LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Foothpath Maintenance. The footpaths of Chapel and Cole streets are receiving attention by the Masterton Borough Council stall' at present. Certain sections arc- lining tar sealed.

Import Licences. A statement that the investigation to determine the schedule of import licences for the fourth licensing period had been under way for some time, and that he hoped to make an announcement soon was made yesterday by the Minister of Customs, the Hon W. Nash. , Gold Dredge Sinks. The Nemona dredge, which has been operating in Cockeye Creek, near Marsden, during the past three and a half years, was on Monday found sunk, lying at the bottom, of the paddock in about 7 feet of water. The paddock is being lowered preparatory to a survey of damage. The dredge was inspected throughout on the completion of the shift at midnight on Saturday and everything was in order. i Interhouse Girls’ Choir. An excellent attendance of girls at the Interhouse Girls’ Choir practice last night at the Y.M.C.A. Hall revealed more than ever that Masterton is endowed with a wealth of talent for a choir of this type. The girls are making very good progress under the baton of Mr Miller Hope and the time is not far distant when the public as a whole will be able to hear this very promising body of singers. Rationing of Petrol. The petrol consumption in February under the rationing scheme was reduced to the monthly figure aimed al by the Ministry of Supply, according to the oil fuel controller. Mr G. 1... Laurenson, who is visiting Auckland. In the circumstances it was not intended to intensify the rationing, he said, nor would it be possible to ease the restrictions. Mr Laurenson said there had been practically no complaints from th public in. the carrying out. of the scheme. Engine “Tear-Down” Display. With the hundredth day of die Exhibition passed there have been 2400 demonstrations on the Engine "TearDown” display. That means that die Ford V 8 engine has been taken down or assembled 2400 times, and—in the speed with which the job is done—a considerable gruelling for each part. But with the exception of gaskets, which obviously would not stand up to so much handling, not one part has required replacement. Even nuts and bolts, which are by no means gently handled, are showing no signs of wear. Unity Essential. “This decadent race of ours, so called by outlaws and pirates, has something to be proud of." said the president oi the Municipal Association. Mr T. Jordan. at the opening of the association’s conference in Wellington last night. “We still retain, at least some of us I hope, that determination which was possessed by the people who founded a settlement on the shores of this harbour 100 years ago. "Il is high time to realise that all we stand for is now at stake and nothing else matters. Sectional disputes and party dog-fights must be laid aside." Fall Down Embankment. When he tripped and fell down an embankment, Mr T. Driver, Waipawa' crawled over a quarter of a mile along a footbridge till his plight was noticed and he was removed to Waipukurau Hospital. The accident occurred at the southern end of the Waipawa railway bridge at about 7.15 p.m. on Monday. Mr Driver was out for a walk when he tripped and fell down the embankment. As there was no one about the injured man set out to return to Waipawa, and had crawled practically the full length of the railway bridge when his plight was noticed by two men, who assisted him back to town. Boarding School Fire. Fire yesterday afternoon burnt out a large section of the boarding, school, Balmacewen House, Dunedin. In the residential quarters a large amount of damage was done. It was fortunate that little wind was blowing, as firemen were able to keep the flames from spreading. The alarm was sounded at 3.19 p.m., and by the time the brigade hade reached the school the fire already had a good hold. Masks were necessary to enable the men to penetrate the dense clouds of smoke. A large section of the roof had to be chopped away to let the full play of water reach the burning beams, and it was almost 6 o’clock before the brigades had finished their work. Colossal Damage. Worse than anything that has ever before been experienced on the Strat-ford-Main Trunk line since it was opened for through traffic in 1932. the storm damage done last weekend ranks as one of the most serious natural disasters in the history of the New Zealand railways, and the original estimate that the line would not be_ reopened for two weeks has been revised to at least two months as the result of surveys just finished by engineers of the Railways Department. The worst of the damage occurred between Tahora. 50 miles from Stratford and IVlangaparo, eight miles on the Stratford side of Ohura. The damage over this length is on a colossal scale. In places whole hillsides have slipped across the line, ami al other points wash-outs have left the rails and sleepers hanging in the I air or swept the line away completely. I Old Landmark Washed Away. Reports drifting in from the ciil-01l back country show that the historic old flourmill at Pipiriki, familiar to thousands of tourists, was washed away by the recent Hoods, slates a Wanganui P.A. telegram. The mill, which was built by Sir George Grey for the Maoris, stood on the bank id' the Kaukore Stream near where il joins the Wanganui River below Pipiriki. Driven by a waterwheel, it was for many years used for grinding Hour and was the largest mill on the Wanganui River. The floor was normally about 30 feet above the river level, but during a heavy flood years ago. il was submerged and the mill fell into neglect. Later it was repaired and used for many years as an electricity generating' station for Pipiriki House. The plant was later removed and the mill continued. idle lor nearly' 20 year:', remaining as one of the sights of the Wanganui River for tourists.