CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 135, 4 March 1929, Page 13

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN -

Late ou Friday night the Fire Brigade was called to the outbuildings ot the premises occupied by the Granilite Fibrous Plaster Manufacturers, 130 Adelaide Road. The outbuildings contained stores of hemp, mouldings, and battens, which were damaged by fire and water. A motor truck also was damaged.

Richard Copping, aged 20, appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning charged with using obscene language in the Early Settlers’ Hall. He was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment.

A fractured pelvis, abrasions to the chin and to the left knee, a punctured wound on the left foot, an incised wound on the groin, and slight concussion were suffered by R. Brown, who resides at 9 Priory Street, who met with an accident on Oriental Parade, near the Te Aro Baths, shortly before 8 o’clock on Saturday night. It is understood that his motor-cycle collided with a stationary motor-car. The injured man was attended to by the Free Ambulance and taken to the Hospital.

‘As the result of the motor-car in which they were travelling skidding when near the Karori tunnel, L. Mitchell, a clerk, and Mrs E Reid, both of whom reside at 66A Boulcott Street, were injured. The accident happened at 12.20 a.m. on Sunday. Both the occupants of the car were taken to their home, and later by the Free Ambulance to the Hospital. Mitchell was suffering from a wound on the right hand and on the forehead, and from abrasions io the thighs, and Mrs. Reid from a severe incised wound on the forehead.

A large area of gorse caught fire near the railway line at the back of Wadestown on Saturday afternoon. The scene of the fire was below Sefton and Oban Streets, and was about two or three hundred yards north of where the gorse fire broke out last Thursday. The Fire Brigade was soon on the scene, but over two hours elapsed before it was able to put the fire out. At one period nearby houses appeared to be in danger, but thanks to the good work of the brigade, no harm was done to them. The dense clouds of smoke which hampered the work of the firefighters were visible from all parts of the city.

Excelsior Lodge of Druids, No. 11, held its quarterly meeting on February 25, in the Antipodean Hall, Cuba Street. Arch Druid Bro. Oldham was in the chair, and there was a large attendance. Business of importance was transacted. The lodge stood m silence while Bro. E. J, King piayed the “Dead March” in “Saul” for the late Bro. Captain Walter Manning. A vote of condolence yas passed to his widow and family. By the courtesy of Excelsior Lodge, Bro. J. Aiken, president of the No.- 2 District, presented to Past Arch Bro. W. H. Burborough, of the Albion Lodge, Napier, his framed diploma and collar for past services rendered. Bro. Burborough, who is a member of the Excelsior Lodge, suitably replied.

“True sportsmen are like Peter Pan: they refuse *to grow up and they never grow old,” declared an elderly gentleman, as he reclined in a “Rest and be Thankfu’” seat at Kelburn Park on Saturday afternoon, and beamed down upon the field dotted with flannel-clad figures. “Bless my soul,” he suddenly ejaculated, “if that’s not Jack O’Shea,” and he pointed to a slow leg-break bowler, who was tossing up wily “wrong ,’uns” to the “Evening Post” batsmen. “Jack must possess the elixir of life,” proceeded the veteran. “I remember him as a Rugby footballer in Dunedin thirty years ago. He was a clever three-quarter back, and a great drop-kick. Who would think to watch him gambolling about on the field out there that he is our grave and learned city solicitor? Shiver my timbers, if that’s not Frank Glasgow, the 1905 All Black,” pointing to another player on the fielding si.de in the same match. He was completely mystified when Glasgow later in the day played a capital unbeaten innings of over 90. “It beats me,” he muttered, “these fellows appear to have the secret of perpetual youth. It takes me all my time to climb the hill to Kelburn Park in order to watch others chasing the ball.”

Prominent in proceedings at the ceremony of “Trooping the Colours” on the Basin Reserve yesterday afternoon was Digger, a large black dog, belonging to Lieutenant-Colonel Evatt, Commanding Officer of the Wellington Regiment. Throughout the proceedings Digger lay at his master’s feet, and when the. time came for the march past, he proudly led the troops round the field.

The cadets at Rongotai College are to go into camp for a week after Easter. They will be in charge of the principal, Mr. F. M. Renner. They do their drill at the college, a certain time being set aside for this purpose.

Two men who were working on a road at Newtown, while excavating for electric light wires, drove a chisel through the 500-volt tramway power cable. A good deal of smoke and heat followed until it was discovered what had happened. At first it was thought a gas main had been pierced. The cable and some equipment were extensively damaged. .£•.7-.

A severe and sudden jolt awaits the motorist driving along the landward side of the Hutt Road as he passes under' the railway bridge at Thorndon. A trench was cut through the bitumen at this point some time ago, but it has never been filled in properly. Owing to its situation right under the bridge, where the road dips and rises again, motorists come upon it without warning, and fast-moving cars are liable to sustain damage:

There was a jarring note at the “Trooping of the Colours” on the Baffin Reserve yesterday. The , NationalAnthem was being played and everyone stood still, paying homage to their ; Sovereign with the exception of two women. They were anything but still, for, seeing a chance of getting a better position in the crowd,- they chose that time to walk down a wide aisle towards the gate through which ' officials entered. , -

An impediment to the free movement-, of traffic which had existed for six weeks or more at the western end of the Karori tunnel was removed at the week-end,-when the final touches were put to the junction of the Northland tramlines with the main system. The barriers which had become such a familiar sight to users of the road have - now vanished. ’

Certain youths who might have been expected to know better selected the : bitumen track of the Hutt Road, hear ’ the Thorndon railway bridge, for a game with cricket bat and ball yesterday morning. The danger of a flying ball to users of the road for its legitimate purpose apparently gave them no concern.

The Government steamer Janie Seddon was busy off Lyall Bay yesterday assisting the cable steamer Iris, by picking up and examining, the Lyall Bay end of the . cable crossing Cook Strait to White’s Bay. The Iris was working at the other end of the cable. Those on the Janie Seddon found that the outer armour of the cable had been badly worn by friction on the sea bottom. She will go out again to-day to further examine the cable.

Althought the wind was somewhat blustery yesterday afternoon, there was a big attendance of the public at the Zoological Gardens, especially . round the sealion pond and the hear pits. The new sealions, which were the principal attraction, seem to be settling down well in their new quarters. So far as the bears are concerned, the public appear satisfied that they are how well housed, their conditions being far superior to those in old dens.

A few days ago a couple of young, men were out in the harbour in a boat and went to Ward Island, where- theylanded. Meanwhile a squall sprang up, and the risk of launching the poat in such a heavy sea was too big to face. They prepared to spend the night on the island, but at dusk, seeing a launch going by, and having the good fortune to have a “Dominion” them, they lighted up a flare which attracted the attention of those on the launch, which pulled in and took them off, saving them an unpleasant night of exposure. The island offers little shelter and has nothing from which to make a fire.