FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 23526, 15 March 1940, Page 3

FIFTY YEARS AGO

FROM ‘STAR* FILES

The city surveyor estimates that wc have.about 12 days’ supply of water in the two reservoirs—that is, with what may be expected to come in during that period. The south reservoir stands to-day at 33ft lin perpendicular, and the north reservoir at 22ft. The south i-eservoir is 9ft llin down; and, as the shape is that of an inverted cone, it will be seen that the bulk of the water is gone. It is proposed, should the drought not break up in the interval, to put on the low level supply on Sunday. This will leave. part of the hills north of Rattray street without water between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for that day only. With so serious an outlook, consumers should be very careful to prevent waste.

A general meeting of the members of the New Zealand Drapers Assistants’ Union was held in the Y.W.C.A. x-ooms for the purpose of electing officers and transacting other business. It was agreed to leave the office of president open in the meantime. The following other officers were elected:—Vice-pre-sidents, Messrs J. Todd and R. M‘Elherau; secretary, Mr W. Q. M'Millan; treasurer, Mr H. Miller; trustees, Messrs A. Miller and T. Howard; committee—Messrs Grey, G. Crown, J. Jeffries, Fowler, Turnbull. Mahan, Brittemlcu. G. Kohn. Xorrie. Duke, and A. Kohn.

Governor Sir Charles Mitchell has telegraphed to President Kruger condemning the disturbance that took place at Johannesburg recently and expressed regret that an indignity should have been offered to the flag of the Boer Republic. It is, therefore, improbable that President Kruger will punish the rioters. • * ♦ » A hundred miners arc reported to be entombed in a colliery explosion in Wales. Fifteen bodies have been recovered. ♦ # • h In a message from Sydney it was stated that the railway lines are blocked in all directions. The townships Kernpsey and Smithtown are under water the latter to a depth of 12ft. Boats and river steamers are engaged in rescuing people. No fewer thah 300 persons have taken refuge on a dredge on the Lower Macleay. AH the townships along the banks of the Richmond River have been flooded. Grafton is under water. * * * # Serious flooding also occurred in Queensland. In both States there was a considerable loss of life.