LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21214, 10 September 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Death Report Denied The report that President Kallio of Finland is dead is denied in a message from Helsinki. Racing; Club Sympathy A motion of sympathy with the family and relatives of the late Mr G. W. Vercoe was passed at a committee meeting of the Waikato Racing Club last evening, members standing in silence. Shot In Toe When the gun he picked up exploded, Edgar Hugh Sharpe, aged 26, a photographer, of 20 River Road, was shot in the right toe. He was admitted to the Waikato Hospital last night. Fire In Red Cross Depot A call was received by the Hamilton Fire Brigade at 3 o’clock this morning to an outbreak of fire in the Red Cross depot in Garden Place, where clothing and other material on the floor was found to be ablaze. The outbreak was extinguished with the brigade’s first aid apparatus and no structural damage was caused to the building, which is of concrete. Dustbins On Footpaths Although it is a by-law honoured more in the breach than in the observance, it is an offence in the Waikato County to place dustbins on the footpath. This was pointed out at a meeting of the county council today when it declined to meet a claim for damages from a ratepayer whose dustbin had been crushed under a council motor-truck. Ratepayers, said the clerk, Mr C. F. E. Barton, could easily place dustbins just inside the gate. Eradication of Weeds Further notices concerning the clearing of noxious weeds had been sent out, stated the monthly report of the Waikato County Overseer, Mr G. G. Winter, presented at the council meeting today. Several badlyinfested frontages were effectively treated by employing a tractor and disc-harrows. During the visit of the chief stock inspector of the Agricultural Department the assistance the county needed in eradicating ragwort was discussed. A grant of £I2OO from the department would be required to carry out this essential work during the coming season.

Working of Quarries A large slip in the Tauwhare quarry which had considerably hindered work was reported by the Waikato County Engineer, Mr A. A. Woodward, at the monthly meeting of the county council today. The Tauhai quarry was closed down but the Taniwha quarry was being worked intermittently whenever metal was required. At Te Miro, continued Mr Woodward, work was proceeding with a small staff as there were several orders to fulfil there. The council had so far received no notification as to whether its offer to supply metal for the Karapiro Dam project had been accepted. Electrified Railway

Electric traction on the WellingtonPaekakariki section of the Main Trunk line, a distance of 24J miles, is said to be giving every satisfaction. The new “Ed ” class electric locomotives are running smoothly and are now hauling all important trains to and from Wellington. Electrification of the line was completed more than two months ago. As yet it has not been possible to run all trains between Wellington and Paekarariki by electric traction. One or two freight trains are still being hauled by steam, but this is only a temporary measure. The Wellington-Paekaka-riki section is the longest electrified railroad in New Zealand, the next longest being the Arthur’s Pass-Otira line through the Southern Alps.