CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 218, 11 June 1929, Page 13

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

Sixty-eight new members were elected by the Wellington Automobile Club last night.

Permission for the Free Ambulance to take up a collection in the Borough of Upper Hutt, on their street day, Friday, June 28, was granted at last night’s meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council.

At a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club last night, a letter was received from the Hutt County Council stating that the Paremata Boatiug Club had accepted the responsibility for regulating the traffic when sports meetings were being held.

“A lot of people don’t go out to Plimmerton because of that cursed road round the bay,” remarked Mr. I. V. Wilson at a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club last night.

“Very welcome news indeed,” commented a member at a meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club last night when a letter was received from the Main Highways Board to the effect that it had been decided to make a turning-place for cars on Paekakariki Summit.

Injuries to his left leg were suffered by L. A. Kenny, a mechanic, who resides at Newlands, when a motor-car hit his motor-cycle early yesterday morning. The accident happened at the corner of Featherston and Bunny Streets. Kenny was attended to by the Free Ambulance and taken to his home.

While working on the dismantling of the main electric sub-station yesterday, J. Cavanagh, an engineer, residing at 77 Hopper Street, had his right hand caught between two pipes, with the result that the nail of-his thumb was torn off. He was attended to by the Free Ambulance and taken to a doctor.

The recent heavy rains caused one or two subsidences on the Horokiwi Valley Road, and in one place there was only room for one car to go by. The Public Works Department put men on to remove the spoil. Other slips of a minor character were noticed on Sunday, but as these may be the forerunners of larger slips motorists should drive through the gorge with caution.

The alarming number of unlighted bicycles being ridden after dark in the borough was the subject of discussion at last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council. Councillor Campbell predicted a serious accident as a result of the practice. It was stated that a number of prosecutions were pending against cyclists who had been riding without lights after dark.

The question of parking at Day’s Bay was discussed briefly at a meeting last night of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club. The chairman (Mr. A. L. Warburton) said he had interviewed the chairman of the Hutt County Council (Mr. D. R. Hoggard), who had told him that the residents of the Bay did not want the motorists. “Personally,” said Mr. Warburton, “I think we should go for a one-way traffic.” It was decided to visit the locality on Saturday week.

“Absolutely dangerous” was the description of the railways’ compulsory Stop signal at Wallaceville, given., by Councillor D. W. Greig at last night’s meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council. This signal, he stated, was 4ft 6in. in height, and it was possible to drive a motor-car on each side of it He moved that the Railways Department be requested to shift it It was decided to ask the Department to move the signal post back to the kerb line opposite the gatepost.

In the report of the By-Laws Committee presented at last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, it was stated tha several old motor drivers’ licenses had been presented for renewal, the word “old” meaning licenses which were in force two, three, or four years ago. On the committee’s recommendation, it was decided that no old- “foreign” licenses—that was, licenses not issued by the Lower Hutt Council —were to be renewed unless they were for the year immedi 1 ately last past, or unless satisfactory, information was in possession of the borough authorities.

A letter from Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., received by the Wellington School Committees’ Association last night, Stated that he had arranged for a deputation from the association to meet the Minister of Education on June 17, in reference to various education matters, including the frequent changes iu staffs. It was decided that the date did not give sufficient time to arrange the deputation and to suggest June 20. The chairman, Mr. L. Hennessey, said the changes proposed in the salaries’ scheme would go a long way towards reducing the number of changes in teaching staffs. The Department was somewhat long-winded, but the proposals in the main were based on the scheme he submitted a year ago.

“It. has been pointed out that the Maori-owned . property lying between Waiwetu Road and the eastern hills north of White’s. Line is, generally speaking, in an' insanitary condition,” states the latest report of the Health Committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, “and the suggestion has been made as to the advisability of amalgamating the various titles covering the land concerned with a view to having the same subdivided.” It was decided, at last night’s meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, to act on the committee’s recommendation that the borough solicitor be authorised to take the matter up with the Native Land Court with a view to bringing about a Result as outlined above.

The people of New Zealand have little reason to go out of the country for capital; there seems -to be plenty of money for investment in the Dominion. A brokers’ agent called at the residence of a wealthy Wellington gentleman yesterday, and put an attractive proposition before him. “I am afraid,’’ said the head of the household, “that I have no immediate funds for investment.” The agent was taking his departure when he was approached by the housekeeper of the establishment. “Excuse me, sir,” the woman said apologetically, “but I could not help overhearing your talk with the nlaster. Could I get some shares in your company?” “Certainly, madame,” at once replied the seller of shares, who then gave the housekeeper the. address of his firm. The agent reported the happening to his principal, who imagined that an application would be received for a parcel of 25 or 50 shares. Imagine their surprise when the housekeeper called at the office later in the day, and deposited a cheque for £-00 on the counter,

Scalp wounds and concussion were suffered by J. Duncan, a labourer, who resides at Waikanae, and who fell oft a motor-lorry at Akatarawa yesterday afternoon. He was taken to a doctor at Upper Hutt and later removed to the hospital by the Free Ambulance.

Between seven and eight o’clock last night motorists encountered heavy banks of fog on the Hutt Road between Ngahauranga and Petone. So dense was the fog in one place that verycareful driving was necessary, and speed had to be reduced considerably in order to proceed with safety.

As the result of being caught against a swinging saw at the Scoullar Company’s factory, Abel Smith Street, yesterday afternoon, J. Griffin, a wood machinist, who resides at 26 Stoke Street, received a severe lacerated wound on the right hand. He was taken by the Free Ambulance to the hospital.

Trouble on the Stout Street power supply lines soon after 8 o’clock last night caused power to be temporarily cut off to consumers in the area affected. A relief gang was sent out at about 8.30 p.m. The Artcraft Theatre supply was cut off, and in consequence it could not proceed with its programme for the evening.

Reference to unemployment was made by the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Sir Alexander Roberts) at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. He stated that he was glad to report that the unemployment problem in the borough was not quite so ba*l this year as it was at the corresponding period last year. He also stated that practically every married man who had applied for work was in employment.

A letter received by the Wellington School Committees’ Association last night from the president of the South Island Federation of School Committees expressed agreement with the Wellington body in the contention that necessary school books for primary schools should be prepared and printed by the Government Printing Office, and that it was not right that a private firm should have a monopoly in the matter.

“I have lost my car. I left it somewhere in town, but as there was no name on the street I can’t remember where it was.” This is what an Otaki motorist told Mr. H. J. Stott, secretary of the Wellington Automobile Club, according to a statement made by the latter at a meeting of the executive last night. A letter was received from the town clerk (Mr. E. P. Norman) stating that the amount of work which could be carried out in-connection with the marking of streets depended on the extent of the appropriation by the council on the annual estimates.

“Wellington is in a unique position,” said the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) at the civic reception to the southern farmers in the Concert Chamber yesterday. “Not only can it be said to be central, but it stands on a natural axis. It can almost be said that the cetnre of gravity rests here—from the fact that it is the seat of government, and all the banking, shipping, and great trading concerns have their headquarters in Wellington. It is no wonder then that it is somewhat of a magnet drawing people from other parts of New Zealand.”

A motorist who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court at Petone yesterday to a charge of speeding on the- Hutt Road expressed the opinion that the traffic inspectors, when checking the speed of motorists in a “trap” should stop those who were exceeding the limit. Otherwise, he said, the offenders knew nothing of the trap and ‘continued to exceed the limit ‘Speed traps, said defendant, had not proved a success in other countries. The Bench remarked that it was dangerous for traffic inspectors to attempt to stop motorists. One inspector who had attempted to do so on the Hutt Road had been filled.

Motorists who ignore the one-way traffic by-law on the Point. Halswell Road are likely to meet trouble, in future. At a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club last night, Mr. H. W. Lawrence said that motorists frequently used the road both ways. The chairman (Mr. A. L. Warburton) remarked that five cars had passed his car there recently, going the wrong way to the arrows. A member: “Motorists do not seem to see them.” It was decided to point out the breach of the rules to the City Council.

It is a sad fate that lies in store for anyone who kills the goose that lays the golden eggs. There is in Wellington the son of a London millionaire who is endeavouring to make a living as a salesman. A few- short years ago this young man announced to his father in London that he desired to get married. “Bless you, my son,” said the father, “get married as soon as you please, and call upon me for everything you require.” The wedding was duly celebrated, but imagine the father’s feelings when he discovered that he had to pay out £16,000 for the happy young couple within eighteen months. He called his son into his counting house, and said: “This condition of affairs cannot continue. I am going, to pay. the passage money for yourself and your wife to New Zealand, and set aside a sum of money which will bring you in "exactly £5 a week.” Upon this modest income the young couple, who so recently had silver spoons in their mouths in London, have now to do the best they can in Wellington.

“There are five different speed limits on the road between Wellington and Petone.. It is most extraordinary,” said Mr. I. V. Wilson at a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club last night. The secretary (Mr. H. J. Stott) remarked that the Commissioner of Transport (Mr. J. S. Hunter) had invited comment on the proposal of the Wellington City Council to repeal the present speed limits on the Hutt Road and provide for a speed limit of twenty miles per hour near Kaiwarra railway station, Ngaharaunga railway station, and the Koro Koro stream crossing approaching the Wellington-Hutt railway level crossing. The department was prepared to recommend approval of the proposal except that in the latter instance the speed limit of fifteen miles per hour under the Government Railways Act, 1928, would apply. On the motion of Mr. Wilson it was decided to recommend that with the exception of Ngaharaunga and Kaiwarra the one speed limit should be made between the tram terminus and the Petone railway crossing.