Procedure Overlooked.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1939, Page 4

Procedure Overlooked.

In spite of the public discussions which have been proceeding for a month concerning the issue of import licences and the declarations of past imports and estimates of immediate requirements which must accompany applications for permits, the procedure has evidently escaped the attention of one Auckland merchant. His customs agent was astounded the ' other day when he received a bundle of documents with a polite note requesting him to “issue the necessary permit and clear the goods.”

Wellington in Darkness. An interruption to the power supply from Mangahao at 12.54 a.m. today caused a complete blackout in Wellington and the area extending northward from Khandallah and Johnsonville to 1 south of Mangahao. The trouble was thought to have been caused by the branch of a tree blowing across one of the lines. The power came on again at 1.18 a.m., and as both lines stayed in when tested, that confirmed the theory that the trouble had been caused by a branch and not by salt on the insulators. About seven years ago, salt on the insulators near Paraparaumu caused a breakdown and men had to climb the poles and clear it away.

A Fish Story. An amusing fish story against himself, and not concerning "the one that got away,” is told by Mr Samuel Tinsley, of London, who recently spent some time at Lake Taupo. At his invitation, a cousin from Christchurch joined the party, and, although a novice, succeeded in hooking a six-pound trout. Mi - Tinsley assisted her in landing the fish, being surprised to see it floundering about at least two hundred yards away. To his amusement he found that the novice was reeling the line out, instead of in. Five minutes energetic reeling brought the fish to the boat, and Mr Tinsley began to poke fun at his cousin. Her chance came shortly, however, when Mr Tinsley, playing a fish, missed his footing and sat down in the boat, forgetting that a large bowl of water was placed on the seat. The remainder of the afternoon was most uncomfortable for him.

New Type of State House. A departure from the orthodox type of State house already built or under construction in many parts of New Zealand has been made in designing five of a block of nine Government homes being erected on properties fronting the Great North Road. New Lynn, Auckland. Opinion (the "New Zealand Herald” says) is likely to be sharply divided on the appearance of the homes, which are finished in plaster, with lean-to roofs, and are box-like in external shape, particularly when viewed from certain angles. Strong criticism of the houses has been made by many people who have seen them half finished, but the completed home is infinitely more pleasing. The supplies used in the construction include sheets of greyish-black material, and as two or three of the houses have reached this stage, their appearance is definitely unaesthetic, to say the least. When plaster has been applied over this material, however, and has thus effectively hidden it, and when decor-1 ative finishing touches have been added, the structures have a greater re-1 semblance to a house than to a gaunt shed. Even when finished, however, the unusual appearance of the houses causes comment, not all of it enthusiastic.