ROUND ABOUT WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 28

ROUND ABOUT WELLINGTON.

Pencarrow.

By

(Special fob the Otago Witness.) August 30. The Hutt line has been built up again, and the casual .observer would not know that only a week ago the railway lines were hanging over the sea at intervals along two miles. The work done has been quick and good. The sea wall, of course, is another matter. A heavy southerly might again undermine the line, for the broken sea wall will take a long time to put right. Something more permanent is being considered. The difficulty is in obtaining suitable rock or stone, and enough of it. The harbour is calm now, but a few hours bring great changes. I believe that the authorities consider it will be necessary to construct a long apron of stone and a sloping wall. The discussion reminds me of the work in connection with the Napier breakwater, which is exposed to the full fury of the open sea. Great concrete monoliths were used, enormous things lifted by specially-built cranes. Occasionally the sea has lifted these monoliths and hurled them over the breakwater into the sheltered waters. I have seen the railway lines on that breakwater hoisted like straws by the sea. The breakwater in a heavy southerly is a magnificent, awe-inspiring, and never-to-be-forgotten sight. Round at Island Bay and Lyall Bay on the open sea we get rollers which are grand and thrilling, but for a perfect object lesson in the force of waves one should go to Napier in a storm.

The shops here insist that it is spring time. Some of the big drapers have decked their premises with boughs of blossom very artfully contrived. The gay colours of the new season’s goods have thus a proper setting, and optimists are making plans for summer days. All I am prepared to admit is that spring may be coming. Yesterday I was presented with a very beautiful bunch of blue hyacinths which were grown not far from town.

Building has been going on right through the winter. We are rather proud of our new buildings, which, with the widened, well-paved streets, are creating a very delightful impression. s Recently I went to Kelburn by motor bus over Wellington terrace, a way I had not taken for a long time. Glasgow street, near the university, is still closed for alterations, so traffic goes up Kelburn parade and round the hill to Upland road. En route one gets a wonderful view and an idea of what is going on. The D.l.C.’s huge block looks even bigger from the terrace than from the street below. Many recently-completed buildings show up wonderfully, and are interesting, particularly to those who have been abroad for a year or two. The little trip to Kelburn in the sunshine is quite beautiful, but. the return trip, after night has fallen, is, in its way, equally so, for the lights of the spreadout city look like fairyland. * » * Victoria College was built on a clay patch. The earliest students made a song about it, a song which is part of the university itself now. There arc green lawns round the college now, but still a bare look. The place would be so much improved with trees. All over the Wellington hills the plantations of'' trees are showing up well, and some of . the unemployed have been planting more trees through the winter. We have realised the possibilities in this line, and I have often wondered why something is not done to improve the college grounds, which are not sheltered. Students coming across Kelburn Park from the cable tram have no protection at all, and must often be very wet and uncomfortable before they enter the lecture rooms. * * * Mr Oliver, M.Sc., a former graduate of Victoria College, has been appointed, director of the Dominion Museum, which still sits in Sydney street, but will someday find itself on Mount Cook, that hill in the centre of the city where very short-sighted authorities once built the great red brick gaol now used as defence headquarters. » * « The Plunket Society is meeting in conference here. Sir Truby King came back in time to be present. He gave a lantern lecture last night in the concert chamber of the Town Hall. Enthusiasts were much interested in a

picture shown early in the evening. It was the original Karitane Hospital at Seacliff, near Dunedin.

Sir has been touring in the Loire district in France, and has also been in the Riviera. He has good pictures, and gave a delightful account of his travels in France.

there seems to be no, excitement yet about the coming general elections, but we are constantly reminded they are due. A young Wellington lawyer, Mr Lewis, has been chosen as Reform candidate in Wanganui. He was recently a student at Victoria College, and has been an active figure in the ranks of the Junior Reform League, which has many members here. The Wanganui campaign will probably prove interesting to the youth of New Zealand. Mr Dunbar Sloane, who made a valiant unsuccessful attempt to capture the Wellington Central seat from Labour at the last general election, has again entered the field. He is a cheery optimist, with a very attractive scheme for universal old age pensions in his head. His scheme was highly approved by most of the community some years ago, and we are somewhat idly wondering if he will again produce it. It is murmured that the altered boundaries will also alter the chances of some of the Wellington members. Sir John Luke. M.P. for Wellington North, will miss Kelburn.

This morning in the Supreme Court tributes will be paid to the memory of Judge Sim, whose somewhat sudden death last night has caused a painful shock.