providing transport for the lecturer and the pictures, and for the same reason most people who would attend the ' Lectures are obliged to remain at home.

Enough To Do. "We have enough to do these days," commented Cr. J. B. Murdoch, chairman, wh m the Hawera County Council decided yesterday to take no action on a request to join in the Taranaki provincial centenary celebrations.