NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dilatory Motorists Not nearly us much use as was anticipated by the authorities has been made of the special facilities provided for relicensing of motor-vehicles in the Town Hall and it is expected that there will be the usual eleventh-hour rush with consequent delay in Wellington. The Post and Telegraph Department has provided a special depot with a special staff in the concert chamber of the Town Hall, and has kept this department open each evening till 8 o’clock. Despite this relicensing has been proceeding but slowly, and it is expected that there will be a heavy rush to-day and tomorrow, as new plates have to be affixed to all motor-vehicles on Alonday.

Blood Transfusion Service., The Wellington Hospital Board decided last night to grant. £lO to (he Wellington Blood Transfusion Service for the current year. Minimum Salary of £2OO.

In a discussion on salaries at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board, it was stated the general purposes committee had been asked ro report on the cost of raising the wages of all males over 22 in the board’s employ to a minimum of £2OO.

Trial By Jury Chosen. Electing to be tried by jury rather than dealt with summarily, John 'William Graves, labourer, aged 32, was remanded until to-day, when brought before Air. E. D. Mosley, S.AL, in the Wellington Alagistrate’s Court yesterday. The charge against him was of stealing £l/17/3 in money, a pocketknife and a wallet, of a total value of £2/4/9, from James Allison Kelly. Senior-Sergeant J. Kelly asked for the remand on the ground that the principal witness was not available. Lorry Over Bank.

While ascending the Horokiwi Gorge road on Wednesday night and about a mile from the summit of the Paekakariki Hill, a motor-lorry belonging to the Economic Transport Service, Wellington, left the road and rolled down a bank ten or twelve feet high into a creek. 'The vehicle, which was well laden, was considerably damaged, especially the cab, but the driver was not injured. It was hauled back on to the road yesterday and brought to Wellington. Swell Again Delays Kohi. Though weather conditions were perfect in Wellington yesterday, with an almost total absence of wind, there was still a fairly heavy swell running at Lyall Bay, and the auxiliary scow Kohi, which is to carry out cable repair work, was again forced to remain in port. It is now hoped that the vessel will be able to leave this morning for Lyall Bay to complete her cable-laying operations. She is to lay about three miles of shore-end cable from Lyall Bay into the cable running from there to White’s Bay. A Disappearing Landmark. An old landmark is disappearing In the demolition of the old cottage which has stood for some twenty-odd years next to the Mt. Cook Police Station in Buckle Street. This house was originally built in the grounds of Government Buildings (with an entrance from Featherston Street) for the caretaker, Captain Hannah. AV hen it was decided that the ground was too valuable for a caretaker’s cottage, it was taken over by the Defence Department, and re-erected in Buckle Street, where it was occupied by the late Alajor J. O’Sullivan for some years at a time when there were barracks and headquarters’ staff offices, where the National Art Gallery now stands. The removal of the cottage will mean that a further section of Buckle Street can be widened to the full 80 feet, and the eastern road approach to the gallery and museum improved. Shortage of Accpnimodation. The serious position that has arisen owing to the lack of accommodation at Victoria University College is referred to in the annual report of the professorial board. “As the council is aware,” says the report, “the rapid growth of the library, due in a great measure to the generous benefaction of the Carnegie Corporation, has resulted in a serious shortage of accommodation. This applies both to class-rooms and to private rooms for professors and lecturers. The board would respectfully urge the council to approach-the Government again on the question of a grant for a new biology block and a new administration block. The erection of these two buildings would do much to relieve the present congestion and to provide more adequate accommodation than is at present available for the full-time lecturers.”