CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 184, 2 May 1929, Page 13

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

W. B. Greenaway, a waterside worker, living at No. 42 King Street, Newtown, had his right ankle fractured yesterday afternoon, through being hit by an iron girder while working on the steamer Rotorua. He was removed to the hospital by the Free Ambulance.

The Wellington Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association has attained a membership of over 1000. As showing the popularity of the association, it is mentioned that the membership in 1891 was 75; in 1902, 315; iu 1911, 358; in 1919, 565; in 1923, 859; and in 1928, 1096. It is little wonder that the association has decided to erect a larger club-house.

Through being struck on the head by a falling step ladder yesterday afternoon, E. McAllan, a printer’s apprentice, employed by the “Free Lance," received severe concussion. McAllan, who resides at No. 138 Hansou Street, was removed by the Free Ambulance to the hospital, where his condition last night was reported to be serious.

It is not often that Wellington citizens may witness a street being doubled in width, yet such is the case with Lower Taranaki Street. The concreting of the new half is now being done in half sections, with heavy wire reinforcement laid in an inch and a haff from the ground. A start has also been made with the concrete slab paving of the footpath down the widend side of the street.

In making an appeal for efficiency auditing in State and public body enterprises, Professor B. E. Murphy, in a lecture at Victoria College last night, put forward the proposed railway line from Napier to Gisborne. The Government, he said, would construct the line out of the public purse. Then some one would form good roads to take the business away from the railway. The next move would be that a harbour board would borrow a million pounds or so to take the business away from both road and railway. Coming nearer home, Professor Murphy instanced the case of the Eastbourne Borough Council, which had purchased a fleet of ferry boats, and had then acquired motor-buses to take the business away from their steamers.

“Is there any truth in the rumour that the council is going to constitute Miramar a special rating area pay for the drainage loan?” asked one of those present at Tuesday night’s meeting at the Concert Chamber. “None what- ! ever!” replied the Mayor.

“It would appear that the business community has been unable to absorb the great addition to office premises together with those already existing, showing that the supply exceeds the demand,” remarked the chairman (Mr. W. H. P. Barber) at the annual meeting yesterday of the Wellington Deposit, Mortgage, and Building Association, Ltd.

Arthur Henderson, for whom Mr. J. Scott appeared, pleaded not guilty, before Mr. E.. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, to being found intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Onepu Road early last Sunday morning. Evidence for the prosecution went to show that the car accused was driving collided with a baker’s van about 2 a.m. It was stated that accused had no lights on his car, and that he had said he had driven in from Porirua without lights. He walked unsteadily, his breath smelt of liquor, and he was excited. Accused stated that the collision had occurred as the result of his car skidding through one of his tires blowing out. He had consumed three medium beers on the Saturday evening, and was perfectly sober when the accident occurred. The battery of his ear had run down, but he hail his dim lights burning. The motorvan, however, had no lights burning at all. The case was dismissed.

A fire occurred in the premises of the Commercial Bank of Australia, Eastbourne, early yesterday morning, as a result of which the interior of tiie bank’s office was destroyed. The premises are in Rimu Street, and the building is shared by a Cliinese greengrocer, Yep Boy Young, who discovered the fire about 2.15 a.m. The fire brigade was quickly on the scene, and the outbreak was suppressed before it had spread far. The building Is insured in the State Office for £6OO. The bank’s office is a small branch, and is open only on Tuesdays and Fridays.