NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 100, 29 April 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sealing of City Streets. Of the 69£ miles of streets within ' the city boundaries, 50 1-3 miles are now surfaced with either tar or bitumen. Scouts Learn Firefighting The doputj'-superintendent (Mr. J. W. Hepburn) reported to the Palmerston North Fire Board yesterday that Boy Scouts had been given instruction in lire prevention and extinction and all had qualified for the fireman’s badge. False Fire Alarms It was reported to the Palmerston North Fire Board yesterday that of 28 false alarms during the past 12 months, 21 were malicious. The matter had been put in the hands of the police and there had been one or two prosecutions. Alert Fire Brigade It was reported to the Palmerston North Fire Board yesterday by the superintendent, Mr. P. A. Milverton, that for the 12 months ended March 3 last, the average time taken by the brigade in turning out was 281 seconds. Cost of “Morale” Poster. The following resolution, passed in committee, was confirmed by the Palmerston North City Council last night ; “That no action be taken regarding tho payment by the council of any portion of the cost of production and distribution of the 1 Morale’ poster. ’ ’ State Housing in City. Since tho inception of the State housing scheme, 205 dwellings have been built and completed in Palmerston North, 33 are under construction and tenders have been let for a further 24. During the past financial year, 06 new State houses were commenced and S 3 completed and occupied. Street Baffles Not Permitted.

The Palmerston North City Council last night turned down an application on behalf of the Post and Telegraph Department for permission for six men on a motor lorry to conduct raffles in the streets on Thursday and Friday of any week in order to raise funds in support of the Public Services Queen, Wellington. Maori Recruits. The opinion that not enough was being done by the Army authorities to stimulate recruiting for the Maori Battalion overseas was expressed by Sir Apirana Ngata, M.P., speaking at the official opening of the new Whakarewarewa native school. Money would be required, but ‘‘ no more than the cost of a couple of colonels at Wellington, about £1000.” Decrease in Demand for Gas. During the year ended on March 31 last, 110,092,000 cubic feet of gas was manufactured by the Palmerston North City Council’s gasworks, a decrease of 503,000 cubic feet on the make for the preceding year. The coal consumed> amounted to 5673 tons, of which 5244 j tons was New Zealand coal. During the year 135 gas cookers and 119 gas fires were installed in the city. Maori Buns Amok Running amok in Bank Street, Whangarei, at about six o ’clock last Friday evening, a 17-year-old Maori youth injured a number of people, one severely, before he was taken in charge by the police. Mr. J. E. Cleaver, aged 54, married, of Manse Street, Whangarei, is now in hospital suffering from a compound fracture of the jaw and abrasions. Other men received minor injuries and one woman was rescued from the Maori by passers-by. Intermediate School Committee Nominations Following are the nominations for six representatives of the parents on tho Palmerston North Intermediate School Committee: Messrs. L. C. Sadd, J. L. C. Merton, F. G. Major, A. Charles, W. H. Brown, M. McPhail, and J. S. Hornblow. The election is to be held on Monday next. The other six members constituting the remainder of the committee of twelve will be appointed by the six contributing primary schools committees. Fire Calls and Losses The annual review of the superintendent, Mr. P. A. Milverton, presented to the Palmerston North Fire Board yesterday, showed that there were 125 calls for the year ended March 31, 1941, compared with 15(5 for tho previous 12 months. Actual fires numbered 26, chimneys 21. rubbish, hedges and grass 37, false alarms 28, cars 5 and mis- . cellaneous 8. The most serious fire was at the showgrounds with a loss of , £lllO. The total lire loss for the 12 months was £1895 Is Id compared with £2789 13s the previous year. Emergency Fire Service In reporting to the annual meeting of ■ the Paluiersion North Firo Board, the deputy-superintendent (Mr. J. W. Hepburn) stated that, following the annual ! conference of the United Fire Brigades ’ Association at Blenheim (at which he represented the Palmerston North brigade he visited several other brig- • ades in the course of extended leave. ; From his observations Mr. Hepburn L commented that the work being done t in Palmerston North in connection with the Emergency Precautions Scheme and * the Emergency Fire Service compared * very favourably with that of other • centres.

Himting Tragedy A strong warning to sportsmen and especially deer-stalkers that no shot should bo fired unless the objective was definitely seen was given by the coroner, Mr. \V. L. Richards, at the inquest into tho death of dames Gordon Dryland, who received a fatal bullet wound in the head while hunting between Hongi’s Track and Lake Rotoeku, on April 5. Tho evidence showed that, owing to high scrub at the scene of the fatality and a series of unfortunate circumstances, Dryland has been quite invisible to David Hoffman, who fired the fatal shots, and that he had been mistaken for a deer.

Home Guard at Manawatu Heads. The Home Guard at Manawatu Heads have been very fortunate in acquiring qualified officers to put them through their initial stages and in the short time they have been drilling they have made excellent progress in rifle and general drill. They recently had a very interesting lecture by Dr. Yeates on the construction of Mills bombs and Molotov cocktails. Practical demonstrations of the latter created great enthusiasm. Last Saturday was spent in field exercises and was enjoyed by all The officers sincerely hope that the near future will see every able man at The Heads a muiber of the Home Guard*