MOTU BRIDGE COLLAPSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 30, 5 February 1925, Page 4

MOTU BRIDGE COLLAPSES.

TIIIKH't.H TRAFFIC BLOCKED. (I'.y Telegraph.—Press Association.* <iISBORXK, this day. The collapse of the bridge across the Mot ii Hirer prevent through road traffic -between the liny of Plenty and dishorn,-. The motor services are connecting at the- river. It is expected it will take a fortnight to effect repairs. The suggestion that a number of Australian snakes of non-poisouous species should l>e placed a-s an exhibit in the Auckland Zoo. has caused some concern In many people who lind no comfort in the thought of snakes of any sort being introduced into New Zealand. Snakes are elusive creatures at all times, and if one ur lwo of such ,-aptives escaped I here would Is- very quickly a line crop of these reptiles crawling about the land. The Mayor slated this morning, however, that the suggestion was very definitely dec-line,l by ihe City Council, which refused to accept responsibility for the introduction of snakes into New Zealand, even if authority were gi\en by the (iovcrnment. Sir -lames f.'unsot, added that ii was extremely unlikely that llie council would reconsider that decision. Miss Melville has resumed her duties as a city councillor after an absence of nine months, and yesterday, in company \vi h the Mnor idle pi)!:! a vi.-lt of in -.pec-iion I-, the branch libraries and the zoological park. As chairman of the Library Commit lee Miss Melville was able to nolo considerable development in this branch of the corporation's activities during the past twelve months, including the opening of new libraries at Parnell and Crey Lynn, while the progress at the zoological park, both in respect of exhibit- and of layout of the area. Ims been pronounced. A visit was also made to the Parnell Park, where iii the course of two or three months the area should be assuming the appearance designed for it in the plans adopted by the council. There arc times when a motor driver may bine- incentive to stop in the course ut n trip. Tliere was no such need for Thuina.-, Wcnlherburn. who appeared before Mr. C. li. Orr-Walkcr. S.M.. in Wellington, charged with negligently driving n motel car oil Lambtnn Quay. -The constable n-ked mc if I was in a hurry." said W'eatherbiirn to the Bench, referring to the evening when he knocked the rear of a motor cycle. "I couldn't have been in n hurry: it took mc ten minutes lo reach the Midland Hotel from Tory Street." The Magistrate: Arc you sure you didn't stop en route? The Witness: \o. It was after -ix o'clock. Zululand. in the opinion of Mr. E. J. Howard. M.1.. is the Canterbury Plains of South Africa: that is. Sb far as its richness of soil, climate and opportunities are concerned. Sugar, ton. and cotton are being grown there, and will largely increase a- time goes iii. The coin! re i- lint subject io drought like the highlands, and i> getling rid ~f malaria by drainage. Natal i- il,,- richest province in South Africa from an agricultural point of view.