NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 137, 5 March 1940, Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

McKay’s Crossing A decision to make representations to the Alain Highways Board about the construction of an overbridge at McKay’S crossing, between Paekakariki ami Paraparaumu, the scene of several serious collisions between roa-l vehicles and trains, was made at a meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (AVellington) last night. The construction of the bridge will make necessary the realignment of the road south of the place. It was stated that AlcKay’s crossing was the one bad crossing in the district that had not been eliminated. Traffic AVhistlcs Not Favoured. Replying to a suggestion that traffic officers on point duty in AA’ellingtou should blow whistles when they changed the direction of traffic, the town clerk stated, in a letter received by the executive of tiie Automobile Association (AVellington) last night, that the bylaws committee of the city council could not see its way to approve of the proposal. Infectious Diseases. For the week ended yesterday 12 cases of infectious disease and three deaths, two from pulmonary tuberculosis ami one from erysipelas, were reported to the AA r ellington oliice of the Health Department from the centra! AA’ellingtou area. The cases were: Food poisoning (4), diphtheria <3), erysipelas (2), pulmonary tuberculosis (2), and scarlet fever (1). Changeable Weather. Wellington experienced all the seasons within a few hours yesterday. Early there was fair promise of a lovely summer’s day. After 10.30 a.m. the sky darkened, ami a spatter of rain heralded a change. By noon the wind from the south had developed an edge, and people hurried into coats as fast as they could. It was the first indication that autumn was registering a serious advance. School Gardens. The main garden experimental crop for the 1940-41 season in schools under the control of the AVellington Education Board will be maize. The seeds of three suitable varieties wi'l be sent to all schools for late spring planting. Iu addition to maize, oats, wheat and barley crops will be grown for comparison with the maize crop, grass transplants in observational plots and general vegetables. Elimination of Overbridge. A step toward the elimination of tha overbridge at Johnsonville, by which traffic northward from Wellington via the Ngahauranga Gorge crosses the old Alain Trunk Railway, was reported to the executive of the Automobile Association (AVellington) last night. It was stated that the Railways Departmenthad agreed to set back the rails at the terminus of the portion of the railway that is still in use to prepare for the Alain Highways Board to deviate the main road across ground that has been railway line. The elimination of tiie bridge will remove from the course of traffic sharp turns at either end of the bridge. Agriculture and Science Instruction. The work in agriculture, nature study and elementary science was being developed along sound lines and the general efficiency of that section of the work in the schools had been well maintained during the year, states a clause in the annual report of the AA’ellingtou Education Board’s supervisor of agriculture and science instruction, Air. H. AA’. Hesse. Progress had been made, the report continues, in the further development of nature work on project lines of study, the propagation of native New Zealand trees and shrubs in tiie school nursery plots, a marked increase in the home garden projects, and the further extension of activities under the Boys' and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs.