NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1934, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Crowds In Town.. ■" Tho city was a good placo to bo out of:in tho wet weather experienced for the greater part of - this, week,- and it was noticeable that there were " jiofc as many shoppers in town of an aftorno 011 as usual. It was not surprising, therefore, that tho improvement in the weather yesterday, together with the fact that it was "pay-day" for many, should have resulted in a large number of people being in the city. Throughout the afternoon and again at night the principal streets were thronged, and no doubt shopkeepers benefited. At the peak times it was not an easy matter for anyone in a hurry to walk down Willis Street. The keep-to-the-lcft rule, ,-once strictly enforced, is not very well observed these days. Warships' Movements. H.M.S. Laburnum, the sloop attached to the New Zealand Division of tho Royal Navy, is now in dock at Auckland undergoing overhaul and survey in preparation for a cruise to tho South Sea Islands, beginning on June 4. The ship will undock. .next Wednesday. H.M.S. Dunedin will bo docked at Devonport next Friday, and she will be. followed on June 5' by H.M.S. Diomede. Tho Island cruises? of these ships will commence on Juno,ls and June 18Mespectively. No official announcement concerning the proposed' visit to Australia of the cruisers Dunodin and Diomodo in connection with the Melbourne Centenary colebrations has yet been mado. Jt is expected, however, that tho ships will make a visit, particularly in view of, the' successful manoeuvres staged, in New Zealand waters when tho Australian squadron, . comprising ■ the warships Canberra and Australia, was here last September. Dangers of "Double-Banking." Attention was drawn by the polico in tho Children's Court today to the dangers of "double-banking" on bicycles, two schoolboys being charged before Mr. W. F. Stilwoll, S.M., with tho offence. Tho charges were brought to emphasise to tho public tho fact that such a practice is forbidden by the bylaws, and that it is a dangerous one, because the rider has no proper control of the bicycle in a sudden omorgency in traffic.-The two boys who woro charged today wore caught outside the Mount Cook Police Station, at-the corner of Buckle and Tasman Streets, which is considered to be ono of tho worst intersections in tho city. The brakes on tho eyclo were not as .good as they should havo been, tho polico stated, and as the boys woro travelling downhill at a fairly fast rate there was a possibility of a serious accident had they met any cross traffic. Makura To Be Overhauled. . The Union Company's passenger liner Makura is duo at Wellington on Monday from_ Sydney and. will withdraw from service for an extensive overhaul. Tho Makura is engaged in the Sydney-Wellington-San Francisco run, and one trip will bo missed whilo tho shilp j s laid up here. Sho will resume her running when tho Maungauui arrives hero on Juno 11 from Sydney, the Makura continuing on to San Francisco. The Maunganui will then bo withdrawn here for overhaul and survey resuming on July 10 aftor tho Marama has arrived from Sydney and transhipped passengers and cargo to the Maunganui for San Francisco. The Marama is now laid up in Auckland for the winter months, but will be brought back into commission for a period on Juno 28 to relieve the intercolonial liner Monowai, which will withdraw at Wellington for overhaul on July 12. The Monowai will go back into the' service on August 10, replacing ■ the Marama, which will again be withdrawn at Auckland. ' From August 6 to October 11 the Marama will not be in the trans-Tasraan running, but will' recommission for the summer months at the end of that period, sailing from Wellington for Sydney. .Thereafter the Marama will remain in the intercolonial passenger service until the end of April, 1935.

A Faithful Memory. The permanency-of a dog's memory of and affection for its master resulted in a Wellington ninu recovering this week a favourite dog which for two years lie hud thought to bo lost for all time. The owner was walking along the- _ street when suddenly his dog launched itself upon him with every manifestation of joy at having found his .rightful master again. The dog had been stolen and kept in Nelson until the thief thought it would bo safe to let it appear in Wellington again. Radio Beacon at x-Tiritiri. The installation of a i small radio direction-finding plant at Tiritiri Island is being considered by the Marine Department, according to a statement made by the Secretary of the Department, Mr. L. B. Campbell, last night, states a telegram from Auckland. Tho proposal is subject to discussions between the Department and Auckland Harbour Board, and if it materialises, Auckland will be tho first port in New Zealand to be equipped with a radio beacon, described as a necesasry adjunct to any modern port. Accident Prevention Week. The combined committee which is making plans for an Accident Prevention Week in Wellington at the end of tho month, yesterday afternoon discussed, among other points, the question of safeguarding children crossing streets, and a sub-committee was set up to investigate further. Its recommendations will be made known later. The committee was much impressed by statements as to the plan adopted in Sydney, where senior boys are appointed to control children near the school. These boys do not control vehicular traffic, but shcplierd the younger children across the street during lulls in the flow of traffic. The committee proposes to ask all shopkeepers in the city and ilutt Valley area to exhibit "Don't J" cards in their windows during tho week, us one means of suggesting to walkers the advisability of careful walking in bus}' streets, and during the week traffic inspectors will bo jiaying particular attention to "jay walkers" and will have something to say about pedestrians and crossing places. Finance is difficult for tho committee, buf several donations have been made and with a little more assistance the committee will be able to carry on the week in what it believes will be a really useful manner.