General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26970, 20 February 1953, Page 8

General News

“Menace to Road Safety” Vans, trucks, and buses which swerve to the wrong side, of the road on mail, milk, and other rounds in rural districts are a menace to road safety, in the opinion of the council of the North Island Motor Union, which met yesterday in Wellington. A member suggested «that local authorities should make it compulsory for milk stands and rural mail boxes to be placed at least 10 feet from the road, so that vehicles would be clear of traffic when making their collections or deliveries. The council decided to leave the matter to individual automobile associations. —(P.A.) Trees Damaged by Wind “There is debris everywhere, and a number of big branches and trees have been blown down,” said the Superintendent of Parks and Reserves (Mr M. J. Barnett) when asked what damage had been caused by the high southwesterly wind yesterday. A large branch had blocked the,road in Cambridge terrace. A tree which had been blown down in Waimea terrace had damaged some power lines, and other trees nad'been blown down in Jellicoe Park, New Brighton. Stronger vinds had been experienced. 'The full extent of the damage would be known in the morning, Mr Barnett said. High Prices for Calves One of the highest prices eVer paid in New Zealand for six-months-old steer calves. £lB 10s, was received by Mr George Cottam, Ashley Gorge, at the Oxford stock sale yesterday. Mr Cottam was paid this price for two of his Shorthorn calves. Two heifer calves of the same age and breeding and from the same vendor were also sold at the very high price of £l6 ss. ■Wandering Stock A deputation from the council of the North Island Motor Union is to wait on the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. A. Bodkin) and the Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman) seeking heavier penalties for wandering stock. Mr E. T. Brown (Auckland) said at a meeting of the council yesterday that it was five years since a conference had been held with the Transport Department to seek a solution to the danger created by wandering stock. At that conference, he said, complete unanimity had been reached, but nothing had since been done. Several persons had lost their lives through hitting wandering stock on the highways since that conference, said Mr N. M. Rogers (Manawatu). The council appointed the president (Mr W. H. Brown, of Manawatu). Mr Rogers, and Mr E. Palliser (Wellington) to wait on the Ministers concerned to obtain the necessary amendments to the Impounding Act, 1908. —(P.A.) Deviation Near Domett The deviation between Domett and Cheviot on the Christchurch-Picton highway is nearly finished. . A new bridge has been built* over the Koranga stream about a quarter of a mile south of Domett, and when the approaches to this bridge are completed and metalled the road will be opened to traffic. The deviation, which will join the present main highway about two miles south of Cheviot, h'as been straightened and raised four to five feet, and will shorten the highway by about a mile. The old road was subject to severe flooding from the Jed river and was often impassable during the winter. Permanent Number Plates Sought The issue of a permanent number plate for motor-vehicles was recommended yesterday bv the council of the North Island Motor Union. Mr N. M. Rodgers (Manawatu) .said that his association sought the introduction of a more permanent number plate, as the basic principle involved in a change of number plates in each year had been lost bv the introduction of' the windscreen sticker system.— (P.A.) House Sold for £2170 An eight-roomed house at 320 Madras street was sold by public auction yesterday for £2170. About 35 persons attended the sale. Bidding started at £l6OO. and rose by three offers of £lOO. four of £5O, two of £25, and two of £lO to the final figure Keen competition lasted throughout the sale, and when £l9OO had beefc reached there wei*e still five persons bidding on the property. Study of Music in N.IZ. Leading authorities in music in Britain believed that New Zealand should have its own conservatorium, said Professor Vernon Griffiths, professor of music at Canterbury University College, when he arrived at Wellington yesterday in the Dominion Monarch after spending six months’ refresher leave in Britain. “The authorities think the time has come for New Zealand to stand on its own feet and provide conservatorium training, which so many New Zealanders go overseas to receive.” he said. The best of tne Dominion’s musicians and music students in Britain were taking their place in British music with credit. Professor Griffiths said the New Zealand honours degree in music was equivalent to most in Britain, and covered a wider scope than some.—(P.A.) Otira Tunnel Traffic A total of 28,900 tons of freight was hauled through the Otira tunnel last week. 500 tons more than the previous record movement for one week. On three days during the week more than 5000 tons was handled, and a record for one day was set on Friday with 5126 tons. Every east-bound goods train during the week was made up to the maximum load of 375 tons, hauled by three 50-ton electric locomotives with an aggregate horsepower of 2040. The greatest number of goods trains which can be taken through the tunnel in one day is 14—13 when expresses run. (F.0.0.R.) Juvenile Traffic Offenders Amendments to the Child Welfare Act to enable children guilty of minor breaches of the traffic laws to be dealt with summarily, are advocated by the council of the North Island Motor Union. Mr G. J. Bayley (South Taranaki) said at a meeting of the i council yesterday that the number of! traffic breaches, particularly concerned with cycling, committed by children under 18 was to be deplored. Typical, offences were riding without lights, riding on the wrong side of the road, or riding four, five, and six abreast to or from, school. ’-“There’s only one way to deal with children like that — have two or three prosecutions,” he said. “That will do the trick.” Mr Bayley’s motion embodying his proposals was carried unanimously.— (P.A.)