SHAVINGS

Evening Star, Issue 21720, 15 May 1934, Page 2

SHAVINGS

NEW MATERNITY HOSPITAL The handsome donation of £6,000 from the Dunedin Savings Bank to the Otago Hospital Board towards the erection of the new maternity hospital in Dunedin provides confidence for the realisation of the scheme in the very near future. At present the actual financing of the building is somewhat involved on account of the Government’s desire to reduce its subsidy to. the lowest possible amount by forcing the board into the reconstruction of St. Helen's Hospital. This, course is not approved by the board, and as the erection of the new building will provide a considerable amount of work for tradesmen it is felt that the Government should meet the local authorities in a request which appears a reasonable one. The proposed site for the new building docs not .interfere, with the Dunedin Bowling Club as commonly believed, as sufficient ground is available on the Castle street frontage without encroaching upon the club’s greens. * * * * INCREASING SHOP WINDOW LIGHTING. Confirmation of the report that aluminium paint is a light reflector and superior in this connection to any white paint is provided by the recent treatment to Jamieson’s Building, in Stuart street, and Stokes’s Budding, in Princes street, where the ceilings of shop verandahs have been coated with aluminium, with a consequent improvement iu the lighting conditions of the shops concerned. Occupiers of the shops mentioned now find that it is unnecessary to burn .electric light during the day time in order to display their goods. * + * * BRUSH FACTORY EXTENSIONS. Confidence in future trade possibilities is displayed by the Otago Brush Company, which has just completed the erection of a fine two-story warehouse in King street, and which is now proceeding with the extensive reconstruction of its factory. When the work is completed the latter building will be increased in size, and the machinery will be rearranged so as to confirm to the modern chain methods of production. Messrs O’Driscoll Bros, are prosecuting the work to plans and specifications prepared by Mr D. G. Mowat. sfc 5* * * BUILDING ACTIVITY. The value represented by building permits issued in the larger towns during March was £613,297, an increase of £208,164 over the February figure. Tho now Wellington Railway Station is included in the March figure, swelling the month’s total by £339,173. The number and value of permits issued for now dwellings has'fallen off during the past four months from 264 in November, 1933, to 136 in March, 1934, each of the intervening months showing a fall as compared with the preceding month. The fall iu the value of permits for new dwellings has, however, been more than counteracted by increases in the value of permits for “ other buildings.” + * * * PRESERVATION OF POWER POLES.

“ Vegetation around the bases of poles is one of the greatest causes of deterioration to be contended with,” stated the engineer (Mr G. Burrowes) in his report to the Waimairi County Council last week. He said it had been noticed that where oxide had been spread on footpaths for the killing of weeds the poles were in much sounder condition than those on footpaths not similarly treated. Vegetation held the moisture, harboured vermin of all description, and caused the growth of fungus, all of which contributed to the conditions that brought about the decay of poles at the ground line. The council decided to purchase another 50 tons of the chemical. * *, * '.j« ELECTRIC STOVE FORGOTTEN. An Onehunga housewife who left her electric stove full on for eight days when she was away from home, and returned to find the oven red-hot, made an application for a reduction in her account in a letter received at a meeting of the Auckland Electric Power Board recently. The woman said she forgot the power was on when she had to leave home hurriedly with a sick child. She found later that no damage bad been caused, either to the electrical equipment or to the enamel. After considerable discussion the request for a rebate was referred to the general manager, Mr R. H. Bartley, who said the use of the stove for such a long period had made a considerable difference to" the account. ijc * ;fc STREET BEAUTIFICATION. One of ‘ the most striking features which distinguish the new suburban streets in Wellington from the old ones is the trimness of the grass on the unused strips of ground at the sides. This has been brought about by the adoption by the City Council of a policy of cooperation with the residents most concerned. The plan has been adopted most extensively in Karori, and m a different manner in Miramar, but is unknown in some suburbs. The cooperation of the residents is important to the complete success of these attempts at street beautification. When there appears prospect that the work will be appreciated and that the resident will do his share—the maintenance of the lawn by mowing it at tbo proper times—the city council men level the ground or make it otherwise heat and spread soil. The seed must be provided by the residents.