General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25180, 10 May 1947, Page 8

General News

Dakota Service Extended ~ The Dakota service between Christchurch and Wellington, operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, which was to have ended to-day, will be continued until‘ the end of this month on an amended time-table. A Dakota will now leave Harewood.each day at 8.15 a.m., arrive at Paraparaumu at 9.45 a.m. and leave half an hour later for Whenuapai, landing there at noon. On the. return flight the Dakota will leave at 12.30 p.m. and reach Paraparaumu at 2.15 p.m. It will leave Paraparaumu at 2.45 p.m., arriving at Harewood at 4.15 p.m. On the direct service between Auckland and Christchurch the Dakota will leave Whenuapai at 8.15 a.m. and arrive at 'Harewood at 11.45 a.m. It will leave Harewood again at 1.30 p.m., landing at Whenuapai at 5 p.m. Testing Ground for Aircraft The future of New Zealand as a testing ground for British military aircraft wa% discussed by Mr P. C. Birch, the Australian and New Zealand representative of Rolls Royce, Ltd., who arrived at Auckland from Sydney yesterday by the Tasman Empire Airways flying-boat. He considered that distinct possibilities existed in this country for trying out aeroplanes on a larger scale than at present, and it was with a view to promoting better methods for keeping the Dominion better informed on the trends of aircraft production in the United Kingdom that he had made the trip.—(P.A.) Industrial Land The Associated Chambers of Commerce have decided to approach the Government to obtain a revision of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act to exclude from its operation all land purchased solely for industrial purposes and situated in areas reserved in any town planning scheme for industrial purposes. At a recent meeting the executive also agreed to ask the Government to exempt from the provisions of the act all building sections priced at less than £2OO. Blasting at Power Works Stories said to be in circulation that substantial damage was caused to completed sections of the Kaitawa hydro-electric works by recent blasting operations on the lake margin were flatly contradicted by Mr W. Harpett, a Gisborne union official, who inspected the works this week. “The damage is slight and superficial,” he said, referring to the effect on the concrete-lined tunnel. Only some of the concrete lining cracked off, and the repairs will take only a few days, according to the leader of the tunnelling gang and the engineer. “There is no truth whatever in the statement that the delivery of power from Kaitawa will be held up as a result of the damage. The damage to the tunnel lining was not the result of the main blast but thd local effect of one or two shots placed a little too close to the tunnel line.”—(P.A.)

Plates and Jungle Rations More than 80,000 plain white plates, 24,170 saucers, 16621 b of candles, and jungle rations prepared for the use of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific are among surplus war material for which the War Assets Realisation Board is now calling tenders. There are 30921 b of the jungle ration—a meat and vegetable mixture —in 43 cases held at the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Te Awamutu. The dinner plates, tea plates, and coupes, which are all new, are held at Trentham Ngaruawahia, and Burnham, ana there are 97,236 of them while the saucers are held at Trentham. Cutlery Pillaged An instance of pillaging which amounted to a clean sweep of articles consigned to a Dunedin firm of importers occurred recently. A case containing 80 dozen stainless steel table knives was brought to the Dominion by the Rangitata and after a long delay at Wellington was transhipped by the Wainui to Dunedin. On the Wainui’s arrival all that could be found of the consignment was the empty wrappers, even the case having disappeared. In a subsequent search four dozen knives were found hidden in various parts of the ship but no trace was found of the remainder of the consignment.—(P.A.) No Egg Ration Next Week Because of the need to maintain the quota of eggs for Wellington, only eggs for priority purposes will be available in Christchurch next week. This was announced yesterday by the Internal Marketing Division. Those entitled to priority supplies are nursing and expectant mothers, invalids, and children under five years of age. The egg ration to retailers this week was half an egg for each butter registration. Export Federation Proposals for the establishment of a New Zealand Export Federation were considered at a recent meeting of the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. As a preliminary step the executive decided to convene a meeting of interested parties, including the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, the Federated Farmers of New Zealand, and the New Zealand Grain, Seed, and Produce Merchants’ Federation. Forestry Memorial Dedicated to the men of the New Zealand Forest Service who gave their lives during World War 11, a memorial, grove of Californian Redwoods close to Whakarewarewa Native School and about a mile and a half from Rotorua township is to become a public reserve which will be modelled on the design of the forest parks in the United States. “In a centrar glade amid redwoods which stand well over 100 feet high, there will stand a simple dedication tablet of totara on which will be carved a roll of honour,” said the Commissioner of State Forests, Mr C. F. Skinner. “The aim of the Forest Service is to ’ create a simple and dignified memorial to the fallen, in surroundings which many of them knew so well.” £550 Raised for Heritage A cheque for £550, the gross amount raised by the street collection held in conjunction with the students’ annual procession in Christchurch on Tuesday, was handed to Mr H. B. Duckworth, president of the Canterbury branch of Heritage, by Mr D. F. Symon, president of the Canterbury University College Students’ Association, before the final presentation of “Heavenly Bodies,” the students’ revue, at the St, James’ Theatre on Thursday evening. Survey of Christchurch

A survey of living and business conditions in Christchurch has been prepared by a special committee of the Canterbury Junior Chamber of Commerce. The survey, which is designed to provide the information sought by prospective immigrants and overseas industrialists, covers a • wide field. It was prepared as a result of numerous inquiries received after the publication of the brochure on Christchurch prepared by the Junior Chamber last year and widely distributed overseas. Among the subjects covered are climate, population, access, shipping, transport, business services, agriculture, banking, insurance, water supply, local government, schools, electric power, drainage, and shopping facilities.

Post Office Housing Plan An example of how the Post and Telegraph Department is assisting the housing situation is afforded by its decision to proceed with a housing scheme at St. Kilda. Dunedin This is part of the department’s Dominionwide scheme of transit housing for its homeless officers and an official stated yesterday that preparations were in train to convert five buildings at Central Battery Camp-into housing units, each containing two residential flats. It is hoped to house 10 families and each flat will be self-contained. One unit is already occupied and work will soon be undertaken to make the additional premises ready. The transit housing scheme for officers of the Post ana Telegraph Department originated at Hamilton and the department has extended it throughout the Dominion. The value of such a scheme is readily appreciated in the department which, of necessity. must arrange transfers. In addition to easing the staffing position it has the effect of directly assisting i the housing situation.—(PJD