OIL IN THE HARBOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 33, 9 February 1943, Page 3

OIL IN THE HARBOUR

Oriental Bay, the most popular and accessible beach in the city, was avoided by the majority of bathers yesterday owing to a quantity of oil on the water and left on the sand, on the sea wall, and on the wooden staging leading from the bathing pavilion, much to the disgust of bathers and residents. Those who could not forgo the "pleasure" of a swim under perfect weather conditions, came out sadly soiled. Not only Oriental Bay, but the : protective works alongside the railway line to Petone were coated with oil, which was still clinging to the stones and concrete this morning. Oriental Bay was visited yesterday by the City Engineer and the secretary of the Harbour Board. The discharge of oil in the harbour, under normal conditions, is an offence for which heavy penalties are pre- , scribed. In wartime, it is sometimes unavoidable when ships have to enter port for repair or other urgent reasons under conditions which make it impossible to prevent leakage.

A New Zealander tells how, in the middle of the jungle in the South jPacific combat zone, he found something which he never expected to find on a coconut tree. It was the burgee of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club and ■ belonged to a New Zealand airman.

On the suggestion of Councillor F. Campbell the Lower Hutt City Council last evening referred to its bylaws committee the question of making a compulsory stop for vehicles on Cornwall Street at. tne Cornwall and Water-Ipa-Hoad. iatggseptioix,.