General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21775, 6 May 1936, Page 10

General News

Streamlined Tramcars In keeping with the modern trend in transport, the Auckland Transport Board has recently turned its attention to the construction of streamlined tramcars embodying the latest features in design. Two cars of this type are already on the road, and their appearance has created an extremely favourable impression in that city. No changes have been made in the seating accommodation of the new cars, but improvements in the lighting system and in the glass facings have resulted in an equal distribution of light and a better internal appearance. Mr H. E. Jarman, general manager of the Christchurch Tramway Board, said yesterday that the board had not so far proposed buying any cars of a similar design. The immediate concern in this city was the painting of the present buses and trams.

Motor-cycle in Harbour A motor-cycle which disappeared in March, 1934, from the Thorndon railway station, Wellington, and of which no trace was found by the police or anyone else, was brought up by a grab dredge working off Aotea quay. After it has been cleared of barnacles it will be returned to the owner. —Press Association.

The Australian Press The habit of the New South Wales press of featuring in an unpleasant way items of news from New Zealand was commented on by Mr E. K. Cameron, of Hawera, on his return from a trip to Australia. Items derogatory to New Zealand, he said, were frequently given sensational headlines in the papers, which tended to adopt a derisive attitude towards the Dominion. An earthquake at Opotiki, which New Zealanders generally had been unaware of, had been given prominence, and the Easter traffic jam at Christchurch had been featured, although far worse blocks occurred in Sydney.

Tree-planting in Streets The Christchurch Beautifying Association's campaign for the planting of more trees advanced a further stage last night when the association decided to inspect several streets. The chairman, Mr R. B. Owen, said that he had been promised 100 trees, and-he thought that this number could be raised to 500. The meeting considered that the most suitable streets for early planting were Brougham and Princess streets and Strowan and Marshland roads. These will be inspected at the end of this week, when an estimate-of the number of trees required will be made. Co-operation Acknowledged A tribute was paid to the local bodies of the Dominion by the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) yesterday for the way in which they had co-operated with the Government in holding back local government bills this session. The Minister said that there would only be one or two such bills this session, as local bodies had met the wishes of the Government in deferring legislation for their own particular objects until important policy measures were out of the way. Local bodies had understood the position before the opening of Parliament, Mr Parry said, and they had been most helpful in recognising that national matters were of first importance.—Parliamentary Reporter. The Right-hand Rule "I cannot understand wh; the authorities persist with the right-hand rule," commented Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., during the hearing of a motor collision case in the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court. "It is definitely known," he added, "that it is adopted from countries like the United States of America and France, where traffic keeps to the right-hand side of the road. One has only to drive to realise its absurdity, because it means taking the eyes off the line of travel, v/hen the natural inclination is to look to the left. The rule is quite illogical in its application. It is a pity that the new Government, which is going to make a clean sweep of traffic regulations and establish a new code, does not give us a left-hand rule as a fundamental."

Laying Out Dominion Museum Grounds The work of laying out the grounds and forming the roads for an approach to the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum is already in hand. Under an arrangement with the trustees of the gallery and museum, this work has been undertaken by the city engineer (Mr K. E. Luke), and when the roads are formed and paved and everything is in order, the work of setting down the lawns and planting tho areas set apart for planting will be taken over by the director r f parks and reserves (Mr J. G. MacKenzie). There will be the two main approaches to the new building, one on each side of the carillon tower, but symmetrically designed and graded in conformity with the tower and buildings. These two 30-foot roads will merge into one in front of the gallery and museum, where there will be space for a 60-foot road, and also room shrubbery plots. It is on this forecourt that Mr G. A.* Troup has suggested that two statues should be erected —one to Captain James Cook and the other to Mr Edward Gibbon Wakefield, the discoverer of New Zealand and the founder of Wellington, respectively. So far there has been no response to Mr Troup's suggestion, but he lias little doubt that some day tangible expression will be given to his idea.

Lay-out of the Square

Disappointment that their suggestions for the improved lay-out of Cathedral square had been rejected by "the Christchurch City Council was expressed by members of the Christchurch Beautifying Association last night. They said that is was most difficult'- to walk across the Square, and the suggestion of raised footpaths to keep the vehicular traffic to defined routes would have eliminated many of the existing troubles.

Auckland Artist's Success

A young Auckland artist, Mr Felix Kelly, 3s winning a reputation as a designer of book jackets. Miss Rosemary Rees told an audience in the Art Gallery that when in London in December last she had difficulty in securing a suitable design for a jacket for her latest novel. She was introduced to Mr Kelly at a social function, and it was suggested that he might care to submit designs. He prepared two, which her publishers, Chapman and Hall, praised highly. One was selected, and since this introduction Mr Kelly had designed the jackets for six books published by Chapman and Hall.

Other Side of War

"I give way to no man on earth in my hatred and detestation of war as a means of settling international disputes," said the Rev. W. Bower Black, speaking in St. David's Church, Auckland, at the annual memorial service of the Field Engineers, "but it often seems to me that in their determination to blot the thing out many people have said more than they really mean and more than is really true. The result is that they have tended—though I am sure they have not meant it—to treat as a thing negligible and unworthy the other side of the picture, the honour that men have gained, the shining splendour of their deeds of valour, and tho sacrificial spirit of their giving." They should never lose sight, he said, of the sheer wonders of the human spirit that h-d been demonstrated in war.

Efficiency in Schools

"I am inclined to think fir teachers and our schools tend possibly to be too efficient," taid Mr T. Warren, inspector of schools, in an address on grading to South Taranaki teachers at Hawera, "and they may thus be neglecting those things which cannot be expressed in grading marks." He had -visited British schools, and nowhere did he find the striving for 100 per cent, so evident as in New Zealand.

Maori Relics at Waiheke

Interesting relics of the past occupation by Maoris of Waiheke Island, Auckland, are possessed by Mr T. O. Kirkpatrick, a resident of Surfdale. One of the most treasured articles in the collection is a Maori ko, or spade, made of puriri and in good preservation. The traditional footrest of the spade, which is eight feet long, is missing. Mr Kirkpatrick also possesses a small greenstone ear pendant, said to be more than 400 years old, which was found washed up on the rocks after a heavy storm.