NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 21, 20 October 1937, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Pumping Task

Pumping operations have .been continued this week on the site of the new Central Public Library in Mercer Street, Wellington, but though the pumps have been doing their work valiantly they make no Impression on the inrushing tide that seeps through the reclaimed land. The displacement of 80,000 gallons an hour means a considerable stream of water, but it looks as though pumping would be futile were six times that quantity of water disposed of. “£1 Worth of House.”

“Whatever may be the opinion held on the Government housing scheme,” said Mr. A. Tyndall, in addressing the Wellington Rotary Club yesterday on the Government scheme, “we are doing our best to give the State £1 worth of house for every £1 spent.”

Lift for Carillon Tower. The elevator for the Wellington carillon tower hits arrived, and it is hoped that its installation will be completed by Christmas time. The elevator, which will carry four passengers, will travel from the first floor (not the ground) to the clavier room, a height of 70 feet, from which height a splendid view is obtainable of the city and harbour.

The Traffic Lights. The difficulty in seeing some of the traffic lights from small cars because of the low setting of the hood, was stressed by a defendant in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday. The magistrate, Mr. E. D. Mosley, agreed that it was a problem with some modern cars. ‘

Judge Quotes Scripture. Scripture was quoted by his Honour Mr. Justice Smith iu the Supreme Court, Palmerston North, yesterday, when a man chosen for service on the jury applied for exemption. “You hold some views which you apparently consider prevent you from serving on a jury,” said his Honour. "I do not propose to enter into a discussion with you, but you may find passages in the Scriptures which will assist you. What about ‘Render unto Caesar those things which are Caesar’s?’ However, if you hold these peculiar views I will exempt you.”

Peaceful Japanese. While their countrymen are fighting one another in China, a fairly large community of Chinese and Japanese are living peacefully side by side throughout the East Indies, according to Mr. P. ter Kuile, a Dutch merchant who passed through Auckland by the Monterey on Monday. There were thousands of Chinese, mostly retail traders, and a number of Japanese importers and bankers in the Dutch colonies, he said, and no trouble had broken out between them. The Dutch Governments kept a careful watch on the two sections to see that no disputes arose. .

Output of Government Houses. ' Mr. A. Tyndall, director of housing, informed members of the Wellington Rotary Club yesterday, when speaking of the Government housing scheme, that recently he had received an account from the Public Works Department for 39,653 blue prints done in connection with the houses. That number, however, was only part of the total. He supposed they had at least 50,000 blue prints to work from, and that was only for the first six mouths of the year in which the Government had been erecting houses." Houses were to be erected in 52 towns, and already contracts had been let in 32 fawns. To date the number started, and including those completed, was 700. They were now building houses at the rate of 55 a week. "I suppose I will burst the national debt or public credit if I go on at this rate," said the director cheerfully.