General News.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18507, 8 October 1925, Page 8

General News.

The \vaggon of a .goods train going from Taihape to Marfcon was derailed yesterday morning near Porewa. This delayed the express for two hours. '

The' work of erecting fl the second transmission line to convey current from Lake Coleridge to Timaru has been put in hand, a start having been, made at the Hororata end of the line. It is expected that a beginning will be made shortly with the erection of the steel towers which are to carry the line over the'-liakaia Eiver.

"If you want to Walk on the road >ou want a reflector on your back at night-time," said Mr P. K. Hunt, 8.M., at the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth, when hearing the evidence of a man who had been knocked down on* a hill by a motor-car. The charge 'of dangerous driving against the driver of the car was dismissed.

A copy ofi the will of Mr Edward Murphy, of Gisborne,. New Zealand, who died on June 27th, was filed in the Victorian Probate Office last month, in respect of personal property in Victoria of a gross value of £6/09. The will was executed on June 6th, 1919, and by it testator left his Victorian property, with estate in New Zealand valued.at nearly £400,000, to his wife and children. Decreased maximum loads at the Lake Coleridge power station and at' the Addington sub-station. 1 were report od for the week ended the 4th inst. At the power-hous© the peak load (recorded between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on September 29th) was 12,580 k.w. (previous week, .12,590 k.w.); and at the Aldington sub-station recorded during the same hour) it was 9745 k.w. (previous week 10,260 k.w.). The lake level wits at 1671.0 ft. (previous week, 1671.20 ft.); and the average inflow from the Harper River was 15 eusecs; tho previous week it was 13 cusecs.

Seven American sailors deserted while the fleet was in Wellington, and joined a cabaret orchestra. The proprietress said that she communicated With the Consul and with the Government, aijd was assured that so long as the men behaved themselves they would not be interfered with. On September ith she made a contract with them, but one, S. L. Millar, broko it and went away with a theatrical company. She thereupon sued him for £SO for breach ,of contract. For the defence it was contended that as deserters they had no right to sign a contract which was illegal, and that, moreover, Millar was under Vgc The hearing was adjourned for Millar to appear. The spirited and thorough defence of his rightful property made by a man armed with a rifle caused a sensation amongst care-free sportsmen at Otatara, Southland. The hunters of game had found very little to satisfy their craving, and, seated on the r|ver bank, began ■ to indulge in shooting at a small dinghy anchored a few hundred vards from an apparently deserted lighter. Closer and closer to the dinghy went the bullets, when an enraged figure suddenly made its appearance on tho deck of the lighter. A rifle was in its hands, and a moment lat«r at its shoulder. Then bullets began to flyso did the sportsmen. They flew up tho river bank and retreated into the bush to the whistling of fljupg lead. "Vehicle traffic is well under control on our streets," said Mr S. G. Nathan, at Mondav's meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club, "but unfortunately the pedestrians aro not. When a policeman gives a signal to a driver to move on, a number of people usually start to walk across the street, to their own danger. By-laws have been framed dealing with the question, and it is only a platter of having them enforced. I move that the City Council be approached on the matter." Another member said that in other countries pedestrians were fined if they did not comply with the traffic regulations. It was decided to approach the Oty Council and suggest that the policemen on point duty should control pedestrian as well as other traffic.

Our Sydney i correspondent -writes that extensive ivork is proceeding on the main suburban railway lines, the completion of which will synchronise with the completion of the Sydney harbour bridge, and the electrification of the whole of the metropolitan railway services. It is expected that by the end of* next year electric trains will be ruuning from the new St. James's station in the heart of tho city. The completed Sydney station, which at present has nineteen platforms, will beincreased to twenty-three platforms, a number of which will be used exclusively for electric trains. It i&anticipated that by the time the bridge i 9 built, the electrification of the 1 railway lines in what is termed tho inner zone will bo ready. This embraces roughly the whole ot the metropolitan area.

The Mataura Borough Council's nonwater scheme was opened yesterday by tl'.e Hon d. J. Anderson, ir. the presence of 500 spectators. The scheme i> a gravitation one. The reservoir hn.-> a capacity of 00 .COO gallons and an mta'v 1 capacity of 1.000.000 gallons Mr J. 1). Bruce, a member of '.he Highways Board, told a reporter yc-tci-day that the Bill amending the 31am Highways Act. passed laj-t session, p'ro-■r.-ides for the continuation of Ccmnu=sions set up, prior to the pas-ing of the principal Act. iir re>port of roads, bridges, and lorrk-s. The warrants : n respect of Commissions are decined to he in force and arc to renin in in force till re\oked.

An aeroplane piloted hy Captain Findlay landed on the foreshore at Duncdin. The machine left the Wigram aerodrome at Soekburn. Christchurch, on Monday, for Dunedin. but Captain Findlay decided, owing to the heavy wind blowing, to break h's journey, and he landed at Papakaio. about ten miles inland from Oamaru. The landing was effected without difficulty. The journey was continued on Tuesday, the distance being flown in forty minutes. The machine was partially dismantled and taken to the Exhibition, where it will be a feature in the Defence Department's exhibit.—Dunedin Correspondent. At Taupiri on Monday evening, the Hon. 11. F. Bollard was asked whether ho was in favour of State lotteries. The Minister, replying, said he was not; but perhaps something could be done. Ever since he had attained Ministerial rank, the subject had given him much thought, and lie would like to devise some means of stopping so much money going out of New Zealand to Tasmania. He was getting information on the subject. As Minister of Internal Affairs, ho had had to' put a limit on art unions, otherwise they would have been up to £IO,OOO in prize money. The question was very important, and if it were possible, he \\4>uJd see that something was done. (Applause.)— Special correspondent. A practical contribution to the efforts to eradicate the blackberry pest was made during the winter by an Auckland farmer, One of the river flats on his ,place was covered with blackberry, which had grown to a great height,,nearly covering the high teatree. During'the winter the pest was cut down ami the ground dug right over. At the present time the flat is as clean as a pasture paddock, and carrying a good solo of grass. "There is no short cut to getting rid of the blackberry," said the owner of the <arm. "Where one can get the plough in there is no excuse for its presence. Blackberry means idleness, or else that a man has more land than ho caii profitably use. If is worked, the blackberry will soon disappear." A remarkable instance of a veteran lady retaining her faculties is Mrs Ami Watson, a resident of Auckland, now in her, 100 th year. It was announced by the Rev. Grant Cowen at St. Matthew's Church that this wonderful old colonist would open the church bazaar on Friday. Mrs Watson came to the colony from Shoreditch, London, a girl in her 'teens, before 1.840, and, lifter taking an active part in the. colonisation of the North, during which her life was threatened by the redoubtable Hone Hekc, who eventually burned down the store her familycarried on, settled in Auckland. For over sixty-years she has been a regular attendant at St. Matthew's when the weather permitted, walking from her home in Valentine Lane, off Victoria street West Sho saw tho foundation stone of tho church laid, and is still familiar with its early history and advancement. .

. 'Referring in liis speech at laupin, on Monday night, to number plates tor motor-cars, the Hon. Mr Bollard said the Government had had to import plates from America jn the past. As the Act cam© into force in January last, there) was not time to call tenders in New Zealand. He naturally was in favour* of our own industries, and he desired to see as much money as possiblo retained in the country. For that rea.son> he had arranged that tenders for the manufacture of plates -would he this year called in New Zealand. He had received tenders, one from a New Zealand firm. It now remained for the Government to consider whether the local firm could, make the plates at a« reasonable cost to the purchaser. It would give him great pleasure to announce that a New Zealand tender had been accepted. The Minister added that it was expected that a decision, would Ix 3 made -within the next few days.—Press Association. There's a hot summer ahead—don't wait till you are run down —start building up your strength right away by taking McArthur's Nerve Tonic and Blood Enricher —it makes rich red blood and strengthens the nerves. 3s 6d and 6s 6d a bottle at McArthur's, Ltd., Chemists, 675 Colombo Street (McArthur's Corner). —6

Don't hesitate a moment wnen cobsideling moving your furniture. J. M. Heywood ana Co., Ltd., are the people to do it for you. J-6

No one- can get better service than that given by J. Al. Heywood and Co., Ltd. either as furniture removers, Custom House Agents or General Carriers. — fi

"Reid and Gray" Farm Implements and spare parts Obtainable from Mr Harry Anderson, Engineer, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch, and Reid and Gray, Ltd., Burnett street, Ashburton. Enquiries invited. —1 The Asliburton-Christchurcli Amateur Road Race is being held on Saturday next, and promises to bo a great success, 138 entries having been received. A feature of the curtain-raiser events is a' five-a-sido motor-cycle football match. The big event tinishes at the Show Grounds. —6