General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23809, 1 December 1942, Page 4

General News

♦ Tar-Sealing of Streets A schedule of streets to be tarsealed this summer if conditions permit at a total cost of £6OOO was approved by the City Council last evening on the recommendation of the works committee. The committee reported that it had decided the new work would be done only after the resealing programme was completed. Much of the resealing work usually done in the period from December to March was missed last year and the leeway had to be made up quickly unless roads were to suffer permanently. The amount of work that could be done would depend on the weather and the number of men available. Dried Eggs to be Imported Housewives are likely to find their search for eggs more productive within the next few weeks, when a quantity of dried eggs is expected to arrive from Australia to help meet the needs of the armed forces in New Zealand, thus releasing additional supplies of local eggs for the civilian market. Mr R. C. Blake, chairman of the Commonwealth Egg Marketing Committee, who has just concluded negotiations with the New Zealand Government, said in an interview in Wellington yesterday, that practically the whole of Australia’s annual egg surplus was. before the war. exported to Britain in the shell as refrigerated cargo. Shipping difficulties, however, had made it necessary to conserve space, and eggs were now being dried. Britain was still taking the greater part of the surplus, but some also were being shipped to troops overseas. (P.A.) Otira Tunnel Freight Tonnage hauled through the Otira tunnel from the West Coast to Canterbury last week showed a substantial increase as compared with the pievious week. The total was 18,476 tons, as against 15.898 tons in the corresponding period of 1941, and 16.046 in 1940, Next E.P.S. Trial The intention of the organising committee of the Metropolitan E.P.S to arrange a trial before Christmas was announced yesterday by the chairman (Mr W. Machin). Mr Machm said he had already given the project consideration, and he thought a good trial could be arranged. University Courses for Prisoners Mr W. A. Armour, headmaster of Wellington College, at an old boys’ celebration yesterday, said he had been informed by an old boy in a letter that prisoners of war in German camps were able to take university courses. Mr Justice Blair said that a friend listening to the Vatican radio had told him the same thing. He had communicated with the Vice-Chancel-lor of the University of New Zealand and it had been arranged that the passes would be valid. — (P.A.) Inspection of Bridges “On examination following the recent floods it has been discovered that there is one pile swinging in the Waitaki bridge in the pier adjacent to the one restored,” stated the Waimate County Engineer (Mr W. P. Black) in a report to a meeting of the Council yesterday. Mr Black said that Mr F. Langbein engineer to the Main Highways Board. Mr T. G. Beck. Public Works Engineer, and Mr Grant, resident engineer. had conferred with him and inspected the position at the Hakatara-mea-Kurow bridges. He said that through the offices of the County Clerk (Mr L. J. Collins), a very valuable aerial picture had been obtained of the Waitaki river between the Hydro and the bridges. Cocksfoot Harvest Tenders were received by the Akaroa County Council, at a recent meeting for the right to cut cocksfoot on roadsides. While the competition for this roadside harvesting was keen in Lc Bon’s Bay and in the Akaroa district. no tenders were received for roads in the Duvauehello and Wainui district, nor at Pigeon Bay. It is considered that the shortage of available labour for harvesting is affecting the letting of these roads. Bowls on Sunday Permission for Sunday play on the Spreydon Bowling Club’s green was granted by the City Council last evening on the recommendation of the reserves committee. It was decided to impose the same conditions as those imposed for Sunday play on the Waltham green. The voting on the recommendation was as follows; For: Crs. G. Manning, T. Green, H. E. Denton, W. P. Glue, G. D. Griffiths, R. G. Brown. J. J. Hurley. F. S. Wilding, J. N. Clarke, and M. 'E. Lynns. Against: Tlie Mayor, Crs. J. S. Barnett, C. D. Sheppard, M. McLean. S. H. Maddrcn, M. Kershaw, and H. P. Donald, Express Train Delayed The Midland express was half an hour late in reaching Greymouth yesterday afternoon, having been half an hour behind schedule at Arthur’s Pass. There were 318 passengers on the train. Safe in Spain Advice has been received by Mrs E. Fraser, Chapel street, Greymouth, that her son. Mr Tod Fraser, who is servinr with the Mercantile Marino, is safe and well in Spain, his ship having been torpedoed. This is the second ship on which he has served in the last six months that has been torpedoed. The first time ho was reported missing for two and a half months. Spring Planting in Reserves All available men in the reserves department of the Christchurch City Council are engaged on the replanting of flower beas and garden plots in the city and suburbs. It was reported to the council last evening that approximately 59.000 annuals and bedding plants had been dispatched from the nursery for that purpose. In addition, 2000 plants had been sent to military camps. Potato Blight on West Coast Potato blight, which has been noticed in several other districts, has already made its appearance on the West Coast, being somewhat earlier than usual. Probably the abnormal rainfall during the spring, coupled with warm conditions, has been responsible. Where the infection has appeared it is too late to treat crops, but as a precautionary measure, where crops are still clear, spraying with Burgundy mixture is advisable, staled an official of the Agriculture Department yesterday. In several instances this has been done with success. Unloading of Railway Waggons About 800 trucks wore unloaded at the railway yards and goods sheds during the busy period last week, according to a report from the district traffic manager’s office yesterday. About 58 men worked on Sunday, discharging the loads from 107 trucks, and 53 waggons were handled on Saturday afternoon, About 300 trucks have still to be unloaded. 30 of these being general cargo, 170 bales of wool, and the others .iron and similar loads, which will be handled in the yards. Vandalism in City “This vandalism is increasing all over the city,” said the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) at the City Council meeting last evening, when the City engineer (Mr E. Somers) reported that seven of the 14 vases at the Edmonds band rotunda had been broken and also the glass fittings of four lamps. “It is shocking, but I don’t know what we can do about it,” added the Mayor. “We don’t seem to be able to make an example of the people who do it.” Spinal Meningitis Cases After an absence from the list of Canterbury notifications of infectious diseases, ccrebro-spinal meningitis again occurred in reports last week. Three cases were notified. They were all in the early part of the week, and no further cases have been reported Thunderstorm at Kaikoura A heavy downpour of rain followed a thunderstorm at Kaikoura on Sunday evening, when 1.39 inches of rain was recorded at the Kaikoura weather station by Mr C. A. Jensen. Further rain during the afternoon brought the total fall to 1.93 inches for the 24 hours ended at 6 p.m. last evening. The rain was badly needed in the farming community for crops. Shearing operations have been interrupted.