Evansdale Derailment

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23001, 2 October 1936, Page 6

Evansdale Derailment

Temporary repairs to the section of the permanent way at Evansdale, which was damaged by the derailment of the engine of Wednesday’s through express from the north, were completed shortly after 11 o’clock on Wednesday evening, with the result that all north-bound trains were yesterday able .to run to schedule. A loop line has been constructed to deviate all trains around the damaged track, and this will be used until Sunday, when the main line will be relaid and the derailed locomotive brought to Dunedin. Mr G. J. Bertinshaw, chief engineer of railways, and the chief locomotive superintendent, Mr P. R. Angus, visited the scene of the accident yesterday, and an inquiry into the cause of the derailment will be held later.

City Fire Alarm* Three alarms were responded to by the City Fire Brigade yesterday. At 9.40 a.m. it attended to a chimney fire in Gillespie street, North-East Valley. Nine minutes after mid-day it responded to a call to premises in Baker street, Caversham, owned and occupied by Miss Mary O’Brien. The alarm was caused by a spark from a chimney setting fire to a detached wooden shed, which was slightly damaged by the outbreak. At half-past 7 last night the South Dunedin Brigade attended to a chimney fire in Forbury road. St Clair. Trans-Tasman Cable Rates

The hope that the time was not far distant when trans-Tasman cable service rates would be reduced. so that they would bear a relationship to telegraphic charges in New Zealand and Australia, and also that the radio telephonic service rates would be much on a par with those for toll calls in the two countries, was expressed by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr Ernest Davis), in his address of welcome at the civic reception to the Premier of New South Wales (Mr B. S. Stevens) and the Australian Minister of Defence (Sir Archdale Parkhill). In his reply. Sir Archdale Parkhill said the Mayor had mentioned an important question, and the suggestions about cable and radio-telephonic charges would be duly conveyed by the speaker to the Postmaster-general of the Commonwealth. Anything that conduced to shorten the distance and improve communications between the two countries should be seized upon with avidity by the statesmen of Australia and New Zealand.

Giant Boar Killed An “ outlaw ” boar which had been the terror of the district for many years and a menace to both sheep and hunters was killed by two Taranaki sportsmen, Messrs E. H. Meuli and K. M. Meuli, who have returhed to New Plymouth after a hunting trip about 18 miles up the Wanganui River. The boar which the hunters followed for two days without success, was described as being as big as a yearling cow, and continued to struggle after five bullets had struck vital places. The hunters picked up the tracks of the boar on the third morning, and, after three hours, their dogs succeeded in bailing it up. As the hunters approached, the dogs jumped in and seized the pig, but one slipped, and it shook the others off. They secured the beast again, and Mr K. Meuli sent a shot into its spine and jumped in to finish it with a knife. The wounded pig. however, raced away, dragging three dogs with it. Four more shots and a knife thrust were needed to kill the pig. Its skin was an inch and a-half thick all over the body and no fewer than eight .22 buffets were found in the pelt, as well as numerous shotgun pellets. Cattle Stampede on Bridge

About 40 head of cattle being driven to Waipukurau this week crashed through the rails of the Waipawa River traffic bridge and fell to the river bed 20 feet below. Seven of the animals were killed outright, and 12 others had to be destroyed. The cattle were about halfway across the bridge when motor cars approaching from opposite directions came on to the bridge. The cattle at once stampeded. They bunched up together, and the strain caused the side-rails to break, throwing the animals off the bridge. The herd was owned by Mr L. Hams, of Napier.

Praise for Railway* Staff' Appreciative reference to the manner in which the local railways officials coped with all the difficulties arising from the derailment of the engine of the north express at Evansdale on Wednesday was made yesterday by Mr John Farrell, who has been in Dunedin making arrangements for the appearance of the noted tenor, Richard Crooks. Mr Farrell was a passenger on the express, and he remarked that the way in which the department met the situation confirmed his view that for efficiency the New Zealand railways staff could not be excelled. In less than an hour after the mishap five buses were at Evansdale, and the passengers, who, incidentally, accepted the situation very philosophically, suffered no inconvenience except a short delay in arriving at their destination.

London Shipping During the week ended August 14, 1527 vessels, representing 1,089,420 net register tons, used the Port of London. Of these 562 vessels (762,495 net register tons) were to and from ■Empire and foreign ports, and 965 vessels (326,925 net register tons) were engaged in coastwise traffic. The arrivals included five meat cargoes, viz., three from Australia and two from South America, comprising 105,000 carcasses of lamb and mutton, 114.000 quarters of beef, quantities of pork, rabbits, and sundries. Twenty-three timber laden vessels arrived at the Surrey Commercial and Millwall Docks with 34,000 tons of softwood timber.

Letter Rescued from Air Crash An air mail letter received recently by Miss Mary Jolly, of London, from her mother, Mrs D. C. Jolly, of Dunedin, had an adventurous journey before it reached its destination. The letter was being carried by the illfated British Airways liner Scipio, which crashed so disastrously in the Mediterranean off Crete- . several months ago. Fortunately, the mailbag containing the letter was rescued from the sunken liner and, after special treatment by the postal authorities finally reached Miss Jolly. On arrival, the envelope presented* a well-worn appearance. Its edges were dyed a deep blue, but the centre portion of it was bleached where chemicals had been used to restore the address. The contents, however, were intact except for a few streaks of blue dye. On the back of the envelope was stamped the somewhat unnecessary inscription, “Damaged by sea water.” Miss Jolly feels that the letter possesses unusual interest through its connection with an air disaster which attracted worldwide attention.

King Edward in Dalmatia “ How the King bought a sailor’s jersey, played a new Dalmatian ball game, left his jacket in an island store while buying green figs at a penny a pound, talked unconventionally with the brown-skinned islanders, bathed, and steered the Nahlin around the bays and harbours of the coast—all these episodes have created a legend of the democratic ruler which Dalmatia will never forget,” states the South Slav Herald, Belgrade, in a special issue commemorating the visit of his Majesty. The South Slav Herald, .which is the only Jugoslavian newspaper in the English language, is published fortnightly, aaid has a wide circulation in Europe, America, and all countries, including New Zealand, where Jugoslavia nationals live. The special number comprises 14 pages, lavishly illustrated, printed on highgrade imitation art paper.

Radio and Literature Apprehension that, unless radio was handled very carefully, we as an educated people would deteriorate, was expressed by Mr C. A. L. Treadwell, of Wellington, in an address on “ New Zealand} Prose.” “ One ■ cannot look with complacency upon the informative potentialities of wireless,” he said. “It may be used by the Government of the day for imposing their political views on the public, and as the days pass by we may find these messages couched in language entirely lacking in culture, having as their main purpose the impressing upon the mind political faiths without regard to form. Taking one’s information through a loud-speaker instead of from the printed pages will eventually produce an ill-instructed or ignorant public. There is something strong and reliable in a good book. There the reader has not the fiery emphasis produced by change in tone or voice; I am a little apprehensive that unless the radio is handled very carefully, we, as an educated people, will deteriorate. The great leaders of thought, in art and in science, will never be produced to lead the world if the radio is allowed to obtrude itself unduly upon that class of person who at present takes advantages of the inestimable opportunities provided by libraries.”

Snow-bound in Eglinton

Pleasure and thrills were found in abundance by a ski-ing party of Southland and Otago residents which travelled up the Eglinton Valley to the Homer camp last week-end. After an enjoyable day on the snow, the party made preparations to return on Sunday afternoon, only to discover that a heavy fall of snow had made it impossible for the cars to get through. Camp was set up, but next morning the snow was 4ft lOin deep, and the party’s chances of getting away were still more remote. The enforced wait was not a weary one, for the guide, Mr Kurt Suter, entertained the party with an exhibition of ski-ing. It was almost with regret that the party saw the snow-plough approaching in the early afternoon, clearing the road for the cars and paving the way for farewells to the Homer Saddle, Mount Talbot, and the winter glories of the Eglinton.

Pronunciation of 11 Nazi ” The pronunciation of names associated with European political movements is often the cause of difficulty to those not acquainted with the languages concerned, and many variant methods of pronouncing the word “ Nazi ” and “ Fascist ” are to be heard. For the former, the Rev. N. L. D. Webster, at one time minister of St. Andrew’s Church, Christchurch, who i visited Germany this year, offers as authoritative a pronunciation which, though perhaps the most obvious to English people, is not generally heard. He said that a German university graduate told him that it was pronounced so as to rhyme with lazy, and not “ Nahzi ” or “ Natzi,” or any of the other variants heard. Incidentally, Mr Webster said that a surprisingly large number of people in Germany spoke English. There was scarcely a shop where it was not spoken.

Eye Strain.—For Eye Comfort, or better vision, consult Sturmer and Watson, Ltd., Opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 12-359. — Advt. Those who are requiring an Engagement Ring will do well to inspect our stock. Peter Dick, Jewellers and Opticians, 488 Moray place. Dunedin.— Advt.