General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25162, 18 April 1947, Page 6

General News

• Notice to Advertisers Because of the restrictions on the use of gas at night “The Press” asks its advertisers to have their copy in “The Press” office not later .than noon each day, to ensure insertion the next day. Sea Cadet Work Praised High praise for the facilities for sea cadets at Quail Island, Lyttelton, and for the quality of the training organised by the Navy League Was given in an interview in Auckland by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Tovey. The scope offering at the island, Lord Tovey said, made him long for such a suitable place for the same work in England. He had been very much impressed by the stamp of lad recruited and he regretted that because his visit had been curtailed, he had not been able to inspect the corresponding activities in Auckland—(P.S.S.) “Operation 80-Feep” The arrival in China of th 6 25 Comedale sheep which have been sent as a gift from CORSO in New Zealand to Mr Rewi Alley in China was given newspaper prominence in Shanghai. Much space was devoted under the heading “operation Bopeep” to the flight of the sheep from Hunjao airport, near Shanghai, to Lanchow, 1200 miles away. The flight was paid for by CNRRA (China’s equivalent of UNRRA) but the cost of the 400 miles of truck journey to deliver the sheep to their final destination is being met by CORSO.

Stewards Join Ship by Launch Fifteen minutes after the liner Rimutaka cast off yesterday afternoon from her berth at Auckland, bound for London, eight agitated assistant-stew-ards arrived at the wharf. A launch was hurriedly chartered, and the eight men. escorted by a police sergeant and a constable, set off after their ship. Their absence had been noted in the Rimutaka, and in response to a signal the liner, which had been moving slowly down Rangitoto channel, stopped off Rangitoto beacon until the launch came alongside, and the stewards made their way aboard up a rope ladder.. Three men, two assistant stewards and an able seaman, deserted the liner during her stay at Auckland. —(P.A.)

Loder Cup Award The Loder Cup, presented annually for outstanding work in the preservation of native flora, has been awarded for 1946 to the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society, joined with the name of the society’s founder, Captain E. V. Sanderson, whose death occurred some months ago. Bridge Loading The fixing of load restriction signs on the Spencerville road and Grants road bridges was decided upon at a meeting last evening of the Waimairi County Council. Mr E. Stackhouse, chairman of the works committee, said that a special report from the acting county engineer (Mr R. A. MacFarlane) on the necessity of effecting repairs and renewals to county bridges had been considered. A further report by the committee would be submitted at the next meeting. It was decided to draw the attention of the Midland Motor Co. to the load restrictions, and to have an estimate prepared of the cost of constructing a concrete culvert, with reinforced concrete piping, to replace the Grants road bridge, and that an independent engineer’s opinion be obtained as to the condition of the Spencerville road bridge. Fish-Pass Regulations To ensure that no dam or any other obstacle erected across a river or stream which could block the run of fish, or prevent their reaching spawning grounds, the Fish-Pass Regulations 1947, gazetted last night, make it obligatory for builders of such works to submit plans to the Minister of Marine, who has power to insist that these constructions make provision for fish ladders if necessary.— (P.A.)

Fewer Auckland Trama Because of absenteeism and a shortage of staff. Auckland’s tramway routes were covered by fewer tramcars on Wednesday. In the morning 22 cars—l 4 at the Epsom depot ana eight at Gaunt street —could not be manned. In the afternoon and evening the total number of cars in enforced idleness was 26. The Onehunga, Great South road. Meadowbank, and Avondale service? were most affected in the morning because of the larger number of trams which could not be worked from the Epsom depot. Workers were delayed between 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning on those runs, fully-laden trams often running past large groups waiting at stops. The manager of the Auckland Transport Board, Mr E. B. Foster, said there was a staff shortage of 80. No stand-by crews were available and as the staff grew shorter and shorter, the absenteeism through illness or other reasons made a greater mark on the services. There were always about 5 or 6 per cent, absent. The peaks between 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning and 4.20 and 5.20 o.m. were the times mostly affected by the loss of the cars. Waimairi Building Permits

Sixty building permits valued at £42,568 were issued in the Waimairi County in March, compared with 46 permits, valued at £48,764, fop the same month last year Permit fees amounted to £96 10s, compared with £9B 5s last year. Permits issued in the various ridings were:—Papanui (£6125), Avon (£14,622). Styx (£470), Fendalton (£5973), Belfast (£3495), Middleton (£5795), Marshland (£1634), Harewood (£145), Wairarapa (£4309). Rare Mineral at Bluff

Specimens of the mineral laumontite, which is almost unknown in New Zealand, have been found at Bluff by pr. B. H. Mason, lecturer in geology at Canterbury University College. He made the discovery last year in a small quarry. Laumontite, which is of no economic importance, but of considerable scientific interest, is found in parts of Rumania, Austria, Germany, Italy Switzerland, Scotland, and the Upited States. The only record of its existence in New Zealand appeared in “Minerals and Mineral Substances of New Zealand,” which stated that it probably occurred in the Waihi Extended Mine at Waihi. Laumontite is a soft, white mineral belonging to the zeolite family, which are minerals that line or fill the cavities of volcanic and igneous rocks.

Styx Bridge “Each year the Styx bridge takes its toll of lives, and something should be done about it,” said Cr. J. Halligan at a meeting last evening of the Waimairi County Council. Cr. Halligan’s remarks were made when the presentation of the annual estimates to the Main Highways Board was under consideration. He said that the bridge should be widened. The job had been included in the estimates years before, but nothing had been done. There had been fatal accidents at the bridge. “It is all very well to talk about overhead bridges, but something should be done in a case like this,” Cr. Halligan said. “It seems absurd to me that this matter, which is an urgent one, should have been overlooked time after time. It is a definite danger to traffic.” It was decided to write to the Main Highways Board drawing its attention to the matter.

Still Favours Gig Modern modes of travel are scorned by Captain Stuart Potter, a veteran officer of the South African and 1914-18 wars, who makes long journeys about the North Island by means of his horse and gig “just to see the country.” A resident of Hawke’s Bay. Captain Potter recently travelled from Gisborne to the most northern tip of New Zealand. the 1600-mile journey taking him five months. Captain Potter has made several 100-mile journeys to Palmerston North, with his gig drawn by the 11-year-old horse Daisy, and accompanied by his dog called Pup. On his travels Captain Potter usually sleeps under the gig. Road to Leithfield Beach An appeal for a donation toward the cost of tar-pealing the road from the Main North road to Leithfield Beach was received last evening by the council of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, from the Leithfield Domain Board. The letter from the board said that the Kowai County Council had been approached about the sealing of the road, which was about 70 chains long. Members of the council said that if a donation was made it might establish a precedent. The president (Mr W. R. Carey) said that the association’s policy would need to be defined, and his suggestion that decision should be deferred was adopted.