DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 27 August 1946, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS

INTER-ISLAND PHONtS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. A second twelve-channel telephone carrier service across Cook Strait will be put into service on September 2. It would effect a very marked improvement in the inter-island toll service, said Hon. P. C. Webb. Between Wellington and Christchuich fourteen toll circuits would be available instead of the eight at present. Three circuits would be available between Wellington and Dunedin as compared with one at present, while the Wellington to Blenheim outlets would be increased from four to five and the Wellington to Nelson outlets from two to three. While it was possible that there would still be some little delay in connecting toll calls .between subscribers in the North Island and those in the South Island during, the peak morning and evening periods, the Minister said that when the additional outlets were in operation a greatly improved toll service could be anticipated.

HUTT VALLEY RAILWAY WELLINGTON, August 25. “Although the electric multipleunit trains for the Hutt Valley railways are to be generally similar to those now running between Wellington and Johnsonville,” said Hon. R. Semple, “they will • incorporate several important improvements.” The multiple-unit part of the contract with the English electric company which the New Zealand High Commissioner signed in London, is for forty motor coaches and seventyone driving trailers. A normal train to Johnsonville comprises one motor coach and one driving trailer, but the standard on the Hutt lines will .be three units —one driving trailer, one

motor coach, and one driving trailer, in that order. If not required one trailer may be detached and one or two standard sets may be coupled, giving electric trains of six and nine cars when needed. While the new equipment is intended primarily for service in the Hutt area, it is being built suitable for use also between Wellington and Paekakariki. Some of the improvements to be incorporated are designed to meet special local conditions. Others are in keeping with the latest technical advances overseas. Together they will bring to Wellington and its suburbs a standard of electric train travel equal to anything on the London tubes.

GRAIN MARKET. DUNEDIN, August 25. There is now little milling wheat left in farmers’ hands although there may be a small quantity to be thrashed from the stack in the spring. . A shipment of Australian wheat is expected next month and another probably in December It is considered that these two shipments will be sufficient to keep local mills going until the wheat from the next harvest is available. Reasonable supplies of fowl wheat are available. Oats are now in short supply, and, prices for white oats are firm at a fixed price. Most of the white oats now left in stores will be requited for spring sowing. Inferior lines of white oats still have a demand from North Island buyers for feed purposes, and also for grinding into meals to take the place of Australian barley, which was formerly available in the North Island. Duns are bring higher prices than those ruling for whites, and the market for black oats shows a slightly better tone. There is no change in the chaff market at £7 5s a ton, ex truck, Dunedin.