NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

City Adjustment Commission Sitting in camera the Wellington City Adjustment Commission will begin on Monday its big task of examining applications for relief under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act. ' Though nearly 4000 applications have been tiled in the Wellington Supreme Court, many of these will not come before the commission, but will be, it they have not already been, withdrawn for various reasons. Even so, the commission faces many months of work, the average rate of "dealing with applications being, it is expected, about 10 or 12 a week. Air Mail Reaches London. Air mail dispatched from Auckland on January 13 and Dunedin on January 14 arrived at London on February 3. City Building Inspector. Applications for the position of building inspector in the Wellington city engineer’s department closed yesterday. It was only open to members of the corporation staff. The salary is £3OO per annum. New Ramp at Kaiwarra. The erection of the dressing-shed and offices in connection with the construction of the new general traffic ramp over the railway tracks and the Hutt Road by the Fletcher Construction Company is now under way; Work on the foundations will be commenced almost immediately.

Maunganui’s Cruise. The Union Company yesterday received a wireless message from the Maunganui, which left Wellington on Thursday night on her cruise to the West Coast Sounds, reporting that she was experiencing fine weather and calm seas. Yesterday morning she passed through a most unusual shoal of jelly-fish extending for fully a mile and so closely packed that it gave the appearance of being a solid glutinous mass. Wellington Ratepayers’ Roll.

Those Wellington ratepayers who are not on the roll, or who, having been on the roll at one time, are not satisfied that their names are still listed, should waste no time in making sure of the position, as there is to be an important loan poll on February 24. A new roll of ratepayers is now being got out in connection with this poll and will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday next. Only ratepayers are permitted to vote at this poll. Wives and husbands of ratepayers have the right to vote. Big Hangar For Rongotai.

The contract for the fabrication and erection of the steel-work in connection with the new hangar for the Rongotai aerodrome which has been let to Messrs. W. Cable and Co., will entail the manufacture of a number of light but strong roof trusses, two main girders of considerable strength, and lattice steelwork which will take the roof. This will consist of sheet steel, both the face and edges of the sheets being protected by an asbestos and bitumen compound of a non-inflammable nature. Popular Rest Park. One of the most popular rest parks in Wellington on these warm summer days is that little reserve which has been created at the southern end of the boat harbour at Clyde Quay by the harbour board. A year ago this was a bedraggled bit of waste land, given over to weeds and rubbish; but by the exercise of a little imagination and the spending of a good deal of money the area has been transformed into a beautiful little rest park with a dozen garden seats, placed on lawns which are divided by the neatest of footpaths. The seats are occupied pretty well all day long by people who never seem to tire of watching the play of sunlight on the waters of the harbour. National Health Insurance. The special committee set up by the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fraser, to hear evidence concerning national health insurance from persons or organisations wishing to make representations sat again in Wellington yesterday. After the hearing of evidence the sitting was adjourned sine die. It is not yet known if the committee will sit in other centres, although advertisements announcing that evidence will be accepted from those who wish to give it have been published in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. The committee, after considering the oral representations and the written recommendations of hospital boards and associated organisations, will report to the Minister. Lovely Begonias. During the present week Lord and Lady Galway and a party from Governmetn House have visited the begonia house at the Botanical Gardens. Fraught with delicate beauty in every conceivable pastel shade, the begonias and other hot-house plants entranced the visitors. Many thousands of citizens and visitors have gone through this treasure house of blossoms during the last fortnight, and all who would see these blooms at their best should endeavour to visit the gardens during the month. Just at present they are at their very best. So many people have expressed their intention of endeavouring to cultivate begonias in their own places that Mr. J. G. MacKenzie (director of parks and reserves) is preparing a list of suitable varieties and setting out the conditions under which they should be grown. Shortage of Surveyors. Surveys being conducted by the Public Works Department as part of the Canterbury irrigation investigation are being held up through a shortage of surveyors and other trained men. Mr. T. G. Beck, resident engineer to the Public Works Department at Tetnuka, said that he supposed the shortage was caused by a general improvement in business and professions throughout the country, with a consequent increased demand for men. The surveys are part of the investigations scheme in Canterbury to obtain scientific information about the plains. One of the possible purposes of the scheme will be to determine the extent of water resources with a view to their exploitation.