LAUNCHES LAID UP

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25287, 22 August 1945, Page 6

LAUNCHES LAID UP

NINE NAVAL FAIRMILES moored at greenhithe After rather more than two years' active service with the Royal New Zealand Navy as a flotilla, most of the Fairmile motor-launches which recently returned from duty in the Solomons are now lying at moorings in the upper harbour between Pine Island and Greenhithe. They have been disarmed and their crews have been paid off, although a few officers and men are on board for maintenance purposes. Nine Fairmiles and two smaller motor-launches were at the moorings yesterday. They are in two groups, one of six Fairmiles and the other of three Fairmiles and two smaller launches, and are moored stern to stern not far up the harbour beyond Hobsonvilie. Many and Varied Duties The Fairmiles were built by various yards in New Zealand, and, although the cost was never disclosed, it was suggested that it was at least £40.000 each. After tkey had been commissioned and until tliey were sent to the Solomons early last year the Fairmiles were ! used for various defence duties in New Zealand waters. In the Solomons they carried out: patrol, escort and anti-submarine routine and were also used as screens for ships loading and unloading at various advanced bases. In almost 18 months they logged 380,000 miles between them, and, although they saw no direct action' against the enemy, the\ did an essential and monotonous duty | in a thoroughly efficient manner. Their I performance was all the more meritori- | ous because they were not designed for ! such work. Future ol Vessels Uncertain After their tour in the Solomons the Fairmili'S returned to Auckland in two groups, the second coming back almost a month ago. Since then there has been mucli speculation about their future, but the only official hint has I been that given bv the Minister of DeI fence, Mr Jones, in a recent statement ! on the reduction of the forces. He then said that the crov.s would he paid off. What will happen to the vessels themselves is not known, although many consider that their permanent retention by the Navy is most unlikely. A photograph is on page 0. UNUSUAL DISTURBANCE HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT PEOPLE AROUSED FROM SLEEP (0.C.) NAPIER, Tuesday Pronounced rumblings, as if caused bv distant muffled gunfire, aroused many Hawke's Hay people from thensleep between one and four o'clock this morning. Inquiry today failed to establish the cause definitely, for, while the disturbance was attributed to Kuapehu, reports suggest that the mountain is smoking steadily, with no evidence of unusual activity. No earth movement has been recorded, although people stated that windows in Napier and Hastings homes were shaken. From Waipukurau and Haunioana there were reports of houses being shaken. For some weeks past there have been occasional reports of rumblings being heard and these have generally been attributed to Ruapehu. However, the disturbance early this morning was far more pronounced than any earlier occurrences.

FERRY BUILDING SIREN USE FOR TIME SIGNALS QUESTION OF RESTORATION ."Although once it may have served to indicate at what time work on the waterfront should start, for some considerable period before its removal for use elsewhere as an Emergency Precautions Scheme warning signal the siren's blasts at noon and 5 p.m. had little or no significance," reported Mr D. Holderness, engineer-superintendent of the Auckland Harbour Board, when a request for the restoration of the Ferry Building time siren at 8 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. from the Junior Chamber of Commerce was being considered at a meeting of the board yesterday. Mr Holderness said it was his opinion that there was nothing to be gained by its restoration. "The blast to anyone in near proximity to the siren can be very disturbing." said the chairman, Mr J. H. Frater. With the time being announced over the radio and the number of clocks in the city he felt that there was no need for the siren. He moved that the engineer-superintendent's report be adopted. Mr H. R. Mackenzie moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the board-in-committee. The siren gave the Greenwich mean time .and should be resumed. The amendment was carried by six votes to five. SMASH AND GRAB THEFT JEWELLER'S HEAVY LOSS (0.C.) PUKEIvOHE, Tuesday i Between two and three o'clock this I morning a large plate-glass window in j the premises of Mr W. Wright, jeweller, i King Street. Pukekohe, was broken and ! jewellery valued at between £250 and £3OO stolen. The thieves secured a number of diamond engagement, wedding and signet rings, several wristlet watches, lockets, other articles of gold and fountain pens, which were on display trays in the window. Both trays and contents disappeared. A motor-car was heard leaving the street a few minutes after a resounding crash had awakened near-by residents. ROAD IMPROVEMENT REQUEST TO COUNCIL (0.C.) ROTORUA, Tuesday A deputation representing the Native Department and settlers waited on the Rotorua County Council today asking that improved roading be provided for the Rotoiti block, where 3000 acres of a ">OOO-a ere area have already been developed. Mr J. J. Dillon, representing the Native Department, stated that the Railway Road Services had agreed to run a school bus for 11 children ol primary school age as soon as Maniatutu Road was put in negotiable condition. A teacher at Ok ere School would reside in the locality, driving the nr.which would also serve children attending high school. The chairman, Mr H. P. Ford, said tho Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, when Minister of Education, had visited the district and expressed sympathy with the settlers' submissions. The council agreed to apply for a grant of £ISOO tor road construction and the elimination of dangerous bends. COUNTY PLANNING (0.C.) _ ROTORUA. Tuesday After discussion of an extra-urban planning scheme, as outlined by the county engineer, Mr T. S. Robertson, the Rotorua County Council today agreed to apply for an Order-in-Council requesting it to prepare such a scheme, to include the Kontu. Clayton Road and Kawaka Point areas. . Objection was taken to the resolution of the Rotorua Borough Council seeking authority to include Koutu within the borough, and the chairman was authorised to call a meeting of ratei payers in the area.