NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 16

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sinking at her moorings at the Hamilton wharf, the paddle steamer Manuwai now lies with the decks covered with about 6ft of water. The vessel is the best-known of the Waikato River craft. It is proposed to raise it when the river subsides. “ You will get hot water more quickly with a coal range than with an electric range,” said the chairman of the Southland Hospital Board (Mr T. Golden) during a discussion on the purchase of an electric range. “The electric range is slow compared with the coal range when it comes to heating water.” Quality Coffee! The ‘world’s best— Blue Mountain Jamaica freshly roasted and ground daily, is only obtainable from A. Durie and Co., coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin... , , ~ The number of cases attended by the Wellington Free Ambulance during November was 975. Curiously enough, that was the number of cases attended in November last year—a coincidence which has never occurred before in the history of the organisation. Comment on the fact that Transport Department traffic inspectors did not have the power to arrest offending motorists was made by Mr J. Tait when he appeared on behalf of a defendant in the Magistrate’s Court at Invercargill. “It is not for us to criticise the law, but I do think it is unfortunate that inspectors are not given that power. Had the inspector had the power of arrest, my client would not be in his present position.” said counsel. Canister sets, bread bins, etc., make useful Christmas gifts. Call and inspect our selection. We are open Friday night.—Dickinson’s, Ltd., 441 Princes street, Dunedin... Between noon and 1 p.m. one day last week, a roar like thunder greeted the ears of people near the junction of Hunter and Featherston streets, Wellington. Several citizens skipped across the road, anticipating trouble. “I thought the building was collapsing, said one business man. who made the crossing in record time. On inquiry, it was found that the men engaged on demolishing Baker’s six-storey building had begun operations on the para-, pet, and were making use of an in* terior chute to send the bricks to earth. A six-storey chute makes good stage thunder. . Come and see our show to-night, we are open till 9 o’clock Friday nights.— Scoullar and Chisholm. Limited... Appreciation of the courtesy extended by tramway motormen to pedestrians using authorised crossings m Queen street was expressed at a meeting of the council of the Automobile Association (Auckland) * last week by Mr H. W. Bullock. He said that since representations had been made to Mr A. E. Ford, manager and engineer of the Auckland Transport Board, there had been a ready response by tramway employees. .... An emphatic protest against press reports of wholesale condemnation of farm separator butler ” was recorded by the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union the other day. The Dairying Committee recommended this action and also that the secretary (Mr A. L. .Adamson) make inquiries about the origin of the reports and their foundation. A letter from the Women’s Division suggested that instructions in butter making should be‘given by some responsible person and that the name of maker and date of manufacture be placed on the wrapper of separator butter. The committee’s recommendation was adopted. , . Christmas Is drawing near. What about the usual hamper? Crossans Waterloo Hotel, Caversham, will give all orders the best attention... A statement that he was intending to buy camping equipment and camp near suitable fishing places in the South Island, but that he had been told in the North Island that not much camping was done in the South Island, jwas» contained in a letter from a British Army officer who has arrived in New Zealand to spend a fishing holiday which was read at the last meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society. The reading of the passage was followed by laughter, and the only comment made by members was: “ The North Island is at work the duplication of the Main Trunk railway line for the full length between Auckland and Hamilton, some heavy cuttings close to stations are being made. One of the largest was the elimination of the tunnel at Mercer by the removal of the hill above. One of several chains’ length and an average depth of about 30ft is being made at the northern approach to the Pukekohe station, while last week work was also started on one over 100 yards long and about 35ft deep at the southern approach to the Tuakau station. Here the route is also being straightened. „ Grandism (3684): Christmas Eve, we close sharp at 6 p.m. Shop early. A merry Christmas everybody. We reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Boxing Day... Work being carried out with new wheat crosses at the wheat breeding station of the Wheat Research Institute at Lincoln was explained by Dr O. H. Frankel to members of the committee of the institute when they visited the station the other day. Two new wheats were shown to the members. One of these was New Tuscan, which will be distributed shortly, and the other was a hybrid wheat of the parentage of Reward and Tuscan, which Dr Frankel said was of the highest baking quality. A laugh was raised at last week’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board when the safety of school children when being conveyed by motor transport to and from school was ‘being discussed. One member, said that a contractor for transport in one district on one occasion used a lorry which on the outward trip conveyed lambs and on the return journey children. “ Lambs one way and lambs the other.” came the interjection. “ Well, he certainly looked sheepish when tackled about the matter,” added the original speaker. The Big Store, Milton, is ready for the Xmas Trade with Fancy Goods, Drapery, China, Hardware, Grocery, Sweets, Tobacco. Buying Gifts for the holidays is made easy at Gray’s... The opinion has been advanced that the people of the present day and age are decadent and lacking in the primary virtues such as chivalry and honesty. Christchurch has at least one citizen who can claim to possess the latter, and that under circumstances that precluded any possibility of his ever being found out. A local man, after procuring a number of stamps the other evening and affixing them to packages, walked out of the Chief Post Office leaving 5s worth lying in a cubicle. He did not discover his loss for almost an hour, when he returned to the office faintly hoping for the best. But all was well. They had been handed back over the counter by a man who did not even leave his name and address.

Special showing of New Spring Goods in all departments. Call now while the assortment is at its best. First in 1882; still leading in 1938. Mosgiel’s Drapers. A. F. Cheyne and C 0...

While administrators of the city of Christchurch think of their cyclist problem, Singapore’s corporation and city engineers puzzle over the rickshaw problem. Mr O. W. Gilmour, a civil engineer of Singapore, who is in New Zealand on a furlough tour, said that from 10,000 the number of rickshaws in the city had decreased to 3500 in the last few years, and now the bte cycle was presenting itself as a problem. A cyclist in Singapore who has to swerve suddenly to the side faces the danger of a gutter three feet deep. “ Our problem is not how to get enough water, but how to get rid of our 100 inches a year when it comes down.” Mr Gilmour said. “The result is verydeep channels at the side of the roads, becoming deeper to six feet near the outfall.” ■

A good breakfast in the morning, Is porridge and thick cream. Then follow up with eggs, And Hitchon’s bacon supreme...