NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 20, 18 October 1941, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

All Seasons In A Day

Capricious weather prevailed again in Wellington yesterday. There wasa spring-like freshness about the air at daybreak and the warm breath of summer could be felt at 10 a.m.,-when a hard-working sun shone gloriously from ‘a cloudless sky. As noon approached the wind veered round to the south, and before long a sharp-edged wind, with showers of driving rain, had effected a quick transition to midwinter conditions. Throughout the rest of the day grey skies and a cold wind prevailed. County’s Good Record. Comment was made by the chairman, Or. R. L. Button, at the meeting of the Hutt County Council yesterday, that for month after month no cases of infectious diseases had been reported within its district. He said it revealed good sanitary and hygienic conditions, as well as a healthy county area. Water and Sewerage.

The Hutt County Council, at its meeting yesterday, received an inquiry from the Board of Health as to the present position in regard to water and sewerage at Day’s Bay, and asking for a statement on this subject. The council referred the matter to Or. J. B. Yaldwyn and the county clerk to draft a reply.

New A.A. Service. A new. service for members who propose to lay up their mdtor-cars while petrol rationing continues was adopted by the Automobile Association (Auckland) at a recent meeting. The association will undertake to inspect a member’s car once st month to see that it is riot deteriorating, and the battery and other minor matters will receive attention.

Old Boys In Forces. There were 871 old..boys of Wellington College in the firmed forces in the present war, said the headmaster, Mr. W. A. Armour, at the school Foundation' Day observance yesterday. Of these, 23 had been killed in action, 12 accidentally killed' on active service, five died of sickness, six were missing and believed killed, 41 missing, 17 wounded and 25 prisoners of war. Eighteen had gained distinction.

September’s Fires. During September 96 calls to fires were received, reported-the superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, Mr. 0. A. Woolley, to the Fire Board yesterday. Of that total 56 were actual fires, and 43 false alarms. Of the actual fires 30 were property, 12 were gorse, grass or rubbish, and 14 were attributable, to foul chimneys. Of the false alarms 25 were found to have been justifiable and 18 were malicious. Esperanto Neutral. The creater of Esperanto, Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, decreed that, though Esperanto might be used for any purpose whatever, it was Strictly neutral, and neither belonged to any one particular country or organization, nor supported It, said the president of the Karori Esperanto Society, Mr. N. Hill, at the society’s meeting on Thursday. Mr. Hill Said that members Were quite free to follow the dictates of their own conscience without comment.

Timbeh Garages. Timber garages, Hued with plaster boards or other approved material, ate to be allowed in Wellington outside the central area. That decision has been made by the City Council to encourage people to erect garages rather than leave their motor cars in the streets all night, as is a fairly general practice. This easing of restrictions is on account of the shortage of certain more durable materials and the difficulty in securing labour for the construction of concrete garages.

Water Down Below. Because of the low level, of the underground -boiler room belonging to the Central Fire Brigade, in Clyde Quay, Wellington, there is considerable seepage of water in wet weather. The brigade was troubled again on that account during the recent spell of wet weiither, and ‘t good deal of time was wasted in baling out. The slUXtrlnteudent, Mr. Woolley, recommended the Fire Board at yesterday’s meeting to install a small electrically-driven pump which could be put into action as soon as any water came through. The suggestion was adopted. Tralilc Signal Lights. On account of the partial blackout and petrol restrictions the traffic flow in the streets of Wellington has been very much reduced in recent weeks. Consequently the City Council has decided that tho traffic lights at street intersections shall operate only during the day and early evening, and bo dispensed with altogether on Sundays. In Post Office Square and Lower Taranaki Street the traffic lights will go off at 6 p.m., and at other points In the city at 8 pan., except on Fridays and Saturdays, when they will operate till 11 p.m.

Aquarium as Scenic Attraction. Reference to a splendid aquarium he had seen in Madras which was always a delight to tourists was made by Mr. R. L. M.acalister, speaking to members of the WadestoWn and Highland Park Men's Society on his travel experiences in the Middle East. “It made me think that, being on the sea const we could-very well have an aquarium in Wellington that would be of interest to tourists,” said Mr. Macaltstei'. “Some years ago, Professor Kirk started an agitation for tin aquarium arid I believe a fund was started, but nothing ever came of it.”

Siren Testing. A prolonged blast from a particularly deep-throated siren alarmed a number of Wellington people in the vicinity of the corporation yards at Clyde Quay shortly before noon yesterday. Windows were thrown open, people rushed to shop doors, and everyone was peering this way and that, seeking an explanation of the all-per-vading noise. Members of the Wellington Fire Board, in meeting assembled, had to defer their discussions for a minute Or two. as the siren was sufficiently strong to prevent speakers being heard. All this pother was caused by a test out of a new siren, which has been erected in the corporation ya rd.

E.F.S. Tour of Inspection. Mr. 0. A. Woolley, stipori nt endent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, is the district tire controller. The duties of that office entail his gaining knowledge of what is being done in the way of providing emergency fire-lighting resources in every town In his district, which ranges up to Taranaki on the west coast and Gisborne on the east coast. At yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Fire Board a letter was received from Mr. R. Girllng-Butcher, Government Inspector of Fire Brigades, requesting that Mr. Woolley bo given the opportunity during the next six weeks to two months to accompany him all through the Wellington district on an emergency fire service inspection. Permission to undertake this work was given by the board.