General News

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28537, 17 March 1958, Page 10

General News

/Midland Line Open

The railway line to the West Coast was reopened yesterday morning and several goods trains began to shift some of the accumulation of traffic. The 6.40 p.m. rail-car from Christchurch left on time' and it was expected that rail services would be back to normal by this morning. On Saturday, buses used to take passengers between Christchurch and the West Coast. “A Cautious Eye” Many returned servicemen and women visited Burnham Military Camp yesterday afternoon for the first time since they trained there during World War II and they were welcomed by the commander of the Southern Military District (Brigadier J. T? Burrows) when he spoke at the ceremony dedicating the camp’s new entrance gates. He said he had noticed many of them instinctively straighten their . bodies and smarten their steps as they neared the camp precincts. Some had “cast% cautious eye at the provost corporal on the corner.” “Whether, you come back with a clear conscience or an easy ong you are all very welcome,” Brigadier Burrows told them. Unpleasant Week-end Christchurch had a cold day on Saturday, with rain falling for most of the day. The temperature did not rise above 53 degrees. More than half an inch of rain feg during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday. Saturday night air temperatures fell to a minimum of 39.1 degrees, with the grass temperature a near frost—--33.6 degrees. Yesterday began with sunshine and a cool wind which increased steadily m force from a modest 10 miles an hour at 10 a.m. to 27 miles an hour at noon. By 3 p.m. the wind had built up to 35 miles an hour with strong gusts of more than 50 miles an hour. Some damage was done to exposed gardens and an old model car had part of its hood torn to ribbons. Rain began to fall’ late last evening. New Ship The Holmburn, which was specially designed for the Chatham Islands trade, arrived at Lyttelton on Saturday morning on her first visit to the port. Built by the Bodewes Shipbuilding Company, of Martenshoek, Holland, the Holmburn is a single screw motor-ship with a capacity of 1100 tons deadweight. In one hold 10,000 cubic feet of space is insulated for the carriage of refrigerated cargo. The ship has accommodation for 12 passengers. More Companies Company registrations are at a higher level than in any previous year. There are about 32,000 companies registered in New Zealand and annual registrations are increasing each year, according to Mr K. L. Westmoreland, assistant Registrar of Companies, in an address to the Wellington branch of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of overseas companies re-registering in New Zealand. ’These include companies from the United States, France, Italy, Denmark and Commonwealth countries. Fireball Seen At Sea What appeared to be a large fireball was seen from the coastal vessel Picton early on Saturday morning. The Picton was proceeding from Wellington to Lyttelton. Captain D. Newey, the master of the vessel, said that at 12.49 a.m. he saw a brilliant light just ahead of the ship, about 20 degrees above the horizon. The ball exploded with a vivid blue light which lit up the ocean for some miles. When the fireball was seen the Picton was about 18 miles south of Cape C.ampbell and about seven miles offshore. Rain Delays Ships Heavy rain which set in at Lyttelton on Saturday morning stopped all work on the waterfront at Lyttelton. The departure of several ships was postponed until today. Third Attempt The Mount Roskill Borough Council will try for the third time to obtain an undamaged photograph of the Queen Mother to bang in its council chamber. When the first picture, from the Tourist and Publicity Department, .arrived it was found to be damaged. The council askhd for another. But this one was also damaged in the post. The council will write for a third picture, suggesting it be packed between two sheets of cardboard—the council bearing any additional expense.