News Briefs

Evening Star, Issue 26154, 16 July 1947, Page 4

News Briefs

Flying Boats on Harbour The question of using the Otago Harbour as a flying boat . base was raised at last night’s meeting or the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce by Mr W. J., Winefield, who said that a report on' the proposal should be expedited. After tbe chairmen; Mr A,' C. Stephens, had asked 'whether interested bodies in' Dunedin could not engage tlieir own expert to report, and Mr Winefield had supported this suggestion, it. was decided to refer the matter to the executive, who were to investigate the possibility of convening a meeting of bodies interested. Silver Cross Award to Scont The award of the Spout Association's' silver cross has been made to Patrol Leader James Game, of . Tokopuru group, Northland, by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Bernard Frey berg, acting in his capacity as Dominion Chief Scout. ‘ This I was announced by Dominion headquarters >of the Hoy Scouts’ Association, The award was made in recognition of Game’s gallant, action in "rescuing a boy from drowning in the river at Rope’s Landing, Tekopuru, March 21, 1946.—Wellington P.A. Generating Plant From Britain

Although Britain had considerably to increase her electricity generating capaoity in order to rehabilitate industry, her potential manufacturing capacity was 6till more than sufficient to finable her to meet all orders for electrical equipment, said Mr R. M. Charley, manager of the Transformer Departmentgk the English Electrical CorporatioiuTii an addyess at the University'of Otago yesterday. New Zealand had purchased much of her transformer equipment from Britain, he went on,; but New Zealand’s first 220,0Q0-vqlt transformers were not being built there. He hoped that New Zealand would have sufficient faith to place her next orders in Britain. . Trolly Bus Construction

The Wellington City Corporation has stated its willingness to lend Dunedin a trolly bus chassis, which it expects from England shortly. Tenders, for trolly buses for Dunedin are still under consideration, hilt in order to speed up the delivery of completed buses for Dunedin the Crossley Company, which is supplying Wellington with vehicles, has made' special arrangements should its tender be accented, As construction of bus bodies can be started on delivery of a mew chasis the building of the Dunedin bus bodies could be started in the near future, 1

Renovations Would Be Wasteful Repom'fnending .that nothing .be done to the Normal School building, the Otago Education Board’s architect (Mr C. Muir) advised the board at its- monthly meeting this morning that tq do anything would be a waste of man power and materials, but the playground would have to be put in reasonable order, and that it would b@ attended; to as soon as possible, .The subject was raised by the application of the School Committee .for the renovation pf six rooms in the school and improvements to the playground. Australian Student? The admission muring the next few years into the Home Iscjence School of six scholarship student's from . Australia was approved at’a meeting of the Council of the University, of Otago yesterday. The request came from the 'Health Department, Tasmania. An assurance that the school could comfortably take the six students was given by the Chancellor (the Very Rev. D, C. Herron), who added that it was “ a very fine thing that we enfi .extend this cefirtesy to the University of Tasmania.”

Commendable Acfion The action of two small boys in endeavouring to put out a fire in a city cemetery, and. holding it in chook until help arrived, was drawn to the attention of the Dunedin Amenities .Society by Mr Crosby Morris at its monthly meeting. Oh his motion it was decided to ascertain the names of the boys, so as to write them a letter of thanks, and .to make them honorary members of the society,

Electricity Economies Power saving in Dunedin, yesterday amounted to 2T.IQ per cent., and the average for the two days up to midnight last night was 26,13. There has been no movement in the level or hake Mahinerangi, which still stands at 6fitt Bin. No rain fell ill the catchment area yesterday, and there has been a frost. t

Theatre Fire Hazards “ The Grand Theatre . fire on June 20 has revealed numerous disturbing features which, must be. considered when the next licensing period is due, said Mr F. C. Laidlaw, superintendent of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, when he presented his monthly report to the Metropolitan Fire Board last night, Mr Laidlaw has begun a survey of all theatres in the metropolitan area to ensure that they are safe m the event of fire. He will present a report to the hoard at a later date.One Way of Getting Coal

A macabre slant on the reluctance of coal merchants in Dunedin to. accept new customers because of their difficulties in keeping pace with regular orders was contained in the request ofone man who made an unsuccessful attempt this week to become a merchant’s client. “If nnyone dios,” lie told the merchant, “ let me know, and 1 will take his place! ”

Probably a Weather Baloon All the evidence goes'to show that the “ strange, yellow-coloured star ” which “ Resident of Mosgiel," whose letter was published in last night s ‘ Star,’ declared that be saw over Mosgiel about five weeks ago, was in reality a weather balloon set free from the meteorological station at Taieri, the 1 Star 1 was told to-day. " Resident first saw the star at 11 p.m., and watched it zig-?ag in its course before going out of sight. The weather bah loon' which goes up at 11 p.m., is hydrogen-filled, and has a small lantern attached, the ‘ Star ’ was informed. At night it would tend to zig-sag. Civic Reception for Conductor Members of the public are invited to attend a civic reception to the Dunedin-born conductor, Mr War wick Th’aithwnite, in the Council Chain hers on Friday morning'at 11 o’clock. The speakers will be the Mayor (Mr D. C, Cameront, Dr V. K. Galway, Miss Mary Martin, and Mr S. Lawn. The Mayor has expressed the hope that citizen’s will attend the reception in force and help to make the function a worthy reception for this former Dunedin man who is returning after an absence of 30 years.