LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganella's Sailing Delayed In order to complete working a heavy inward and outward cargo, the departure for Sydney from Auckland of the Hudd art-Parker motor-liner Wanganella has been postponed 24 hours until four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The Wanganella will arrive hero this morning from Melbourne and Sydney and berth at Prince's Wharf. Completion of New Wharf Work on the new Hobson Wharf has been almost completed. Finishing touches are now being given to the goods shed at the further «nd of the wharf; the other two sheds are already in use. The Hapai is at present completing the dredging of the berths on the western side, and later will clean up on the eastern side. The dredging will be completed in aljout a fortnight, when the new wharf will be available to its fullest extent. Bed Boad Light As an experiment, the present white road-light at the intersection of the Great South Road and the PukekoheBombay Road is to be changed to red. The intersection, at which several accidents have occurred, is recognised as dangerous, and a request was made to yesterday's meeting of the Franklin Power Board by the Franklin County Council, which pays for the light, that the board convert it to red as a night indication to motorists of the need for special care. The board agreed to the request. Model Aeroplane's Flight

Something of a record flight for a model aeroplane was created in Auckland yesterday. The model was made by Mr. R. Court to send to America, and he was giving it a trial flight, when it disappeared and he was unable to locate it. The rubber motor stopped 30 seconds after the model was launched at Ellerslie, but the glide carried the model out of sight over Mount Eden. The aeroplane was last sighted three-quarters of an hour after its flight started, as it disappeared into a cloud in the vicinity of the Zoo.

Standard Building By-laws Draft proposals for a New Zealand standard by-law for residential buildings, flats and apartment houses forwarded by the secretary of the New Zealand Standards Institute were presented at a meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council last night. The proposals comprised part of a standard code of building by-laws in course of preparation, the covering letter stated, and additional parts would bo submitted as the drafts were completed. The letter asked for comment and suggestions from the council on the draft submitted. Mount Albeit Rates A satisfactory position with regard to the collection of rates for the year 1938-39 was revealed in a statement presented by the town clerk at the meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council last night. Of the general rates levied for the year, £67,703, 85 per cent had been collected. Excluding payments for State houses, which were paid on a rental basis, 90.5 per cent had been collected up to February The figures compared favourably with those for the same period last year, when they were 80.7 per cent and 86 per cent respectively. Wilful Damage to Insulators The wilful destruction of insulators on telegraph and telephone lines is a cause of serious loss to the Post and Telegraph Department, according to a statement by the director-general, Mr. G. McNamara. Apart from the cost, he said, there was the danger of interference with important communications, even involving human safety. Many prosecutions were taken each year, mostly against juveniles, who used the telegraph line insulators for tests of marksmanship, yet the degree of damage through thoughtlessness and mischief continued to be substantial. Land for State Housing

The possibility of a further largo block of State houses beiflg erected in the Mount Eden and Mount Roskill districts on land belonging to the Wesley Trust is foreshadowed as the result of negotiations at present being carried on with the State Housing Department. The area involved is one of 140 acres and would, it is estimated, provide flat sites for at least 600 houses. The roading and reticulation work necessary would also provide a great deal of employment. Estimates of the cost of roading have been prepared by the Department, and the final decision regarding the purchase rests with Cabinet. Swimming Instruction at Waiheke Many pupils of the Ostend School, Waiheke Island, have taken advantage of the national fitness week to improve their swimming ability, and a number of children who were previously unable to swim are now able to swim distances from 25 to 50 yards. Certificate tests were held, and in practicaly every instance the children wero able to improve on their previous distances. Several covered half a mile and received the highest award, the certificate of merit. The teacher, Mr. G. E. Hill, has also given instruction in life-sav-ing, particular attention being paid to resuscitation.

Bronze Reliquary Caskets Two bronze reliquary caskets to be set in niches of the sanctuary of tho Auckland War Memorial Museum have been designed and east by Mr. Richard R. Gross, the well known Auckland sculptor. They are to contain rolls inscribing the names of those from the Auckland Province who fell in the Great War and of the next of kin, respectively. Part of the cast design jia, conventionalised plant forms that combine European and Maori symbolism. There is tho rose for love, laurel lor victory, oak for valour and kawakaWa for mourning. Above each casket is a bronze votive offering. , Steps now lead to the niches that will contain the caskets, the design of which is related to. the whole scheme. Electric Sign Danger Fears that the granting of an application for two electric signs on hoardings at the corner of Princes Street and Anderson's Bay Road might involve a danger to motorists were expressed-by the Mayor, Mr. A. H. Allen, at a meeting of the Dunedip City Council when the report of the General Committee was being considered. The Mayor said there was a possibility that the signs might be too bright for the cornet, which was a complicated one. Mr. Henderson said he did not think there was any danger, but if the council thought fit, the clause could be referred buck to the committee. Mr. Smith stated that as a motorist he believed there would be a danger as such signs were generally very bright, and wore an annoyance, especially on a night when the streets were wet. The clause was referred back to the committee.