DOMINION NEWS REVOLUTIONARY DRAINAGE MACHINERY

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1946, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS REVOLUTIONARY DRAINAGE MACHINERY

A farm-drainage machine which digs a trench seven inches wide and up io three feet deep and in the same operation lay tiles in the trench bottom while travelling at 10 chains an hour has been imported from England, for demonstration purposes by the Massey Agricultural College. Machines of this rotary-hoe type were evolved in England during the war since 1942, and played an important part in bringing into use land formerly unproductive because of lack of drainage. The mechanical details of the machine were closely guarded during war time. Only recently this heavy implement has been taken off the secret list. The use of the machinery is expected to usher in a new era in farm drainage, and bring within the realms of economic possibility the permanent removal of excess water from many thousands of acres of good land now lying unproductive as swamps and rush-covered paddocks. Interest in the trial operation of the machines is likely to rival that displayed when the first bulldozers arrived in New Zealand and and were tried out some 10 years ago in the' Buller district. —(P.A.) Boxer Killed in Collision One of Auckland’s best-known amateur boxers was killed in a collision between a small car and truck at Devonport. He was Richard Lawrence Branch, aged 27, a salesman, of Devonport.—(P.A.) ' Crane Driver Electrocuted James Gavin Hughan, aged 20, an aircraftman, was. killed instantly when the crane he was operating in the railway goods yard at Wellington yesterday touched overhead electricpower lines.—(P.A.) Third Boating Victim The body of the third member of the party whose small boat was swamped on Wednesday afternoon was found near the Rangitoto wharf, Auckland. He was Eric J. Roseman, defence purchase officer of the Army Department, married, of Mission Bay.—(P.A.) New St. Helens. The building of the new St. Helens Hospital in Christchurch will begin almost immediately on the site fronting Colombo street. This information was given last evening by the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) in an interview. He said that, after prolonged negotiations between the Government and the contractor, Mr. W. Williamson, concerning matters is dispute, he was happy to say that all difficulties had been resolved and arrangements made for the contractor to begin work immediately.

Bomber Delayed. The Royal Air Force Avro Lincoln Excalibur from the Central Bomber Establishment has been delayed a day in Australia, and is not now due at Ohakea until late on Tuesday afternoon. The bomber is scheduled to take off from Sydney at approximately 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the latest advice received by the Air Department. The Excalibur is Carrying out the R.A.F.’s first overseas bomber liaison mission, and has a group of

experts on board from the Central Bomber Establishment, led by a New Zealander, Group Captain S. C. Elworthy. Lectures and demonstrations will be given to R.N.Z.A.F. personnel at Ohakea and Whenuapai while the aircraft is' in the Dominion.—HP.A,)

Queen Mary Visits Wool Display. Queen Mary visited a display by the International Wool Secretariat, showing the versatility of wool for manufactures.. Queen Mary described the varieties as “very ingenious.” L-London, September 20.