NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 10, 7 October 1936, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

Salvation Army Street Appeal

“There semed to be a real spirit of giving abroad and our workers reported an extremely generous response,” said Colonel G. Grattan, chief secretary of the Salvation Army, referring to the annual self-denial appeal made in Wellington city streets yesterday. It was found last night that £lB2 had" been collected, this sum representing an increase of £lO over last year’s effort. There are still a few small returns to come to hand.

Large Church Collection. A sum of £213/5/- was received in collections at three services at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland, when the 76th anniversary of dedication was celebrated in conjunction with the annual golden offering services on Sunday.

Hotel Modernisation. Work has commenced on the modernisation of the Empire Hotel in Willis Street, in accordance with plans prepared by Messrs. Atkins and Mitchell. The alterations both to the interior and exterior will run into a-five-figure sum.' One feature of the work will be the provision of a new and commodious lounge on the first floor facing Willis Street.

Fewer Motor Accidents. So noticeable has been the effect of the new 30-miles-an-hour speed limit in cities, boroughs and town districts, that firms specialising in the repairing Of smashed motor-car bodies have experienced a marked falling-off in business in the past month or two. The proprietor of a leading repair shop in Auckland said recently that, whereas three or four months ago, it was not uncommon to have three almost completely wrecked cars in every week, there were hardly any now.

Rhodes Scholarship. The Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee will meet in Wellington on December 10 to select the New Zealand Rhodes scholar. The committee consists of the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), the Chancellor of the New Zealand University (Hon. J. A. Hanan. M.L.C.), the chairman of the Academic Board (Dr. J. Hight), Mr. S. N. Ziman (former Rhodes scholar), Mr. A. L. Haslam (also a former Rhodes scholar), and Sir Andrew Russell (business representative).

Roads in Queensland. The great length of some of the straight stretches of country roads in Queensland was noticed by Mr. G. McCullough, a prominent South Cam terbury farmer, who has just returned from a holiday in Australia. One of these roads, which crossed the Cecil Plains in that province was more thau 50 miles long without a single bend, and was flat’all the way. The condition of the roads, however, was not nearly as good as those in country districts in New Zealand, and after a rain it was impossible to negotiate many of the roads, as they were not metalled.

Bullet-proof River Recorders. .. 1 The necessity for making bullet-proof shelters for river-recording instruments was mentioned by Mr. T. G. Beck, resident engineer to the Public Works Department, Temuka, in an address at Canterbury University College. The recorders, he said, were placed well back in the river gorges which were frequented by rabbit-shooters and deer-stalkers. Protection from the weather was one need, but it had been found advisable, too, to build the shelters of concrete, and even these showed the marks of bullet impacts.

Unwanted Pine Trees. A group of old pine trees on a reserve at Central Terrace, Kelburn, is proving to be a nuisance. Mr. G. H. Moir, heading a deputation to the reserves committee of the city council, complained that these trees cast needles which littered the street and adjacent gardens. They prevented the growth of anything else near by, made a dark spot avoided by women, and were “a beastly sight.” Others complained that the trees shut out the view. Or. J. Burns (chairman) said that the committee would not cut down a single tree unless it was justified. 'These trees, however, were past their prime, and it might be better to take them out and replant the reserve. A recommendation would be made to the council at its next meeting.