Topical Topics

Northland Age, Volume XVII, Issue 64, 14 May 1948, Page 6

Topical Topics

Further to the pedestrians’ request for a footbridge at Redan Road - - an added appeal that the potholes at the hill approach to the bridge be repaired, is liable to be made by motorists ; it isn’t the easiest dodging pedestrians and potholes in one operation before navigating a narrow bridge. ft There was at least one local resident who did not suffer from that “Monday morning feeling” yesterday. When the rest of the town was pulling on raincoats and shaking out umbrellas, preparing to start the dav at office and workshop, he was seen returning from a shooting expedition, gun in hand and with a brace of duck-dangling from the handlebais of his bicycle. Four more in his haversack proclaimed the rewards which await the early riser. ft We wonder if the motorist who so blithely negotiated the main street on Friday night without the assistance of his headlights was confused by a rosy glow suffusfhg his immediate surroundings and innermost being. * It was evident at the May sitting of the Kaitaia Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that traffic authorities are carrying out a purge on cyclists. No less than five of our more energetic road-users were fined for breaches of the lighting regulations. * An enterprising local horticulturalist found recently that when planted, peanuts swept from the floor of a picture theatre germinated rapidly, broke soil in four days and produced a splendid crop. We wonder if the film showing at the time was “The Green Years.” * Although there have been numerous consignments of game birds, both duck and pheasant, to the South since the opening of the shooting season, N.Z.R. Road Sendees employees state that they have not compared favourably in numbers vvith those of previous years. Most of this year’s bag despatched will grace Auckland tables. ft Mr. Peter Wilkinson, local artist and Northland’s prominent member of the Auckland Society of Arts, is exhibiting his water eolbur, “Towards Mount Camel, Kaitaia,” at the annual exhibition which was opened by His Excellency, the Governor General, at the Auckland Art Gallery on May 7th. His work, a panorama including the Far North's famous peak, was painted from the hills at the top of Larmers Road. Mr. Wilkinson, who has been exhibiting for 14 years, attended the private view last week. There ar e about 300 pictures hung, about 150 of them being the work of artists in the Auckland Province. * Fo r the first time in history, the high cost of living has caught up with and passed the cost of high living. (Extract). ft Who’s Who in Golf 7 Messrs. Ray Freeman, Leo Pointon, Jack Logan, Jack Crosby, Peter Robertson and Eric Bellingham all of whom travelled to Whangarei this week to compete in the North Auckland Championships to be played at the Mount Denby links during the weekend. The 36-hole qualifying rounds were to have been concluded this afternoon. ft Petrol Shortages Evident Three cases of thefts of petrol from the tanks of motor vehicles have been reported in Kaitaia recently. All of these occurred rear the State Housing Department’s block on the Western side of the town, where motorists are obliged to leave their vehicles on the road owing to the absence of garaging facilities. * Minister’s Visit Dr. J. L. Newman, Northland Medical Officer of Health, told Councilors at Wednesday night’s meeting >f the Borough Council that the Minster of Health, Miss Mabel Howarl, would be visiting the North late this nonth. It is understood that Miss loward will arrive on the 24th and hat she will pay a call on Kaitaia 'efore her return. ft New Buses for Northern Routes Two, smart additions to the Kaiaia fleet of the N.Z.R. Road Services re the new type EF service coaches, slivered recently from Wellington, hese vehicles replace old buses hich have gone out of service, and re larger than any others operating ver the Far North routes. They differ from the type EE in fat they have a central aisle and ingle entrance instead of side doors ir each of a row of transverse seats, hey are considerably larger, havlg fully six feet of headroom over ie centre of the chassis, ample rack oace for incidental luggage and are ■ loonted on a bigger chassis pulled y a 35 h.p. motor of American make, ome six h.p. more than that mounted In the Type EE. Though the chassis and engine are Vmerican products, the impressive oachwork and upholstery is of New Zealand manufacture and a' credit to

and excellent advertisement for the makers, Messrs. New Zealand Motor Bodies Ltd., of Wellington. Each of the places for the 20 passengers is upholstered separately in an attractive leather, mounted on tubular steel frames. Arm-rests are. provided outside and between the twin seats and upholstered, adjustable headrests slide to the required position on leather thongs. The interior woodwork is highly polished and perfectly finished. Footrests of rubber, patterned on the roller design, are fitted throughout, while a feature which is sure to attract sightseers, is the provision of a separate window for each pair of seats. Convenient leather glove pockets are fixtures in front of all passengers. From the driver’s viewpoint, no vehicle could be better appointed or designed. The driver’s position is excellent, and the view of the road, both ahead and to the sides, is quite unobstructed. The single, bucket-type seat is conveniently placed relative to the wheel and comfortably upholstered in leather, matching that of the passenger accommodation. The conventional leather strap attached to the entrance door allows it to be closed with ease from the driver’s seat. It is no doubt comforting to residents of the Far North to know that they have at their disposal the most up-to-date and comfortable means of road transport. “THE KAITAIA WE LOVE” Although suitably impressed by “The London I Love,” a pictorial review of the delights of the great metropolis of the Mother Country and hub of the Empire, Kaitaia-ites do not lack appreciation of their own environment. Perhaps some of them would express their pride in jingle, something after this fashion : We have our share of Chambers, And they do not run to sameness, County, Commerce and the Borough, Horses all of differing colour, And some other shapes and sizes, Whose uses won’t surprise us. We have our parks ancL- gardens, Kept with public browns and fardens, Their walks have “crown-top” paving, Borders, tall paspalum waving, And what’s a little broken glass, Hidden ’neath the dewy grass, It least ’twill ring on bobbies’ feet, And let sly lads beat safe retreat, For ’though life here is quite sublime We must admit to having crime. Our social life is not forgot, We’ve dances where the music’s hot, And if this entertainment palls, We carve initials on the walls ; Perhaps this recreation’s poor, Then we slide upon the floor, ’Though A. and P. officials frown, That’s when we really go to town ; And if the air is full of fluff, A swimming-hole is near enough, We totter down to take a dip, ’Though sheep mayhap have dipped in it. We could continue scribbling on, For there’s so much to rhyme upon, In this retreat of the far far .North, Whence men of old were bid “come forth.”