CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 11

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AW. ABOUT TOWN

(This summer the Wellington police, fc the face of all the vagaries of the Gierk of the Weather, have clung resolutely to their white sun-helmets for better or for worse, in the hope that something approaching blue skies would shortly turn up. Yesterday, however, they accepted defeat, and all over the city the blue shakos of winter made their appearance again.

The question of taking off the sharp corners on the Pahautanui-Plimmerton road is under consideration by the Hutt County Council.

The question of tarring the roads and footpaths at Heretaunga is under consideration. and as soon as the plant is available the work will be put in hand.

The Hutt County Council has decided to undertake the erection of a fence along the dangerous portions of the road on the hill approaching Plimmerton. An offer by the Wellington Automobile Association to contribute to the cost has been accepted.

A very complete tour of the Milk Department’s operations was made a day or two ago by Mr. W. R. Moon, manager of the metropolitan milk factory, Brisbane. On Wednesday he was shown round the Rahui factory by the general manager, Mr. R. E. Herron.

The retail price of all grades of butter has risen Id. a pound this week, in sympathy with London parity. On the other hand the price of eggs has gone down from Is. Sd. to Is. 7d. per dozen.

The wet and stormy weather experienced of late has had a bad effect on the roads throughout the Hutt County, and has seriously delayed the carryingout of several works that were contemplated.

At yesterday's meeting of the Makara County Council it was decided to notify the Minister of Public Works that the statutory holiday for the Makara County during 1929 should be Thursday.

The new ambulance, fully equipped, which it was recently decided by the Wellington Free Ambulance to acquire, is now nearing completion and is expected to be on the roads by the end of the month. The contract for the body construction was let to a local firm.

The masses of roses which beautified the upper part of Kelburn tramway recently are now dying, and their end is being hastened by the wind. While in full bloom'they were objects of admiration by visitors in particular.

During the past year there have been quite a number of subdivisions at Eastbourne, apart from those made by the Eastbourne Borough Council. The increase iu the capital value of buildings in the borough for the last twelve months is said to be more than satisfactory.

The other day a city auctioneer was endeavouring to impress his audience with the merits of the particular brand of scented soap he was selling at the moment. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, winding-up his oration, “you cannot do better than use this preparation. Myself, I never use anything else.” One of two small boys in his audience who had listened open-mouthed to the vocal efforts of the man with the hammer, nqdged his companion. “ ’Erb,” the childish treblecame clearly and succinctly to the. 'ears of those present, “I wouldn’t say that was much uva recommendation.”

An interesting swimming contest will be held at Wellington on February- 7, when the annual Annette Kellerman race of three miles, will be swum. Given good weather and sea conditions, the race will follow the same course as that used when the event was last held in Wellington some years ago, namely, from . Jerningham Point to Oyde Quay wharf and back.

Between Jackson Street and the Parade at Petone, only one road is paved in bituminised concrete —Cuba Street. Naturally motor traffic follows good roads, and most people bound to and from the eastern bays use that road. This is mentioned as there is one serious menace to safety—a telegraph or electric light pole which stands out in the road about four feet from the corner. The attention of the authorities concerned is drawn to this obstruction, which should never have been allowed to exist.

Councillor Sloane gave it as his opinion at yesterday’s meeting of the Makara County Council that it was unfair to issue licenses to ice-cream vendors to the detriment of ratepayers who had gone to the trouble of buying land and erecting permanent shops. The question of a permit to sell ice-cream from a van at Titahi Bay beaeh was before the council. On the motion of the chairman (Mr. E. Windley) it was decided that no fresh licenses would be issued.

Recently a bevy of motor-cyclists, mostly with girls behind them, were observed engaging in a new and apparently exciting pastime. Along that section of the road which lies between Thorndon Station and the tram terminus are a number of motor entrances, and where these have been placed the bitumen near the gutter is naturally slightly raised, so that a series of undulations have been formed. The riders under notice, who were travelling citywards, kept close in to the kerb and from the gurgles of laughter which resulted the experience must have been somewhat similar to a trip on a switchback railway.

Whjle expressing satisfaction at the progress being made with the paving of the main West Coast road, Mr. E. F. Winflley (chairman) said at yesterday morning’s meeting of the Makara Coupty Council that the turns and corners in the gorge and on the road above Johnsonville were in need of widening beyond the 18ft. limit. The council would approach the district engineer with a View to getting the extra few yards laid down.

Mere man wrathfully pursuing his headgear was a common sight in the city streets yesterday. One pedestrian in Manners Street had his hat blown into the conductor’s compartment of a passing tramcar, and had to run half the distance of the street to recover it, while another in Lambton Quay, had to retrieve his from the back seat of a motor-car. Outside “The Dominion” building, in Mercer Street, shortly after noon much amusement was caused by the frantic efforts made by a partially-bald man of uncertain age to recapture a brand new bowler hat, which seemed determined not to be taken alive. Each time the distressed owner came within an ace of victory, the headpiece made a tantalising flop iorward, bouncing and bounding ahead of him as though it had been specially sprung for the occasion. The chase ended suddenly. Anticipating another leap forward when the elusive bun was in the .vicinity of the side entrance to the Town Hall, the panting pursuer did not stop, as previously, to clutch at it, but kept resolutely on. The hat, however, did stop. It can never be worn again.

“Summer is icumen in” wrote a poet of long ago, but many Wellington people are becoming pessimistic regarding its advent this year. In the passing ot nearly half of January without any real summer weather, the only consolation to Wellington is that conditions are worse in many other places. The capital city has been spared such visitations as that which afflicted the Oamaru district a few days ago, or the 7-88 inches of ram in 24 hours at Arthur’s Pass, but the unsettled weather of the last few weeks, especially the humid conditions attendant on the vigorous northerly blow which has persisted since Thursday, have become ttxing to most peopjte.

Tlie latest official figures reveal considerable increases in the number of divorced persons remarrying. Out of every 1000 persons married in 1914 11 ;

had been divorced, the corresponding figures for 1927 being 30. The increase, it is suggested, is a reflex of the large number of divorce cases since the war.

During last month 13 building permits were issued and 11 motor-drivers’ licenses granted in the Hutt County.

The Wellington Free Ambulance at- i tended exactly 500 cases in the month of December, travelling 4927 car miles. Of these 96 were accidents, 386 medical ■ cases, while 15 slight and three serious ‘ cases were attended at the ambulance headquarters. >

Yesterday morning was an exceptionally busy one, all the cars and men being out fully engaged, and up to midday had dealt with 13 cases, these including two from Petone, one from and two to Porirua.

With regard to the fencing that is being done in the Taita Gorge, the Public Works Department has given instructions I that the widening is to be continued up to the railway bridge. Fencing where J necessary will then be carried out.

At York Bay much delay has occurred ' in the construction of channelling on account of wet weather. Several times the new work has been almost completely washed out, and much delay and extra expense has been incurred.

The ratepayers of Pukerua Bay are : desirous of having a cemetery established there. The question as to whether such provision was advisable was discussed at ' yesterday’s meeting of the Hutt County . Council, when it was decided to inves- ■ tigate the matter further and inquire into the council’s responsibility in the event ■« of a cemetery being established.

Shortly before 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon a false fire alarm was given from the neighbourhood of the D.I.C. in Lambton Quay, and although the brigade had a fruitless errand there was very favourable comment upon the speed with which four machines arrived on the scene.

Some useful contributions to the Wellington Free Ambulance Fund are coming in from the boxes which have gradually been introduced into the hotels. ; There is one in the pavilion at Day’s Bay and one at Porirua, while live which have been placed at Paraparaumu ‘ bring in together about £1 a month, a good contribution for such a distant district.

Two motor-cars collided on the Hutt Road. Petone, about 11 a.m. yesterday. Dr. Tweed, of Heretaunga, who was driving into Wellington, .struck a car driven by Eric Edwards, which was turning out of Udy Street in a northerly direction on to the Hutt Road. Slight facial abrasions were suffered by Edwards, but he was able to proceed on his way with the car, which had its wings and running board damaged. Dr. Tweed was unhurt and his car undamaged.

Anything over 200 'miles is a good ! day’s run for the average motorist. Mr, ■ H. D. Bennett, of Wellington, who has . been on a motor tour throughout the North Island during the Christmas and New Year holidays, arrived home on ' Thursday night. He came through from Tauranga in . a day and a half, Thurs- ‘ day’s run being from the Spa at Taupo < to Wellington, a distance of 260 miles. He came via the old and much discussed Waiouru coach road.

The recent reference in this column to the strawberries which are thriving in a perpendicular clay bank at Brooklyn has prompted a correspondent, “Naturalist,” to forward the following:—“Situated on the concrete peak of a building ' off Featherston Street, is a sycamore tree which, although growing out of a hole in the concrete, is flourishing well; The tree is of thick foliage and about one and a half feet high, and it apparently derives its nourishment from the sefii- t ments of dust and soot which become embedded in the small hole, plus a few showers of rain.”

When one motor-car hits another there always follows an argument, "You had ’ no right,” shouted one angry driver af- • ter having collided with a car in Willis Street the other day. “to back around : like this without tooting your horn.” J “No, you had no right to try to pass me at that speed when you could see that I was backing,” exclaimed the other. “Look at my mudguard. “Yes, and look at my radiator,” said motorist No. 2. “Well,” ventured the man who seemed , to be getting the worst of the deal. “I don’t think either of us was to blame, j “That’s quite right,” replied motorist , No. 2. “Why should we figght about the wretched thing. Let the insurance companies pay, That’s the easiest way out. It certainly seemed to be, too. because • both smiled at each other and, getting into their respective cars, drove off.

The strong north-west wind which has . persisted at Wellington during the last two or three days, is associated with the intense westerly depression which has been crossing the Tasman Sea, but those : who have tired of the sunless days and humid atmosphere, will scarcely be consoled to know that a change to the southward is due. Compared with an av erage . of 7.5 miles an hour for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on Wednesday, the mean ; velocity of the wind during the next two . 24-hour periods was 21.3 miles and 20.6 miles per hour respectively, up to 9 a.m. yesterday. The wind reached maximum force during early hours of yesterday morning, many gusts of over 50 miles per hour being recorded between 3.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m. The highest was a force of 54 miles an hour, registered at 5 ; a.m. The temperature has been remark- i ably even during the prevalence of the ,• “northerly,” 63 degrees being recorded at J 9 a.m. yesterday, when Napier registered • 84 degrees.

The Easter and Christmas seasons, according to the Year Book, are regarded as the most suitable times of the year for entering the matrimonial state, and taking the quarterly figures for an average year Easter would appear to slight- 1 ly predominate. In four of the last ' five years April has lead by a small j margin over December, while in the re- ■ maining year the figures were approximately the same. Wednesday, the figures show, is the most popular day for mar- ■ riages, this day claining three-sevenths of the total, Sunday marriages are rare, and Friday is evidently regarded as an unlucky day, only’ 4j per cent, of the total marriages in 1927 being celebrated on that day. The thirteenth of ' the month also appears to be treated with respect, tthe average number of marriages on that day during 1927 being only 17, as against a general average of 29 and a grand total of 4354 to the credit of the popular Wednesday.

A well-known Wellington detective who is a master when it comes to building up big cases for the Crown was not so successful, it appears, in the building of a bach. The detective, who is at present holidaying at one of the bays in Wellington, built himself a few weeks ago a bach, but in doing so he must have forgotten that in height he is well over 6ft., because when the bach was finished, • in order to sleep peacefully he had to cut a hole through the bedroom into the dining-room so that his feet and part of his legs could be accommodated. Un- . fortunately some of his friends who spent the first night in the place had to also have a hole cut through the wall m order that their feet, could go somewhere to sleep. And so they dozed—-the detective with his feet going through into the dining-room and the guests in the ' dining-room with their feet going through ’into the bedroom. Next time when it : comes to building a bach the detective concerned intends to engage the services of.-a contractor.. - ;