NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wellington Free Ambulance,

A letter has been received by the Hutt County Council from the- Wellington District Free Ambulance Board stating that the necessary authority for the council to make a contribution not exceeding £150 to the ambulance service for the year 1935-36 was provided for in Section 40 of the Local Legislation Act, 1935. The chairman (Mr. D. R. Hoggard) said the council appreciated the valuable work of the Free Ambulance, and it was agreed to pay the usual contribution of £150 to the Free Ambulance. Motor Camp Control. The Hutt County Council has received a communication from the Medical Officer of Health stating that the Health Department has considered the adoption of regulations dealing with motor camps, but had decided, after consideration, to draft model bylaws and urge their adoption by local authorities. These bylaws were in course of preparation. At, the present time such camps could only be controlled by existing county bylaws or by the general provisions of the Health Act, especially Section 26. Provided no actual nuisance was caused, no action could be taken to prohibit' the use of the section at Day's Bayas a camping ground. If any condition was allowed to arise which might cause danger to health, there was ample power under Sections 26 and 27 of the Health Act to take action against the owner of the section. The Medical Officer of Health suggested that the section in question be kept under view by the county inspector, and that appropriate action be taken if the necessity arose. Plimmerton Water and Drainage. "At a meeting of the Hutt County Council yesterday, Councillor R. L. Button said that a meeting of ratepayers of the district had been held at Plimmerton to consider the question of the provision of a water and drainage system for the township. He was very pleased to see the way in which the ratepayers regarded the matter. The net result of the discussion was that he was asked to request the council to obtain a report on a drainage and water scheme from the council's engineer. The engineer was instructed to furnish a report. An Unpleasant Day. There may be some rhythm to the patter of rain-drops when one is lying in bed, feels that he needs a good rest, and knows that the morrow is Sunday, but certainly not to typists, clerks, and the rest of the working community when they have left their coats and umbrellas at home. There were many who were caught in this way yesterday. Spectators at the cricket match at the Basin Reserve were disappointed when rain stopped play, and the annoyance generally was considerable. But the taxi-drivers were one section of the community who did not mind. They welcomed the squally weather with its rain and high wind and were kept busy during the afternoon and again at night when picture patrons emerged from the theatres to find the rain pouring down. The tram traffic also was heavy yesterday. Upper Hutt Bates. Reporting on the rate collection, the Town Clerk (Mr. R. C. Major) stated at last -evening's meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council that the last day for the payment of rates to escape the imposition of the 10 per. cent, penalty was Tuesday. A comparison of receipts was as follows:—l 936, £8132; 1935, £8368; 1934, £7307. For the years 1934 and 1935 the totals were to January 31, whereas this year's total only represented to January 14. This years figures were as follows:—Rates struck, £8821; current rates received, £7026; discount, £249: arrears received. £UUo. The percentage of the current year s rates collected to date was 83.67. Petone Post Office. Although the finishing touches are being put oh the exterior of the new Petone Post Office, a few weeks work yet remains to be done, mainly m the interior. It is considered likely that the post office will be opened late in February or early in March. The temporary premises are in St. David's Schoolrodm, at the rear of the Presbyterian Church. Motor-cyclist Hurt. ' Crashing to the track from the top of a steel ladder fixed to his moving motor-cycle, Putt Mossman, American trick rider, received minor injuries while practising at Monica Park yesterday morning, states the Christchurch "Star-Sun." One of Mossman's stunts is to fix a steel ladder to his machine, and, cleverly balancing the motor-cycle, climb up one ide of the la'''er and down the other, while circling the track. Yesterday morning, the ladder, which had been bent when Mossman was involved in an accident in Auckland, broke while he was climbing it. Mossman cut his knee, put his thumb cut, and hurt his shoulder. A few minutes later, however, he was again on the track, and he appeared at Monica Park last evening as arranged.

Christchurch Engineer's Distinction,

With the latest developments in the welded construction of great buildings is associated the name of a Christchurch man, Mr. C. W. Hamann, A.M.l.Struct.E., states the "Press." He was joint consulting engineer in the \ building of a huge entertainment pavilion at Bexhill, on the south coast of England, at a cost of more than £80,000. The pavilion was opened towards the end of last year by the Duke and Duchess of York. The building is the largest all-welded structure yet attempted in England. It was designed purely upon welding principles and aroused great interest. During its construction the pavilion was visited by ithe King and Queen, who were interested to be shown how welding was done, and how the various sections were joined together. Before that the district surveyors of London paid a visit to Bexhill. They also had wished'to acquaint themselves with the latest developments in welded construction. Mr. Hamann was once a pupil of the Christchurch Boys' High School, afterwards going to Canterbury University College, where he studied engineering. Later, he worked with Mr. R. A. Campbell, a well-known consulting engineer in Christchurch. It was in April, 1932, that he went to England. He has become now an associate of the Institute iof Structural Engineers, and of the Institute of Welding Engineers. Mr. Hamann is the son of Mr. C. G. Hamann, of Fendalton.

Fast Travelling. Travelling by air has allowed a Christchurch resident to cover a considerable portion of New Zealand in the last two days, states the "Press." On Wednesday he was a passenger in the Karoro, one of Union Airways aeroplanes, in which he flew from Christchurch to Palmerston North via Blenheim, back to Christchurch again via Blenheim, and on to Dunedin. On Thursday he came back to Christchurch in the Karoro, arriving at 1 o'clock. After spending four hours in Christchurch he left for Hokitika in a much smaller aeroplane, the Canterbury Aero Club's Fox Moth, flown by Mr. J. J. Busch, the club's commercial pilot. At Hokitika he was met by Mr. J. C. Mercer, flying one of the Fox Moths of Air Travel (New Zealand), Ltd., who took him on, to the Franz Josef Glacier. To cover the same route by surface transport would probably take nearly a week. Invasion by Air. Invasion by air of a sea-surrounded country like ' this, as its difficulties were explained by Admiral J. E. T. Harper in a lecture' at Christchurch on Thursday night, seems most improbable, states the "Press." Invasion, of course, had not to be confused with a raid. It meant properly the occupation of some part of a country. ,To make occupation, as well as further advance, an enemy would need heavy artillery, tanks, lorries, countless tons of ammunition, and oil fuel. The day was far distant when such things would be transported by air. Accident Sounds Alarm. When a motor-car skidded in Thorndon Quay at 7.50 last evening and brought down a telegraph post, two fire brigade engines were hurriedly summoned to the scene. This came about as a result of the fire alarm carried on the post going into operation on falling.- Of the three occupants of the car, two sustained injuries. Miss Peggy Coleman, of 96 Pirie Street, received a severe laceration of the right ear, injuries to her face, and shock, and her father, Mr. W. J. Coleman, received an incised wound to his face. Both were taken to hospital by the Free Ambulance. ,