LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23955, 3 May 1941, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Harbour Regulations With the hours of daylight becoming fewer the naval authorities have announced that the Motukoreho Channel is now closed between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Motukoreho Channel, which is between | Brown's Island and Rangitoto Island and is used by vessels sailing toward I Motuiiii Island, has previously been closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Serious Accidents Increase Again last month the number of serious accidents in and around the city was markedly higher than that for the corresponding period of 19-10. This tipward trend has been noticeable since last August. According to figures compiled by the St. John Ambulance Association in Auckland, there were 114 accidents last month, against 79 in April of last year, and included were 49 serious cases, compared with 29 in the previous April. Office Waste Paper Salvaged The sale of waste envelopes and paper for 7s, which had been sent to the Fighting Forces Appeal, was reported by the secretary of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, Mr. N. R. Chapman, at yesterday's meeting. Mr. Chapman explained that waste articles of this nature had been saved in the office for some time. "If one small office can do this," he added, "there would be considerable revenue for patriotic purposes from all commercial offices." Emergency Fire Service Already over 300 men have volunteered for the Emergency Fire Service in Auckland, and of these 251 have so far been passed fit, but until arrangements are made for the provision of adequate lighting in Beresford Street, the full training of recruits cannot proceed. Representations to Mr. R. H. Bartley, lighting controller for the [ Auckland district, about extra facilities | resulted in his writing to the Dominion controller, Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, from i whom word is awaited. Railway Sky Glare A new type of louvre to reduce the sky plow in the marshalling yards at the Auckland railway station has been produced at the Otahuhu workshops and will bo tested this week-end. It is confidently expected that the new fittings will further reduce the glare from the flood lights in the yards, making their visibility from the sea practically nil. Provision has already been made in the Auckland area, which runs from Papakura to Helensville, to cover the lights of stations and approaches, and also for the immediate extinguishing of all lights when the alarm is given. Lights at the Otahuhu and Westfield lines will ho given attention when the worth of the new devices for screening has been assessed. Cairo's Traffic Perils "It is quite an experience to travel in a taxi through Cairo by tho 'Dead City' route," states a letter received from Trooper R. M. F. Orr, a former resident of Sanson now serving with tho Expeditionary Force. "The drivers arc the most reckless in the world, and on the road one passes all sorts of vehicles, including old trucks and donkey carts. Not only have tho drivers to contend with such vehicles, but also children pulling small handcarts, darting from dark, obscure alleyways straight across the road and missing death by inches. Driving through Cairo by this route is certainly hair-raising, when the taxi comes to a sudden stop or swings and sways, and ii> ]b marvellous that more people are not killed."