NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 81, 29 December 1938, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF

Motor-Lorry On Fire

Fire did slight damage to the motor and cal) of a motor-lorry parked in Barker Street, Wellington, yesterday morning. Brigadesmeu from the central lire station, who were called to the fire at 8.20 a.in., put out. the Hames with Hie aid of chemical extinguishers. Tlie lorry is owned by McGowan and McGee, Ltd.

Woman Knocked Over by Lorry. When she was knocked over by a ■motor-lorry at the corner of Tory Street and Courtenay Place at 1.40 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs. W. Helyer, 338 a Oriental Bay, Wellington, received head injuries, concussion and shock. The Free Ambulance took her to tlie Wellington Public Hospital. Her condition is reported to be satisfactory.

High Speeds in Auckland Suburbs. Apparent disregard of tluj 30 miles an hour speed limit in Auckland suburban streets on the part of a number of motorists was noticed on Tuesday. Many of the cars travelling faster than usual had high registration numbers, indicating that they were from ■southern districts and probably driven by strangers to Auckland.

4000 Telegrams Sept. The Hamilton Post and Telegraph Office experienced tlie busiest period on record during the weekend, as many as 4000 telegrams, including more than 2000 seasonal greetings, being dispatched in one day. Telegraphists and boys worked till after noon oii Christinas Day in receiving and delivering the heavy batch of messages that bad been filed before the closing of the office on Christmas Eve.

Civic Spirit Commended. The civic spirit, revealed by the tenants of the newly-constructed State houses in Auckland was commended by the Minister of Lands, Mr. Langstone, after a visit to the housing areas at Orakel and the Casey Estate on Tuesday. Mr. Langstone said remarkably successful work had been achieved by the occupants within a comparatively short time in developing gardens and improving the surroundings. Few Cases of Drunkenness. ■Wellington crowds had been very quiet and orderly over Christmas, said Inspector Sweeney, acting chief of police in Wellington in tlie absence of tlie Commissioner of Police, Mr. D. J. Cummings. The police had had very little to do in the way of keeping the peace. The crowds had been goodhumoured and generally obliging, and, from the police point of view, the holiday had been very satisfactory. There had been comparatively few eases of drunkenness.

Sea Birds Identified. A bird sent into Invercargill from Otahuti last week has been identified as'a broad-billed prion, a sea bird that is found round tlie coasts of New Zealand. The discovery was followed by another in Invercargill, a bird of the same species being picked up in a helpless condition in the middle of Esk Street, near tlie Dee Street corner. The broad-billed prion nests in burrows in the soli or in rock crevices, of cliffs, generally on small islands. A single' egg is laid in September or October, and is incubated by both the male and female birds.

Head-in Parking Advocated. “The only chance seems to l>e to hang about with one’s- car till some of the business men go to lunch, and then take tlie place of. their cars,” said Air. A. AlcKenzie, reporting to the Southland executive of the Farmers’ Union on a recent conference on the parking of ears in Invercargill. Several speakers complained that country people wore put to inconvenience when they came to the city. The meeting passed :i motion disapproving of the present system of parking and urging the reestablishment of head-in parking. Head-in parking was also recommended by the traffic inspector at the last meeting of the Oamarti Borough Council.

Seda Water Geyser. Because of pressure of work the Public Works Department is unable at present to construct u catchment basin and storage tank for the Te Arolia geyser. A month ago it was hoped the work would be completed before Christmas to enable visitors to the town to see the novelty of the Dominion’s only soda water geyser in action. The Government tourist officer. Air. E. Wing, has made an alternative arrangement to. have the geyser playing during tlie afternoon on all important holiday dates during the Christmas and New Year seasons. Steps will also lie taken to improve the surroundings and make them more attractive than at present. It is expected tlie concrete catchment basin will be completed by Easter.