Appreciation of Work.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1942, Page 2

Appreciation of Work.

At the Masterton Borough Council’s meeting last night it was decided to place on record the council’s appreciation of the excellent work done by the whole of the gasworks stall during the earthquake period. Boy Washed Overboard. Advice has been received in Auckland that Rodger Herbert Whitefield, aged 17, son of Captain and Mrs W. Whitefield, has been drowned after being washed overboard from a vessel in New Zealand waters. His father is the captain of the New Zealand hospital ship Maunganui. Destruction of Chimneys. It was reported at the Masterton Borough Council meeting last night that 13,125 chimneys had been destroyed in the Wairarapa during the recent earthquake. In the Masterton borough 3400 chimneys had been destroyed, oi which 1500 were first line, while 500 houses were left without heating or cooking facilities. Railcar Hits Slip. The New Plymouth-Wellington railcar, due to arrive in Wellington at 11.40 p.m., hit a slip shortly after leaving Patea last night. The slip completely blocked the line, and the front of the car was buried, but the driver and the 30 passengers escaped injury. It is not expected that the line can be cleared till today. Rental Cars. “I can’t understand why they allow these rental cars on the road at all,” said Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday when dealing with a case of false declaration of age in connection with driving. “The thing is a scandal. Private cars can only get a very small allotment of petrol.’’ .

Borough Library. The monthly report of the librarian (Mrs A. Cohen) for June as submitted to the Borough Council meeting last night stated inter alia: —Books issued during June, fiction 5991, non-fiction and reference 569; books added, fiction 46, non-fiction and reference 11; subscribers, number at beginning of month 550, new subscribers during the month 16, subscribers left during the month 4, total subscribers, 562.

Charitable Bequest. Under the will of the late Mr James Paterson McGowan, company manager, Dunedin, whose estate is sworn at £65,000, the whole capital and income of the residuary estate, after certain specific bequests and subject to a life interest, is to be devoted equally to the aged and infirm ministers’ fund of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church and. the Salvation Army’s homes for children.

Motor Transport Company. Routine orders for the Lines of Communication Motor Transport Company, No. 13, issued by Captain D. B. Curry, are:—Masterton, Eketahuna and Pahiatua personnel will parade at 9.45 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, at Transport depot, for full day parade, men to bring lunch and cup. No leave will be permitted except on grounds of urgency, and sergeants must be notified in advance by any intending absentees. Driver K. Schlierike is to be orderly sergeant attached to company headquarters. D. C. Gilbert has been marched in to No. 3 Sub-Section. Earthquake Damage.

The Gas Manager (Mr J. Y. Douglas) reported as follows to the Borough Council meeting last night relative to the earthquake damage at the gasworks: With the exception of the destruction of the chimney the retort benches suffered very little damage When the earthquake happened the jolt lifted the safety valve of the boiler out of position and the fire had to be drawn from the boiler. By Saturday evening the steel chimney had been erected and the heats were soon back to their normal working temperatures, and on Sunday, June 28, normal pressures were put on to the mains. The consumers must have realised the conditions under which the department was working as we had very few complaints during that time. Durjng the night I paid several visits to the holders with the object of discovering ihe condition of the mains, and can report that very little damage has occurred in that direction. The gas services in some of the Quern Street buildings will have to be renewed, but apart from that very little damage has been done. Ihe main damage is to the buildings. The front of the engine-room and coal sheds have been badly shattered.