NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1939, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Penalty on Late Paid Rates.

The City Council last night passed the usual formal resolution as to the imposition of a penalty of 10 per cent, on overdue rates. The penalty will be imposed on and after February 26. Change in Bating System. A letter was received by the City Council last night from the Hataitai Electors' Association advocating a change in the system of rating in the city, either upon the annual value basis or by direct charge for services rendered. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that the question was not at the moment a matter of practical politics, for the council could not consider any such application unless it were by requisition, signed by not less than 15 per cent, of the ratepayers on the city roll, for a poll. The letter was received and the association, is to be formally advised of the position. Dredge Equipment Lost. Included in the- cargo of the wrecked Waikouaiti is a quantity of wire rope, copper cable, and electrical equipment for a number of the West Coast dredges, and, according to advice received from Bluff, there is little chance of these.goods being salvaged, says the Greymouth "Evening Star." As they are necessary for the maintenance of the dredges, the companies will be forced to repeat their orders. JohnsonviUe Overbridge. Following representations to the Minister of Public Works for the im--provement of the road at the north end of JohnsonviUe, where it crosses the railway line by an overbridge, the Minister has advised the roads committee of the Automobile Association (Wellington) that he is investigating the suggestion that the road be taken over the old railway lines at a point a few chains south of the overbridge. The Minister is ascertaining whether the Railway Department is in a position to release the necessary land. Footpath for Airmen. The war has given users of Settlement Road, Levin, another argument in favour of the construction of a footpath. The roads committee of the Automobile Association (Wellington) reported to the executive last, evening: "In view of the establishment of an Air Force training ground at Weraroa, the roads committee feels that renewed representations should be made to the Main Highways Board for the construction of a footpath along this road. It has been pointed out that the Air Force uniform is of such a colour that it is very hard to pick up at night, and this makes it all the more important that a footpath should be provided, for pedestrians." Hutt Road Division. "Some time ago the question of the construction of a physical separation along the Hutt Road, between the overbridge at Kaiwarra and Ngahauranga, was considered by the City and Suburban Highways Board, but it was decided that no action be taken," reported the roads committee to a meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last evening. "In view of the success of the widening of the Hutt Road beyond Ngahauranga and also the Ngahauranga Gorge, in both of which roads a physical separation has been constructed, the roads committee feels that representations should be made to the City Council for reconsideration of the position between Kaiwarra and Ngahauranga. The construction of a physical separation along this section would help materially in dividing traffic, and it would be an easy matter to make ample provision for spacing, so that vehicles wishing to gain' access to business premises on this section could do so." Pedestrian Crossings. , Reference to effacement of many of the pedestrian crossings in the city was made at a meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last evening, when Mr. E. H. de J. Clere said steps should be taken to have the crossings repainted before Christmas. The chairman (Mr. E A. Batt) considered that the executive should write officially, drawing attention to the matter. In the next two months, he said, there wQiild be a large number of strangers in Wellington. After Mr. A. L. Warburton had suggested that the bad weather might have been responsible for the damage, ,Mr. Clere said a request should be made for the laying-down of coloured, permanent crossings. The \ secretary (Mr. W. A. Sutherland): j "That is provided for in the new regulations? (Transport Department). It was decided to write to the City Council. Charge for Baths. The decision of the Wellington City Council to increase the charges payable by clubs using Thorndon Baths at night was discussed at last night's meeting of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association. Mr. J. Blakeley said that whereas last year the night's rental was 12s 6d plus caretaker's fee, 7s 6d, this year it was proposed to increase it to £1 plus caretaker's fee. It was stated that the Hutt Borough Council gave the Hutt Club free use of the Riddiford Baths, taking the gate proceeds. For a payment of £1 a night the Hutt council was willing to allow the club to take the gate receipts. It was decided that unless a reply is received within a week to a letter sent by the centre .to the reserves committee asking it to reconsider the charge, a deputation should be sent to the council. It will consist of Messrs. J. Blakeley (Lyall Bay), I. Johnstone (University), W. J. Look (Wellington), and E. Hughes (Maranui). Alien Interned. As a precautionary measure a Wei-; lington resident of alien nationality has been interned, said the Attorney-; General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) last night. "The registration of aliens, and the restrictions imposed on the movements of enemy aliens under the War Emergency Regulations, had been in the nature oi a survey for the purpose of obtaining full information, and did not imply any presumption of disaffection," said Mr. Mason. "As a result of this survey, however, in addition to certain residents of Samoa whose internment in New Zealand had been decided upon, one Wellington resident of enemy alien nationality has also recently been interned. This was purely a precautionary measure, and did not imply that any illegal act had been committed or attempted. Proper provision is made to secure that the circumstances of the internees shall be reasonably comfortable, and that they shall have such of the amenities of life as can be enjoyed consistent with tthe necessity of guarding against the possibility of the transmission of information of military value." ~

Swimming Pool at Johnsonville. The Johnsonville School Committee has under construction a swimming pool of the Cornwall Park type, said Mr. L. H. Joblin, education officer of the Wellington centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, at the centre's meeting last night. The pool is 45 feet long and 12 feet wide, with a depth of three feet, and the cost is in the vicinity of £200. An invitation has been extended to school committees to inspect the pool and the Waterloo school committee is to go to Johnsonville this week for that purpose. : New Bronze Coins. Supplies of the" new series of New Zealand bronze coins are to be issued by the Reserve Bank within the next few days. In* making this announcement last night, the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) said that it had previously been intended by the Government that the new design—particulars of which have already been made public—would be issued for the first time on the occasion of the Centennial celebrations, but an increasing shortage of Imperial bronze coins has made it necessary to issue the new coins at an earlier date in order that the public might not be inconvenienced. The City's Coat of Arms. Permission for the Wellington Cricket Association to use the citys coat of arms on blazers and caps was refused by the City Council last night. The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) said that the Town Clerk had reported that a similar application by the association was refused by the council in. 1936 The application pointed out that the Auckland and Canterbury representatives wore the coats of arms of their respective cities. Numerous requests for permission to use the coat of arms were received from other worthy, bodies in Wellington, but its value . would be immediately lost if its use became common. Councillor M. F Luckie: What is the objection? The Mayor: This is the coat of arms of the Wellington City Corporation and should be kept as such, surely. Limit Catch. Poor conditions for trout fishing have been experienced since the Governor-General Viscount Galway, accompanied by Captain Lord Dormer, aide-de-camp, arrived at Fulljames fishing camp late on Friday, states a Taupo correspondent. However, in spite ofthe unfavourable conditions on Saturday, his Excellency secured a limit catch of ten ' good average fish. Throughout the day his Excellency took four fish on the wet fly, and during the even rise he hooked the remaining six fish on the nymph. Lord Dormer took a total of five fish. Conditions were greatly improved on Sunday, which was sunny, although tempered with a moderate south-westerly wind. Fishing was satisfactory in sheltered waters. ' Exit From Wellington. What was described by Mr. E. Palliser at last evening's meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington) as the first real signs of development in the direction of the outlet from Wellington from Wadestown, via Ngaio, is the decision of the City Council to prepare plans. "Following the renewal of representations made to the Wellington City Council regarding the construction of an additional outlet from Wellington from Wadestown, via Ngaio," said the report of the roads committee, "advice has been received from the Town Clerk that the City Engineer has been instructed by the council to have a survey made of the proposed road and construction plans prepared, so that the work may be put in hand when finance is available for the purpose. Mr. Palliser said it was to be hoped that the construction* would be undertaken as winter work. North Road Speed Limit. The proposal of the Commissioner of Transport that the imposition of a 30 miles an hour speed limit between Paremata and Plimmerton be extended, does not meet with the' approval of the roads committee of the Automobile Association (Wellington). "It will be recalled at last meeting the toads committee recommended agreement with the proposal of the Transport Department that a 30 miles an hour speed limit be imposed on the new north road for a distance of half a mile northwards from the , Paremata Bridge," said the committee's report to the executive last evening. "It is now suggested by the Commissioner of Transport that this limit be extended to a point eight chains beyond the Pahautanui junction at Plimmerton. The roads committee is unable to agree with the proposal made by the Commissioner of Transport, because, it feels, first of all, that the extended area cannot be described as a built-up area. There is good visibility on a first-class road.; The Commissioner of Transport indicates that there is an extended building programme taking place here. However, the roads committee sugegsts that the restriction of 30-miles an hour be not further extended unless and until the area can be classified as a built-up area. The roads committee feels that representations should be made to the Transport Department and the Main Highways Board to take steps to ensure that the buildings which are to be erected in the^near future should be set well back from the road, and adequate room left on the side for a footpath and for parking of vehicles, so that they will not be parked on the traffic width of the road." New Patrol Boat. The only vessel of its type in the Dominion, a 26ft patrol boat for the Auckland division of the New Zealand Coastguard will be launched on Saturday afternoon from the yar&s of Shipbuilders, Limited, St. Mary's Bay, states the "New Zealand Herald." To be named "New Zealand Coastguard No. 1," the launch, which will be capable of 15 or 16 knots, will be used as an ambulance, patrol, and rescue boat in the Hauraki Gulf, and, if necessary, on the coast. The New Zealand Coastguard is a voluntary organisation, which has been in operation in Auckland for little more than a year. At present there are more than 100 members, who are receiving a thorough training, on naval lines, in the saving of life and assistance in any maritime emergency. Under the command of Captain J. P. Eastmure, the division is based at the Tamaki Yacht Club's clubhouse. The design of the patrol boat, which will be powered by an eightcylinder converted car engine, is sturdy, with speedy lines. A feature of her equipment is a transferable stretcher, in which sick cases from gulf islands or ships can be handled and transferred on arrival jti Auckland into a St. John ambulance. The boat's stretcher, on being put in the ambulance, will be replaced by one of those carried in the vehicle. In addition the patrol boat will carry full medicinal supplies, which will be under the charge of a qualified doctor with the coastguard rank of surgeon-lieutenant.