NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2114, 3 April 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

RAILWAY MATTERS MR. MILKY TT PALMBfrSTGN. (Hjr Talcsfaph.—Press Association.) Paimcrston Nortlt, April 2. A deputation representing the Borough Council aiiri Chamber of Coiiimeree waited on Mr. JB. li. Biley, oral Manager of Railways, this nftefrliooji, 311 regard to focal fapravoincnts at tie railway station. The question of iiisufeiost supply of trucks was intto>ducod. Mr. 11 Hoy stated that lie recognised tlio difficulty, and the Department was duwg all that it could to ineot tho demand. They also rccogiiisod. tot more engine power was required, awl he was preparing a report for tho Minister. Tito question of anomalies _ia freights was also .discussed- Mr-, H»ky stated that a revision of tlio tariff had recently been inado in Australia, and tlio Old Coijntty which tended towards increases. 11 e assured tlio deputation that any revistoSt in tho ©oininioii Would be in t'ho nature of levelling Up, and 1 not levelling down, The J)epaftmeiit ■ had to meet tiio increased expenditure in material for the construction or trucks, etc. The Department me experimenting with a system of warnings for level crossings, and if satisfactory those. would bo "installed at the .most datigerous crossings in tlio Dominion. Tho system was an expciis'ivo one, and ■ so ho could not promise which crossings v.ould bo attended to first.

MARINE INQUIRY. Chrislchurcli, April 2. A preliminary inquiry inU; tho circumstances surrounding tlio mishap to tlio Cygnet on Sunday last was held at the Customhouse, Lyttelta, this, morning ! before Mr. "W. J. Wratt, Collector of Customs. Tho report will be. forwarded to tho Marine Department, Wellington, in, du.o course. NEW PLYMOUTH'S SEA SEftVTGE. New Plymouth, April 2. To-day a> largo and influential deputation representing tho Chamber of CeziiinorcOi ilarfcour Board, and the Employers' Association waited on. tlio local manager of. the Union Steam Ship CSampany regarding tho inadequate shipping service accorded to New Ply*mouth from southern ports. Tlio deputation asked for a regular weekly service from tile south by two boats of tho Coriiina typo. They pointed out tliat tlio Flora, and Tanmii woro inadequate and irregular, and asked that the general toanajrer ot tho coinpauy should interview a reputation at Now Ply* moutli, Tho general manager telegraphed to Hie local manager staling that ho caii meet a deputation tin Tuesday next .at Wellington. "BLOW-OUT" OF OIL. i Key/ Plymouth, April 3. This afternoon white drilling was proceeding at tho' rotary bore ot tho Taranaki New Zealand Oil Welte, Ltd.. a big blow-oat of gas and oil took place, Tlio inside, of tho derrick and tho engine ,house wero covered with oil, and tho gas_ was so_ strong that tho msai; found difficulty in remaining insiite the derrick. Tlio manager estimates that about fifty barrels wero expelled, lint, only twenty-firo wero saVei A further blow-out is oxpepfci! any time, Tlio. blofi-out Is regarded as an excellent indication., STREET* COLLECTION. A Auefcfand, April 2, A street collection to-day by members of fl;e Aladdin Pantomime Company, in aid of tlio fund ! to pnrchaso ,i motor ambulation for tlio Hospital, nnttod £23.8, winch brings tiso total of tlio fund to £721, Thi.?, with tlio Government subsidy, will ho sufficient to buy two useful ambulaucoa.