CITY AND SUBURBAN

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 129, 25 February 1930, Page 13

CITY AND SUBURBAN

HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN

The Petone Borough Council has decided to accept the invitation of the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. G. A. Troup) to join in a civic reception to the new Governor-General.

The Postmaster-General announces that the Charity stamps which have been on sale since December 11, 1929, are to be withdrawn- at the close of business on February 28.

Some of the yellow rubber traffic marks set into the surface of the road outside Lambton Station are in danger of being covered, probably through the sun softening the bitumen until it overlaps the slabs, the heavy traffic spreading it over the surfaces.

“1 have noticed.” writes “Observer,” “that the City Council has adopted a vigorous campaign in the matter of replacing effaced street sign-plates in and around the City. Paying a visit to Hataitai recently, however, I found to my great discomfort that more than half of the names were obliterated, and only after a minute scrutiny of many dilapidated signs was I able to find the required street.”

It was stated some time ago that several new links were to be added to the Wellington Mayoral chain of office. These have been presented by the relatives of the late Mr. Samuel Brown (Mayor in 1887-88) and Mr. John Duthie (1889), whilst surviving exMayors in the persons of Sir Francis Bell (1892-93) and Mr. C. J. B. Norwood (1925-27) have added their gold and enamel medallions to the beautiful chain, which is far from complete. The four new links, newly arrived from London, are now being attached to the chain. ’

The Main Highway Board is at last taking in hand the reconstruction of the two single car bridges of the old fashioned type on the Pahautanui Road at the foothills of Paekakariki. One has already been partly demolished and a concrete bridge is well on the way, which will provide ample room for two cars tp pass. The second one, about 300 yards away, is also to receive attention. The fencing of the outer edge on the Wellington side of Paekakariki Hill is also being pushed on and the road itself is in excellent order just now.

“Modern invention offers us the robot—the mechanical man, controlling traffic or directing other machines,” said the Rev. A. N. Scotter at the Methodist Conference. “The dramatist has imagined a world of robots and-has sought even to endow them with emotions. Now for mechanical exactness you can depend * upon a machine. He might be a statistical secretary, or even read an inaugural address; but the Methodist preacher and the. Methodist Church must escape from tlie deadening influence of the mechanical. We must have the prophetic note.’’

The Mayor of Petone (Mr. D. McKenzie) stated at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council that he had received, through the secretary of the Post Office (Mr. G. McNamara) a communication from the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon'. Sir Joseph Ward) to the effect that a new post office has' been approved of for Petone, and building will commence early in April. The design and the exterior-interior appointments will be in keeping with modern requirements. The Mayor said he was glad to be able to make the announcement as Petone had needed a new post office for a considerable time.

At yesterday's the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, the following resolution was carried: “That in consequence of the reported instances of injustice and of matehjal bias exercised against New Zealandmade products by the Stores Control Board in respect to 1930-1932 contracts, irrespective 'of such goods rigid conformity to issued specification, it is resolved that all associations be requested to prepare evidence and to authorise the Federation of Manufacturers to sue for immediate correction, and also protection of future years by such methods as they deem necessary.”

Arrangements for stalking in the out-back , country of the South Island are rather different from what they are in tlie North. In the South Island —and the reference is more particularly' to what is known .as the southwest district (at the back of Lake Wanaka) —the country is divided into thirteen stalking blocks, and two-gun duplications are invited for the stalking rights in October previous to the season. It is therefore not always possible to make eleventh-hour arrangements for stalking in that country; as it is well known that the best beads in New Zealand, are produced there. Such a privilege was secured for Lord and Lady Latymer through tlie number of applicants being fewer than he blocks this season. The visitors are fortunate in havinc secured tlie services, as camp and stalking superintendent, of the experienced sportsman, Mr. Ernest Wiffen, of Wellington.

There are some motor-cyclists under the impression that the bitumen surface of Cambridge Terrace is a speed track, and the way they flash down the road in the small hours of the morning with their cut-outs open would sui-prise even a traffic Inspector.

Abrasions to his face, concussion, and shock were suffered by Charles Woodward, who resides at 249 The Parade. Island Bay, and who was knocked down by a tramcar in Willis Street, shortly before 9 o’clock yesterday morning. He was attended to by the Free Ambulance and removed to the Hospital.

The Rev. T. Fielden Taylor acknowledges further donations in response to his appeal for funds for the assistance of a widow as follow: —Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Hunter, £2; Anon., 21/-; XYZ. £2/10/-; Galwey, A. 8.. 5/-; L. 8., £8; Crawford, £1; W. F. Jacob, £5; E. Martin, 3/-; Sympathiser, 7/6; Anon., 2/6; Anon.. 10/-; Num, 10/-; W.R.. £1; F.K.K., 21/-; Freeman, 5/-. Total received to date, £49/19/3.

While members of the Miramar Golf Club, at the annual meeting last night, were unanimously agreed that the Miramar course was the best in the Dt»minion, one or two held that a little more attention to the details of upkeep would make the links perfect. “We old buffers.” remarked Mr. J. G. Hughes, “are getting on. and we would like lo play upon a perfect course in the few years that are left to us.”

A substantial street improvement at Wellington South is now well on its way to completion in the widening by Wt. of Luxford Street (which connects Rintoul Street with Adelaide Road). TJhj widening has been accomplished on the southern side, where the houses were all set back far enough to make the operation an easy one. As the tramway uses this street the improvement will be one of considerable value not only to residents, but to through, traffic. Luxford Street is now 60ft. in width.

A conference of the New Zealand Registrars of the International Accountants’ Corporation, took place at the Town Hall, Wellington, last Saturday, when matters relative to the corporation’s activities in New Zealand were discussed. Rapid expansion of the corporation throughout forty different countries on a world-wide basis was reported. and satisfactory progress in New Zealand "was indicated by the registrars from all provinces.

A story is going the rounds that when the Rangitata left Wellington with th’e late Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) on board, and was proceeding through the stream, a lad —well within school age—was discovered as a stowaway. He was promptly taken before the captain, who. when he asked the boy to explain how he came to be on board, was confounded by the answer: “Goodness me, I thought I was on board the Muritai going to Day’s Bay.” The-youngster as put ashore at Seatoun, so that if he was looking for a long sea trip he was disappointed.

A call from Island Bay at 3.17 yesterday afternoon took the fire brigade rushing to Volga Street, where a fiveroomed residence owned and occupied by Mr. William Reeves Thomas, a onestory • modern building, was on fire. The dining room and the bath room and their contents were damaged by lira and water, and two other rooms were slightly damaged by heat and smoke. The blaze was due to an electric iron being left on. Both house and contents are insured, but the offices and amounts of the policies are hot available.

A correspondent forwards the following item of interest: “During my recent visit to Russell I met quite a number of people interested in the growing of citrus fruits. The majority of the fruits had come from abroad, some from China. At Keri-Keri, the Government of New Zealanu has established a hostel for the convenience of prospective buyers. Keri-Keri is about two hours’ journey by launch from Russell. I understand that the cultivation of oranges and lemons and other fruits is to be undertaken on a large scale, and pulping plants and up-to-date machinery for canning purposes are to be installed.”

“We have tlie greatest of all textbooks, our Bible, that Book which, in the words of a modern statesman, has in it something of the - nature of a high-explosive. . . . Every denomination of Christians is indebted to the support which through the distribution of the Scriptures, is given by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and in New Zealand we highly commend the farsighted secretary for his recent adventure in placing copies of the Book in the hotels of our land. These chastelybound volumes, with direction to the outstanding passages, will bring challenge and comfort to many a traveller.” —The Rev. A. N. Scotter, 8.A., speaking at the Methodist Conference in Wellington. i