NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27221, 26 October 1949, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Boom In Health Stamps Stocks of the 1949 health stamps were reported yesterday to be almost exhausted in the Dunedin postal district. The Daily Times was informed, however, that efforts were being made to obtain supplies from other centres, but it is believed tht the position is no better elsewhere, and collectors requiring sheets of both values are likely to be disappointed. During the three weeks that the stamps have been on sale, nearly £II,OOO worth has been disposed of in the Dunedin postal district. Portobello Accident

There was a slight improvement last night in the condition of both the survivors of the Portobello' motor smash, Mr P. McKay and Mrs O. M. Dryden, who are stilt, however, on the seriously ill list at the Dunedin Public Hospital.

Co-ordination Plan Notice.of his intention to move at the next meeting of the Dunedin City Council that a conference of the departmental heads of the, City Corporation be held each month to assist in co-ordinating the works carried out ir. Dunedin was given' by Cr Barnes at the meeting of the council last night. Alterations To Law Courts The expansion of the Government departments in Dunedin has created an urgent need for additional office accommodation in the city. To provide spade for the Land Sales Court, the building housing the Courts of Law in Stuart street is to be altered. The tenders for the work closed with ihe Ministry of Works yesterday. “ Simply Dynamite ” “ The crossing in Arthur street is simply dynamite. If anybody does not know it well and does not slow his car to a crawl, he gets a broken spring.” said Cr Smith at last evening’s meeting of the City. Council. Cr Anderson agreed and; said that the. engineer would be asked to see if anything could be done.

Animal Lethal Chamber A novel type of lethal chamber for destroying suffering animals was described by Mr R.. Fountain at last night’s meeting of the Otago branch of the SPCA. The chamber, which was installed in the society ambulance at Christchurch, was connected to the exhaust outlet of the vehicle and allowed painless and qujck extermination to take place. Museum Funds

The receipt of a cheque, for £SOOO from the Otago Centennial Association, bringing the total fund for museum extensions to £65,000, was reported at yesterday’s meeting of the University Council. It was also reported that the will of the, late Mr W. Downie Stewart made provision for the sum of £IOO to go to the University for the purposes of the Hocken Library.

Expeditious Gratification that the turning circle, at Mornington for buses of the City Transport Department was to go ahead was expressed by Cr Smith at the meeting of the City Council last night. Cr Smith said that he had advocated the provision of the turning circle for some time to eliminate a danger to pedestrians, but he would like to know when the work would proceed. The chairman of the Transport Committee, Cr E. J. Anderson, was brief in his reply. “ Now,” he said. Blockages At Homer

Ice and rock from avalanches which have fallen in the past three months are at present blocking the entrance to the Homer tunnel, although access is still possible for pedestrian traffic. A recent avalanche at Power House Hill was responsible for a hold-up to traffic, but it was cleared within three days. According to advice received from the Works Department, the blockages at the Homer should be cleared by the end of the week, provided there are no further heavy falls from the snowfields. Anti-dust Measure A suggestion that the oil spraying of streets which were under construction should be undertaken to prevent the dust nuisance was made by Cr Hayward at last evening's meeting of the City Council. Cr Armitage replied that the dust was regarded as “an absolute menace” in some parts of the city, but that oil spraying was not just as simple as Cr Hayward had suggested. The matter had been investigated last year and an adverse report made, but it would again be investigated with a view to overcoming some of the dust nuisance.

Woman MP’s Resource Mrs G. H. Ross, M.P. for Hamilton, made an unceremonious entry into Wellington by grain truck last week when a delay to her train forced her In make hurried arrangements for alternative means of transport from Plimmerton. She was accompanied by a fellow woman passenger. “ I am going to hitch-hike,” said Mrs Ross, after a moment’s thought. On the main highway the two women stopped a truck carrying a load of bagged grain. Mrs Ross told the driver who she was, and that she wanted to get to Wellington urgently as she had an appointment. Would he mind if she sat on a bag of grain on the back of the truck? Permission was granted, and the passengers made themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit. They arrived in good time for Mrs Ross to keep her appointment. Greatly Impressed Although Dunedin residents were highly critical of the New Zealand Film Unit’s production on the Otago centennial celebrations, it apparently impressed many people outside the province. A Wanganui resident took the trouble to write to the Dunedin town clerk congratulating the city on its magnificent procession and making complimentary reference to the flower floats. The letter was read -at last evening’s meeting of the City Council, together with a letter from the secretary of the Mornington District Ratepayers and Householders’ Association commending the council on the excellent work which was being carried out in Band street and Mornington road. “These letters are rather overwhelming,” remarked the Acting Mayor, Cr Wright. “There must be something coming.” he added somewhat apprehensively.