CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 81, 30 December 1929, Page 10

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

The display of life-saving which was to have been given on the Island Bay beach yesterday afternoon ’, as postponed, on account of the unfavourable weather, until 3 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

Motorists who made the trip out to Paekakariki yesterday were amazed on ascending the big hill to find the summit covered with a dense fog, which shrouded all the surroundings, making driving extremely tricky. In the worst places most of the vehicles had to use their headlights for safety.

Something novel in pillion seats was observed on a motor-cycle speeding along the Queen’s Drive between Island Bay and Lyall Bay on Saturday afternoon. In place of the usual saddle and grip arrangement this enterprising individual had attached to his machine a small metal basket chair in which a youngster was sitting, apparently enjoying his outing.

’Planes were aloft over Lyall Bay on Saturday afternoon, Captain Bolt making many trips over the surrounding suburbs, despite the fact of there being a fairly heavy wind blowing. One also saw aloft the black monoplane belonging to Mr. O. Cottrell, of Lower Hutt, easily recognisable with its unusual orange-coloured wing surfaces.

Paul Olsen Sabo, alias Paul Olsen, aged 39, was charged before Messrs. I. Salek and D. Keir, J.P’s., in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning with being intoxicated while in charge of" a motor-car in Nelson Street, and with having used obscene language. Accused, who was remanded on bail until this morning, promised Mr. Salek that he would not touch liquor until the case w:r disposed of.

The full force of yesterday’s gale was felt on the Eastbourne ferry-boat. It was practically impossible to stand up on the deck, and at least two girls, who were not taking too kindly to the rough seas, were warned to keep to the leeward side of the ship for safety.

While working at the Hataitai end of the new Mt. Victoria tunnel on Friday afternoon, a motor-lorry, laden with split posts, sank axle-deep in the loose metal of one of the newly-formed roads. The driver attempted finally to extricate it by its own power, but efforts in this direction only served to make matters worse. The services of one of the contractor’s large five-ton lorries were then secured, but the powerful motor failed to dislodge the other. The embedded lorry was ultimately extricated by raising the wheels with the “tipping” mechanism, and placing wood underneath, thus giving a solid foundation to run on. At one period it certainly looked as if the truck would require rather elaborate means to get free, there being the danger of the second lorry also sinking into the soft rock.

The red light on the central pier of the Hutt Road bridge, it is stated, caused some confusion to master mariners at night, as they were apt to confuse it with the shore lights. To obviate the trouble, the light on the seaward side has been painted white.

“If it were’nt that these pohutukawas were in bloom,” said a man who wgs sheltering in the Courtenay Place tramway shed yesterday afternoon, “I would say it was about the first week in September. As it is, what’s the use of arguing the point?” Just at the moment an aged man was seen clinging to a centre pole in the centre of that wide space opposite the De Luxe Theatre. So strong were the gusts that he was scared to leave his temporary sanctuary in order to gain the footpath. Seeing his predicament two young fellows braved the tempest, and getting the aged one between them, steered him safely to port. December 29 will be remembered as one of the most objectionable days of the year, which ends to-morrow.