News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 8 October 1941, Page 4

News Of The Day

Plunge Down Bank Although the half-ton truck he was j driving plunged about 300 ft. down a J bank off Wilton Road, Wellington, yesterday afternoon, Mr. H. Foote, of Wellington, who was the sole occupant, sufferred only from shock, being thrown out before the truck came to 1 rest. He was taken to the hospital. ‘ * * * * 1 Deposit Forfeiture 3 On the recommendation of the legal and finance committee the Whangarei Borough Council at its monthly meet- : ing last evenmg decided that all 1 deposits lodged with the council as security for the payment of charges and accounts and remaining unclaimed at the expiry of four years’ should be forfeited to the council’s general account. * * * * Abattoir Killings During September 245 cattle. 690 sheep, 84 pigs and 11 calves were killed at the Whangarei municipal abattoir, the manager stated in his report to the monthly meeting of the Whangarei Borough Council last night. One steer, four cows and five pigs had been condemned as unfit for human consumption. Receipts amounted to £lB7. * - * * Fishing Vessel Adrift Notification was received at Kaitaia at 11 p.m. on Monday that a fishing vessel was drifting off Cape Reinga, obviously disabled because of engine trouble, as there had been no storm. Assistance was sent to the drifting vessel, which was taken to Houhora. The vessel was not damaged, and there was no injury to the crew. * * * 0 Farmers’ Federation The Farmers’ Federation, an organisation which spoke with one voice for all farming interests, including Farmers’ Union, beekeepers, sheep owners and fruit farmers, had as its first work the task of making representations to the Government concerning the Erosion Bill, said the president of the Whangarei Sub-Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union (Mr. A. B. Moore) today. As a result certain amendments to the original Bill had ! been made. * * * * Neatly Placed, Sir! Tennis balls just made in England have been safely delivered to Switzer- ; land for this year's national cham- . pionships there. How they got L through will be a secret until the war is over. Their makers are actually | sending more balls overseas than in peacetime. Sportsmen in no fewer than 51 overseas territories are getting , balls for tennis and squash from them . today, and they have produced an en- . tirely new ball for U.S.A. j * =? . * * > Rest Room Opening The Plunket Society’s rest rooms in Central Park is to remain open at week-ends according to advice received from the Whangarei branch committee by the Whangarei Borough Council at its monthly meeting last evening. Suggested hours for the rest room being open are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. In a further letter to the council the society asked that it should be included in the council’s estimates for the year. The usual grant of £SO was authorised.

*,* * * Disfranchise Problem If a county council were acting as collecting agent for a harbour rate, would non-payment disfranchise an elector in the same way as would the non-payment of county rates ? This question was placed before the Whangarei sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at its quarterly meeting yesterday by Mr. A. Wiblin, who said that the Bay of Islands County Council was now endeavouring to collect a harbour rate. It was decided to obtain a ruling on the question.

Lighting Pedestrian Crossings It is quite practicable to provide sufficient illumination to meet requirement for lighting of pedestrian crossings and still comply with the emergency lighting restrictions. This information was contained in a letter from the Commissioner of Transport, Wellington, received by the Whangarei Borough Council at its monthly meeting last night. The commissioner appealed to the council to co-operate by improving lighting where there was not the necessary visibility, stating that the safety 'of pedestrians crossing the street at night was grealy affected by the reduced level of lighting. As there were no crossings other than school crossings, the council was not affected, said the Mayor (Mr. W. Jones). The letter was received. * - * * Home Guard Inconvenienced The suggestion that it might be possible for the Post and Telegraph Department to give preference to phone calls on party lines to Home Guard officers wishing to transmit important messages, in the same manner that preference was given toll calls was made to the Whangarei sub-provincial Farmers’ Union executive at its quarterly meeting yesterday by Mr. H. Walker. Great difficulty was experienced and inconvenience caused by protracted conversations on party lines, important communications being delayed, said Mr. Walker, whose contention was supported by several members, and it was decided to place the proposal before the Minister for Defence. It was also decided to send a letter of appreciation to the Whangarei Central Committee of the Home Guard, now disbanded, expressing gratitude for the work it had done.