LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sand and Water "Do not be confused by the opinions of experts and self-constituted experts on the rival merits of sand and water For dealing with incendiary bombs," said the Mayor and Chief Warden, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, in an address to Rotarians on the E.P.S. yesterday. "The best advice is to rely upon and use both." Horses for City Council Twelve horses have been purchased by the Christcliureh City Council, it was reported by the Water Supply and Works Committee that, "like all other users, the council's petrol allowance had been cut considerably, and some of the work will now have to be carried out with horse transport." It was reported that the horses had been purchased at prices between £'2s and £-30. The action of the committee was confirmed. Schoolboys Dig Trenches Stripped to the waist and wielding their picks and shovels with enthusiasm, 16 scholars of King's College, Otahuhu, made good progress yesterday in digging shelter trenches at the school, preparatory to the re-opening of the college next week. Th<* boys reported in response to an appeal made several days ago by the acting-liead-lhaster, Mr. H. B. Lusk. The trenches are being dug in fields adjacent to the school playing grounds. Postwomen lor Auckland It is the intention of the postal authorities shortly to call for applications from women for mail delivery in the city and suburbs. The number required will be governed by the extent to which the postmen's branch is further drawn upon for military service. In other centres postwomen are said to be doing good service. Four were appointed recently in Wellington, four in Hamilton and two in Papatoetoe. More are to be engaged in Wellington this week. E.P.S. Control Centre "A well-protected control centre is being prepared in a large city building, and sub-centres for the various services are also being protected," said the Mayor and Chief Warden, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, in an address to the Auck land Rotary Club yesterday on the E.P.S. and its work. "The GovernorGeneral tells us that dead heroes are no good," he added humorously, "so if an emergency occurs I and my associates wil! have to take our stations in this 'funk-hole.' " "Casual Clerks" Several well known officers of the Railway Department, who have been on superannuation have returned to the service to occupy positions made vacant by men required by the Army. A new group of officers has been created by the department and regardless of their work, they are listed as "casual clerks." These men are brushing up their knowledge of Departmental routine at desks, making up railway rates, pay sheets, and undertaking numerous other duties. Some ex-guards wi! resume their former duties. Napier Earthquake Anniversary Eleven years ago to-day the most disastrous earthquake recorded in New Zealand took place in the Hawke's Bay district Occurring shortly before 11 o'clock in the morning of February 3, 1931, the earthquake did great damage and caused 283 deaths. Hundreds of people were injured. Structural damage m Napier and Hastings, which were the centres to suffer most, was exceptionally heavy. Other districts affected included the Wairoa, Waipukurau and Waipawa. Intermittent minor earthquake shocks were recorded for several weeks afterward. Practical First Aid Test A practical test in first-aid work was given the personnel of the Emergency Precautions Service dressing station at Howick beach, when .Mrs. Alice Louise Foy, aged 69, of Marine Parade, Howick, slipped on the rocks at Mellon's Bay and fractured a thigh, Acting on a call, two women workers from the E.P.S. station took a stretcher to the scene of the accident and gave assistance. After putting the injured leg in splints, they lifted the patient into a rowing boat, which they pushed through shallow water along the beach to a St. John ambulance, which was waiting to take Mrs. Foy to the Auckland Hospital. The ambulance officers complimented the two women on their treatment.