NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 46, 23 August 1939, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

University Senate. "It is anomalous that for the past six years- no member of the Auckland Professorial Board has sat on the University Senate," commented Professor W. A. Sewell, formerly chairman of the board, in his annual report to the University College Council, states the "New Zealand Herald." Professor Sewell said it had been suggested that the chairman of the Professorial Board should be ex efficio a member of the Senate.- It would seem fitting that the academic head, for the time being, of the college should be a member of the supreme governing body of the university. It was obviously unfortunate, Professor Sewell added, that the academic point of view in Auckland I University College should" have no voice for so long a time in the deliberations of an assembly which very) often considered matters of serious academic importance. Trentham Camp Activity. Satisfaction with the standard .of efficiency of trainees at Trentham was expressed by the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General J. E. Duigan) yesterday after he had visited the camp. Besides recruits for the Territorial Force and Territorial Special Reservists there were a large number of recruits for the Regular Force and for the Permanent Staff undergoing training at Trentham at the present time, said General Duigan. Great improvements were being made at the camp. Good progress was being made with the construction of the ordnance buildings and one wing was almost finished. No ordnance stores had existed before, and on their completion a large amount :of mobilisation equipment which had been stored in hutments could be transferred to proper buddings. Lorry Engulfed in Quicksand. While being driven from Invercargill to Otaitai Bush, by way of the Waimatuku Beach, a lorry owned by Mr. A. Templeton. fiaxmiller. of Otaitai Bush, was completely engulfed in quicksand. Although the lorry was drawn under in a very short time, the driver was able to make his escape without injury. Usually the sand on the beach is quite firm, but occasionally, after wet weather or during floods, quicksands develop without warning. In this :ase Mr. Templeton's lorry earlier in the day had passed safely over the same spot. Some time ago another vehicle belonging to the fiaxmill was trapped by quicksand, but later was recovered. An old resident states that about twenty years ago a horse team and express were completely engulfed without leaving a trace of their whereabouts. Power Poles in Snow Areas. Damage to 17 steel poles and four wooden poles in the MetlivetJ and Mayfield ciistricts caused by a heavy fall of snow during boisterous weather last Thursday night will cost the Ashburton Electric Power Board about £ 100 for replacements, states the "Press." Interruptions to supply also entailed a certain loss of revenue. At Monday's meeting of the board, the chairman (Mr. E. F. Nicoll) said the effect of the snow on steel poles wouid indicate the need for consideration being given to their use in snow areas. Some consisting of three pieces of railway line strapped together had bent over almost double. The trouble seemed largely the result of wires breaking and imposing undue stress on the poles. Members from the district commented that the snow was surprisingly wet and accumulated on wires, in some cases being six inches through. The weight of this and the wind all contributed to the damage. Conversion of Vehicles. "Motorists who leave their cars un-j locked on the streets are encouraging j unlawful conversion." stated the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr. J. Bruorton), in a report to the Christehurch City Council, reports the "Star Sun." This report followed advice from the Com- . missioner of Transport (Mr. G. L. Laurenson), that steps were unacr consideration to deal with the question of the unlawful conversion of motor vehicles. Mr. Bruorton pointed out that it was not so easy lo convert American cars, because the ignition keys were different from those in English cars. He suggested that a small disc bearing the registered number of the car should be issued with the number plates at a small cost. If per- ; sons were unable to produce this disc they would naturally have to give satisfactory proof of their ownership. Christehurch Art Gallery. Construction of the new art gallery : which is to be built for the Canterbury : Society of Arts in Gloucester Street may be delayed by the refusal of the Christehurch City Council's town-paan-ning committee to ratify the plans on the ground that the proposed building contravenes the provisions of the city's town-planning scheme. states 'he "Press." Tenders for the building, which will replace the existing gallery, soon to be demolished to mase room for the new law courts, have been called by the Public Works Department, which prepared the plans. The report of the town-planning com--1 mittee to the Christehurch City Council on Monday evening stated that the property, at 64 and 66 Gloucester Street, was purchased by the National Broadcasting Service, but was 1 later transferred to the Justice Department. "This is a residential area, and the proposed building does not conform to the requirements of the town-planning scheme." stated the report. "The building is to be taken right up to the western boundary of the section, and covers considerably more of the section thai- is allowed \ under the town-planning scheme. The Public Works Department has betn advis-jd that this builri-.ng contravenes ,-the previsions of the town-planning scheme, and the council asks -that the plan i#> modified to conform with its requirements."

No Aurora Seen. j The fact that a large and active spot] was crossing the sun's meridian yesterday pointed to the possibility of an j aurora being seen last night, especially! as during the afternoon magnetic earth currents, especially in the South Island, were markedly affected. Nothing in the way of an auroral display, however, was observed from Wellington. Had there been one, conditions would have been perfect for observation, the night being beautifully clear. It is on the cards that there will be an aurora tonight instead, but there is no probability about it, only a bare possibility. Auckland Defence Exercises. Exercises similar to those held off the Wellington Heads recently, in which the Army and Air Force cooperated in repulsing a naval attack, will be held at Auckland next week. The Chief of the General Staff (MajorGeneral J. E. Duigan) stated yesterday that it was probable that the exercises would be held on Monday. The new heavy battery on Motutapu Island would be manned by Regulars and Ter-' ritorials and a long-range shoot with live shell would be carried out. The shooting would be at towed targets at a range of approximately 18,000 yards. It is expected that the heads of the three Services will attend the exercises. For the Coining Summer. The Star Boating Club will be able to face the new season with ample equipment for its race programme. During the last season, according to the annual report, the plant was considerably improved by the addition of two new clinker fours and two new clinker sculls, and these, although essentially practice boats, are built on racing lines, and the fours were used in all the regattas which the club attended. A further order for two similar clinker fours and two convertible pairs has been placed for delivery during the coming season, and with these additions the club plant will be in a high state of efficiency. Phar Lap for the Exhibition? The suggestion ihat the skin of Phar Lap, the famous New Zealand racehorse, now mounted in lifelike style at the Melbourne Museum, would form a great attraction at the Centennial Exhibition, was made today by Mr. J. J. D. Sullivan, managing director of the New Zealand National Creditmen's Association, who has just returned from Australia. It is a remarkable specimen of taxidermy, particularly as regards the veinage and muscular formation, in fact a perfect representation of a world-famous horse. The skeleton is in New Zealand. Travel Funds Withheld. An instance of the difficulty in getting funds to travel overseas is provided by the experience of a mining firm in Singapore, which, through its agent in Dunedin, engaged two mining engineers for work in the Malay States, reports "The Post's" Dunedin representative. To provide funds necessary to pay the expenses of the miners to their work, the company telegraphed a draft of £80 sterling, equivalent to £105 in New Zealand currency. However, when the agent went to uplift the funds he found he could not do so. After some delay permission was granted to uplift] £50 only, which was barely sufficient to meet requirements. The rest of the money must remain here, despite the fact that sterling funds to meet- the draft were available in London. Daylight on Main Trunk. "The fifty passengers that were brought to Wellington yesterday afternoon by the rail-car Aotea, were delighted with the trip down from the wash-out," said Mr. G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, today. "They were fortunate in seeing the Main Trunk in the early morning, and therefore at its best. The whole of: the mountains were clothed in snow practically to the bottom, and when we passed Waiouru Station, snow was lying at station level. Ngauruhoe was showing more signs of activity than I have ever seen, and those in the rail-car appreciated this sight." On arrival at Wellington the passengers who had stolen a march on the ordinary and very much delayed service, were assisted in every way. New Conditions, New Rating Basis. An interesting discussion took place at the executive meeting of the Hataitai District Electors' Association upon rating taxation and the necessity for a more equitable spreading of the charges. It was contended that with the development of flats and larger unit residences, a system should be evolved whereby the council should have authority to made an additional levy as a conpensation for the additional services required to be rendered to such properties. It was suggested that a solution might be in the establishment of a servicing fee where the services rendered by the local authority to a particular property exceeded those required for a standard unit dwelling. It was decided to refer the matter to other municipal associations to ascertain their views before making further representations. Looking Through Otira Tunnel. Although many visitors to Arthur's Pass have walked to the mouth of the Otira Tunnel for the sole purpose of seeing the other end, few have been rewarded with anything more than mere darkness, relieved only by the dim yellow radiance of the line of electric lights fading away in the distance, states the "Press." It is authoritatively stated by railway officials at Arthur's Pass, however, that under favourable conditions it is possible to stand inside the tunnel and see a pin point of light indicating the end at Otira-r-a distance of moi-e than five miles. Several excursionists on Suiiday went in search of the elusive "other end" and saw nothing more than the electric lights, but less than half an hour later a few more casually walked over to the tunnel mouth and were surprised to see a brilliant speck of white light in the centre of the darkness. Inquiries from railway officials revealed that there were no trains approaching, and apparently the movement of the sun had caused a brilliant reflection from the snow-clad hills at Otira directly in line with the mouth of the tunnel. End of Holimvood. Once a four-masted schooner, but better known to most people in Wellington in recent years as a hulk in the harbour, the Holmwood made her final voyage last night. Towed by the motor-ship Port Whangarei, the Holmwood was taken to Port Underwood, having been purchased by Mr. F. Daken, a settler, who intends to break her up and use the timber. There is much good timber in the vessel, which will be beached before she is dismantled. All the movable running gear was taken out of her before she left Wellington, but her tall Oregon pine "sticks," which gave her such a distinctive appearance as a hulk, were left standing. The Holmwood is 39 years old. She was built at Marshfield, Oregon, of Oregon and pitch pine and, as the Forest Home, traded mainly in the Pacific Coast lumber trade. She made several voyages to New Zealand, and came to stay in April, 1923, although it was intended that she should return to the States when she had finished working her cargo. The crew held her up on account of unpaid wages, however, and eventually she was arrested and sold ;by auction. She was purchased by Holm and Company, renamed Holmwood. and used in the intercolonial trade. Her running costs were high, however, and she was later withdrawn land used as a hulk at Wellington.