DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1942, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS

SCOW STRANDED IN FOVEAUX STRAIT. P.A. INVERCARGILL, June 2. Last night the Bluff Harbour Board launch brought Captain A. S. Miller and four members of the crew of the scow “Horouta,” back from the centre of the island. The scow is still in the same position as when it ran ashore early last Thursday morning. It is stated that a point of rock has pierced one side of the vessel, holding her fast. Most of tee cargo has been taken ashore, though a fair quantity of heavy cargo is still aboard. The “Horouta” dragged her anchors in a heavy swell in Foveaux Strait and the engines could not be started in time to keep her off shore. The crew lost all personal effects. An effort will probably be made to salvage the engine and other gear. RUNAWAY TRAM. P.A. DUNEDIN, June 2. Passengers on the 4.30 p.m. cable tram from Dunedin to Kaikorai yesierday had an alarming experience. The car became partially out of control on a steep grade leading down to the Kaikorai Valley terminus. As the tram gained momentum, a girl, aged 13, one of seven passengers at the time, apparently jumped from the car. She was taken to hospital suffering from concussion and abrasions. The manager of the City Corporation Transport Department (Mr W. H. McKenzie) said that -although the tram hit the turntable at the end of the line with consid-' erable force, the indications were that it had been brought partly under control again. Nothing more could be said, until full inquiries had been made. HOSPITAL COSTS. P.A. WELLINGTON, June 1. Replying to a deputation from the Wellington City Council, Mr Fraser said he could hold no hope of adjustment being made during the war to the system of hospital taxation, so that the whole of hospital costs would be met by the State. He assured the deputation that consideration would be given to the question as to whether it would be possible to increase the contributions from the Social Security Fund for occupied beds. SOUTHLAND FROSTS. P.A. INVERCARGILL, J'une 2. For the fifth morning in success’on a hard frost was experienced in Invercargill yesterday, when 13 degrees was recorded-L-one degree less than the record for' the season, which was established on Sunday. Degrees of frost on the other three mornings, were: Saturday. 10, Friday, 7, Thursday, 9. At Gore on Sunday a frost

of 17 degrees was registered. N.Z: POPULATION. P.A. WELLINGTON, June 2. The mean population of New Zealand is given in the latest Abstract cf Statistics, as 1,631,276 for the year ended December, 1941, including Maoris and comprising 799,241 males and 832,045 females. The 1936 census showed the population as 1,573,810 (799,089 males and 774,721 females).