NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26777, 21 May 1948, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Pupils’ Response to Appeal The pupils of the Otago Boys', Otago Girls’, and King’s High Schools have responded generously to the United Nations appeal for the relief of the starving children of Europe, and, up to the last day of the first term, the sum of £465 had been raised. In expressing congratulations at the meeting of the High Schools Board yesterday afternoon the chairman, Mr J. C. 11. Somerville, said he understood that a number of pupils were working in their holidays to raise further funds, and it was likelv that there would be some increase in the total before the appeal closed. The board decided to send a letter of commendation to each school, and, in the letter to the Girls High School, to refer to the fine effort in sending 500 tins of food to a Cheshire school last term. Express Delayed The through express from Invercargill to Lyttelton was about 15 minutes behind schedule when it left Dunedin yesterday. The delay was caused by another train running through the points at Green Island Petrol Allocation A committee to watch the interests of motorists should a change be made in the coupon allocation of petrol, was set up by the council of the North Island Motor Union in Wellington yesterday, after the council had decided not to press at present for the reintroduction of local petrol advisory committees. Fire Engines and Red Lights The New Zealand Road Safety Council has adopted a Transport Department recommendation that fire engines should stop for a red traffic light, although they may move on again immediately. This decision of the Road Safety Council was reported to yesterday’s meeting, in Wellington of the council of the North Island Motor Union, which subsequently endorsed the recommendation. Delayed by Weather Though due in Dunedin at daylight on Wednesday, the Denholm Line’s steamer Glenpark was delayed by heavy seas and winds of gale force, and did not arrive outside Otago Heads until 6 p.m. After cruising outside the harbour entrance, she berthed at the Birch street wnarf yesterday morning. The Glenpark, which had empty holds, was hove-to for eight hours between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday off Cape Campbell. She left Auckland at mid-day on Saturday. Survey of Coast

There was an urgent need for a survey right up the coast, and if a start were made in Foveaux Strait the work might be extended, said the chairman of the Otago Harbour Board. Mr W. R. Clarke, at a meeting of the board last night, when a letter was received from the Bluff Harbour Board seeking support for its request to the Marine Department that Foveaux Strait should be given first priority in any recharting of the New Zealand coast. The Otago Board decided to support the Bluff Board in its request. Tramway Shed Incidents The Daily Times on Wednesday published an article under the heading “Mr Semple’s Crusade Against Communism,” which gave extracts from some of the source material used by the Minister in hris speeches and his recent book exposing Communist tactics. This article apparently so impressed someone in the City Transport Department that is was posted on a notice board in the tramway sheds, but it proved so unpalatable to one of the employees that it was torn down a few hours later. The Daily Times is also informed that a second attempt made to give publicity to the Minister’s views met the same fate last night. A number of employees expressed themselves as disgusted at the incidents. *

No Tugs Available Acknowledging the Otago Harbour Board’s application for an Admiralty tug a letter was received at a meeting of the board last night from the New Zealand Government offices in London advising that no such tugs were available at present. Details were submitted of two craft which might be available in six months’ time. The harbour master, Captain F. G. Macdonald, said that these two craft were low powered. The chairman, Mr W. R. Clarke, explained that the board required a twin-screw vessel of louu horse-power. The board’s present tug was of 1100 horse-power, and the board did not require a vessel of lower power than that. The board will advise the Government offices in London that it requires a high-powered tug. Feat of Endurance Reference to the great endurance shown by a man who had x*eceived a severe electric shock was made at a meeting of the Central Waikato Power Board at Hamilton on Wednesday. The engineer-manager, Mr C. L. Walter, said that; an employee of the board suffered the shock when throwing out a switch on a transformer station at Ohinewai. He was not wearing rubber gloves and was touching a fence and received the full force of the load probably 1500 volts. He was severely burned on the hands, an arm and a leg, and became unconscious. After recovering consciousness he walked down a hill to a store and telephoned to his controlling officer. He then drove five miles to a doctor, who ordered his admission to hospital. For rings, watches and jewellery, try Peter Dick, Jeweller. 36 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt.