General News

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 6

General News

Wrong Section

An unexpected point for the defence was raised by Mr A. J. Mazengarb when a youth was charged in the Magistrate’s Court at Upper Hutt with having liquor near a dance hall. Mr Mazengarb said that according to the records his client had been charged under Section 52 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1939. This section amended the New Zealand Centennial Act, 1938. by giving local bodies power to expend money on the maintenance of memorials. When the prosecuting officer said that a typist’s error was responsible, Mr Mazengarb entered a more orthodox defence and secured a dismissal of the charge.—(P.A.) Tunnel Road “The reason for the non-commence-ment of the Christchurch-Lyttelton tunnel road is primarily the acute shortage of experienced tunnellers, and the necessity to retain those available’ on hydro-electric works, and tunnelling projects of a considered top priority such as the Rimutaka Tunnel,’’ said a letter from the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) to the Heathcote County Council, received by the council last evening. It was decided that Mr Semple again be written to, emphasising the paramount importance of the Christchurch-Lyttelton tunnel road, and asking that the alignment of the highway be immediately gazetted and published, having regard to local development and subdivision in the area. The Lights That Would Not Fail Members of the Grey Electric Power Board staff spent some time yesterday searching lor a fault in the street lighting system, when it was found thst street lights in some areas of the town did not go out when the others were switched off. Street lights in other areas were switched on at intervals during the day for testing purposes, but the lights that would not fail kept burning throughout the day. “Taxis Jumping Claims” On the contention that taxis too often “jump claims’’ at intersections and elsewhere, the South Jsland Motor Union will ask drivers’ organisations throughout the South Island to. urge their members to observe strictly road rules and courtesies. ■ • £lOl2 10s in Lottery Prizes • A Reefton resident, Mr W. Bailey, received advice this week that he has won three prizes totalling £lOl2 10s in an overseas consultation. ' Mr. Bailey, who had 30 tickets in the consultation, won three prizes—£looo, £lO, and £2 10s. Chlorination of Water Supplies A strong recommendation for the installation of a chlorinating plant for Akaroa’s water supply was received fnom the Department of Health by the Akaroa Borough Council this week. The council, as on a previous occasion, decided to take no action. “We are not the only local body the Medical Officer of Health is pushing in this matter,” said the Mayor (Mr R. Bruce). “The chance of human contamination of the water at the borough reservoir is very remote, because there are no residences above the intake. There have been no illeffects since the supply was installed 40 years ago, and I do not see why we should go to the expense and inconvenience of a chlorinating plant.” Extra Taxi Licences for Centennial Some time ago it had been mentioned that extra taxi licences would have to be issued for the centennial celebrations in 1950. said the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) at, a sitting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Licensing Authority yesterday. The authority had considered the matter but had decided to maintain the status quo in the mean time. Mr Andrews was replying to Mr D. W. Russell, counsel for an applicant for a new licence, who said there would be thousands of people in Christchurch for the celebrations and the present taxi fleet would be unable to cope with the demand. Water Level Indicator

A water level indicator has been installed at the Haokthorne road pump house by the Heathcote County Council. This was reported at the monthly iheeting of the council last evening. The unit is connected to the automatic telephone exchange and when the number is dialled a succession of “pips” is heard. Each “pip” repre-. sents six inches of water. One “pip” indicates that the reservoir is six inches from the* top; two “pips” 12 inches, and so on. Reflectors on Bicycles

Because sufficient equipment is not available, the South Island Motor Union will postpone representations to have red lights (powered by batteries or generators) made compulsory for all bicycles. In the meantime, the union will press for strict enforcement of regulations about reflectors and white patches on mudguards. Many sujb-standard reflectors were on the market, it was stated.

No Royal Visit to Akaroa “I still do not see why the Vanguard could not visit Akaroa,” said Cr. E. Le Lievre, at a recent meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council, when advice was received from the Department of Internal Affairs that the exigencies of the Royal tour precluded a visit to Akaroa.

Giving Way to Left “I’ve never expressed my personal opinion on the right-hand rule at these conferences. I’ll state it now,” said Mr W. R. Carey, president, at the South Island Motor Union’s annual meeting yesterday. “I consider that if you gave way to traffic approaching oh your left it would overcome all the difficulties involved in the rival versions of the right-hand rule- Think that over. Think of how signals would be seen and the flow of traffic affected.” He made no other comment. After a long debate on the present righthand rule, a committee was appointed to confer with the North Island Motor Union on the matter.

Road Safety In the interests of road safety, the South Island Motor Union recommended yesterday that vehicle testing stations be established in all main centres and that “main road ahead” signs be placed where necessary, on side roads. .Sports Fixtures The representative game between Canterbury and South Canterbury will provide the main attraction in Rugby football to-day, and patrons of Lancaster Park will be given further entertainment in the curtain-raiser between Nelson and Canterbury SubUnions. In basketball special interest will attach to the meeting of a team composed of Mormon elders and a Canterbury team at the Wentworth at 3 p.m. In League football the Otahuhu (Auckland) Club team will meet Sydenham at Athletic Park. Sydenham, winners of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s first grade competition, will play for the Bowden Cup against Karori, Wellington.