A Christchurch Loan.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 100, 28 March 1939, Page 6

A Christchurch Loan.

The Christchurch City Council is raising a loan of £150,000 for the reconstruction and sealing of 53 miles of streets.

Nature Study Encouraged. The Wellington Education Board has approved of l lie formation of Nature study field clubs to be run by the boys and girls at schools in its district.

Sailors’ Society Benefits. Under the will of Mrs Christina Watson, the British Sailors’ Society, Dunedin, will receive the sum of £3OO. This information was given last night at the annual meeting of the society by the treasurer, who said the money would be handed over when the estate was realised.—Press Association. Surf Clubs Unite.

Community of interest has impelled several surf clubs to unite, with Wanganui as their centre. A conference was held in Wanganui last week-end with Foxton Surf Club and Castlecliff Surf Section representatives and Patea Surf Club delegates. It was reported that the Tangimoana Surf Club also supported the decision to form an association, to he known as the West Coast Surf Association. To draw up a constitution and elect officers, a further conference will be hold shortly. Palmerston Gas Exhibits.

A letter was received by the Palmerston North City Council, last night, asking for a donation towards the New Zealand gas companies’ exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition. The letter stated that £SOOO was required, and that steps were being taken to complete arrangements. The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) said that the council was spending a fair amount of money on improving gas mains and it should support a move in this direction. These remarks were supported by Cr. W. B. Tennent, who said that the display would he the same as that of the electrical firms. He moved that £SO be contributed towards the exhibition, aud this motion was carried.

Roman Catholic Celebrations. The Roman Catholic celebration of the centennial of New Zealand is to take place in the first week in February, 1940. Fruit Less Plentiful.

Though apples and {rears are fairly plentiful in Wellington, shorter supplies of stono fruit, such as nectarines, apricots and peaches, are coining forward. Nectarines and apricots, after a comparatively good season, arc now less plentiful. Tepid Baths Proposal.

The question of converting the municipal baths into tepid baths will he discussed at the next meeting of the baths committee of the Palmerston North City Council. Meanwhile, the engineer has been instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of roofing tho baths, and the electrical engineer is to submit a report of the electrical heating of the water.

Tree Planting Approved. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Manawatu County Council, to-day, the chairman (Cr W. E. Barber) said that there was one aspect of the Centennial celebrations which he particularly approved and that was planting of trees by every public body. He thought that if this was done there would he a good impetus to the forestry of New Zealand. More Bus Passengers. The traffic manager (Mr H. J. Smith) reported to the Palmerston North City Council last night that the number of passengers carried by the municipal bus sendee last month was 48,653, which was an increase over the corresponding period of last year of 2762. The total revenue for the month was £579 7s Sd, an increase of £ls 9s lid over the figures for February, 1938. State Housing Block.

Steps for the beautification of the State housing block at West End are now under way. and are to be planned with discretion. It is hoped, provided sufficient funds are available, to plant 100 chains of back hedges, 200 chains of subdivisional hedges, and to allocate a certain number of shrubs and trees to each section. The work will be carried out under eontract by qualified nurserymen, who will have a wide choice of suitable varieties of shrubs.

Auckland 'Milk Supply. A reassurance concerning the supply of milk for the city and suburbs was given yesterday by the chairman of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council (Mr I. J. Goldstine), who stated that, though the prolonged dry weather had affected the usual supplies of milk, arrangements had been made to obtain supplies from further afield to meet the position. He did not expect any shortage. The secretary of the council stated 1 hat there was a deficiency in the ordinary supplies of milk of about 20 per cent.—Press Association.

Branch Library Policy. The Terrace End Development and Progressive Association made application to tho Palmerston North City Council, last night, for provision to be made in the estimates for the ensuing year for the establishment of a branch library at Terrace End. The council decided to advise the association that it was at present concentrating on the development of the central library and that whom branch libraries were under consideration Ten-ace End’s claims would not be overlooked.

Marketing Extension. Tbe efforts being made by tho New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board to find additional markets for New Zealand mutton and lamb were referred to by tbe chairman of the board (Mr T. A. Duncan) in Wellington yesterday. Mr Duncan said that in view of the new shipping service to South Africa, the board was investigating the position with a view to opening up trade in New Zealand mutton and lamb in South Africa. As a result of the shipments made to Canada last year, said Mr Duncan, the board has made increased shipments to that Dominion this year. A Long Bridge. An indication of the great length and fine structure of the new Rakaia bridge was gained by Mr W. Mouldey, of Palmerston North, who has just concluded a motor tour of the South Island. Mr Mouldey told the “Standard” that he had passed the new bridge, which is the longest in Now Zealand, on Thursday last, when he was travelling from Dunedin to Christchurch. It had been opened on Saturday by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple), and he (Mr Mouldey) said of all the works lie had seen in progress lie had been most impressed by this.

Requests for Tar-Sealing. A number of applications for tarsealing of streets were received by the Palmerston North City Council last night and it was decided to advise the writers that consideration of these requests be given when the estimates were being framed. The applications included one from the Terrace End Progressive Association for tar-sealing of streets in that area; from the ratepayers and residents of Kowhai Avenue requesting ta-sealing of the full width of the roadway; the residents of Weston Avenue and Rangitano Street extension requesting that these roadways be tar-sealed; and the ratepayers and residents of College Street extension drawing attention to the present unsatisfactory condition of that street, which, since its opening, had been used extensively for traffie purposes, and the dust nuisance had become serious. Whirokino Trestle Bridge.

Traffic will probably be able to use the long new high level trestle bridge at Whirokino next week, when the old route will be still available for stock. It was hoped to have had the bridge open earlier, but further time is necessary. The construction of the bridge has occupied three years, but its completion marks the end of a winter bugbear for motorists, due to periodical flooding of the old road routes. Only minor work on the trestle bridge remains to be done, and the decking is now being cleaned up. The approaches will be allowed to consolidate under the traffic, and will be sealed later. Extensions to Library.

Owing to the large increase in the membership roll of the junior library it has become necessary for the Palmerston North City Council to provide larger and more suitable premises at an early date, stated a report presented to the monthly meeting last night, by the librarian (Mr H. Greenwood). It was advisable to have the junior department separate from the main library in order to simplify the problem of discipline and to make for better departmental supervision. When the junior library was opened as a free department the service facilities for issuing and receiving books had been a temporary measure. The council decided that two shops in Fitzherbert Avenue be reconstructed to accommodate the junior section and that the rental department bo extended by the addition of the adjoining shop in the same street. It was reported that the total membership during last month was 3703, comprising 1081 senior, 1419 junior and 1203 rental members.