LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24879, 28 April 1944, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Soldiers from Pacific A fairly small draft of officers and other ranks who have been on service with New Zealand garrison forces in the Pacific has returned to They will receive 28 days' leave on pay immediately their medical and dental examinations have been completed. Victoria Eegina and Gladstone Among the many parties in divorce petitions before the Supreme Court yesterday were a couple whose Christian names were Ewart Gladstone and \ ictoria Regina. This did not escape the notice of Mr. Justice Callan, who commented to counsel, "Tou have set me a problem which I would never have thought possible, to pronounce a decree in divorce between a person named Victoria Begina and another named Ewart Gladstone." The husband was the petitioner. Dominion's Fifth City The omission of the claims of the City of Lower Hut-t in the race which is taking place for the fifth city of the Dominion is pointed out by a Lower Hutt airman. Lower Hutt was proclaimed a city in February, 1941, and its population as given by the 1940 Year Book is 22,600. This places it well behind Invercargill, which, with a population of 26,400, is having ite place challenged by Wangariui with 26,000. Paimerston North, is the closest contestant with these two cities, having an estimated population of 25,500.

Saving Electricity From the fact that the down of radio broadcasting stations for 30 minutes each day last winder effected a saving iu electric power in excess ot expectations, it is regarded as certain bv power supply officials in Auckland that the restrictions shortly to. _be imposed will be of longer duration, though not necessarily in one continuous period. The saving of current used for power purposes is much more important than economy in lighting units, and it is if that direction that the Power Shortage Advisory Committee w concentrating its investigations. Taxi Prosecutions

Details of prosecutions taken against taxi-drivers during the past financial year were included in a report presented to the City Council last night by the superintendent of traffic, Mr. C. Bland. Offences for which convictions were obtained were:—Over-charging, 3; un* licensed taxicab, 1; failure to clock m, '22; accepting bail hire, 3; failing to comply with direction of Control Committee. 5; overloading, 4; no taximeter. 2; deceiving telephone operator, 3; charging separate fares, 1 ; fines amounted to £56. Five other informations were dismissed and two withdrawn.

Treatment of Intersections Four street intersections regarded as dangerous and calling for treatmen with traffic islands or roundabouts are to be placed on the City Council s estimates next year. They are: (I) Jude Street and Great North Road, Avondale; (2) Victoria Street. Franklm Road and Union Street, Freeman s Bav; (3) Fanshawe, Sturdea and kelson Streets and Market Place; (4) Great North Road and Western Springs Koad. It was reported to the council las* night that the approximate total cost, including installation of illuminated hollardsTwas £5750, individual amounts, in the order given, being £I4OO, £1450 and £SOO.

Power Boards Anomaly An anomalous position has arisen in respect to the annual meetings power boards which, by Statute, , be held in May. This year the municipal and power board elections will be on May 27. The matter was mentioned at a meeting of the Franklin P Board yesterday. Legal opinion, , secretary, Mr. A. J. McDowa 11, ; ' was emphatic that the date for holding the annual meeting could not be p poncd until after the election as tne Act was mandatory. Trie board, the fore, decided to hold its annual meeting on the usual date, May 23 and to el* its chairman, in spite of the far he had to run the gauntlet of an election four days later.