Tar-sealing of Kilmog Road

Otago Witness, Issue 4049, 20 October 1931, Page 44

Tar-sealing of Kilmog Road

Ihe tendei oi Messrs Isherwood. Deilam. and Co., in the sum of £8966 4s 3d. has been accepted for a three-coat sealing ot the Kflmog section of the Dunedin to Christchurch main highway. Parliamentary Hospitality!

The existence of a refreshing triist in the hospitality one may enjoy in the precincts of Parliament House (says the Dominion) raised a smile .among those who stood at the spacious entrance on ?. recent evening, and a look almost indicating disbelief in what he had heard on the face of a messenger who was addressed by an elderly woman as the bells stimmomd members to their seats. "What times does it begin? " the messenger was asked as his questioner swept up. “ Seventhirty, was the reply above the clatter of the bells. " And what time does it finish?” The messenger leaned a little closer to make himself heard. “ AA'ell. that is hard to say. But thev rise for supper at 9.30.” The bells stopped and left a sudden silence. “Oh, how nice," said the woman. “Do they give us supper, too? ” She was escorted to the crowded gallery by a messenger with a straight face.

Tortures of Thirst Air J. AA’. Hardley, the New Zealand bowler who died in Sydney last week, had a remarkable memory and a fund of reminiscences. He was fond of recounting an incident in his early life, when he arrived on the AA'est Coast diggings tn (lie late sixties. Mounted on a packhorse, in company with a sister and a brother, he caught sight of Charleston, near AVestport, from the high country above, after a tedious journey from Dunedin. He was a mere boy at the time, and was much struck by the appearance of a city of some thousands of tents. The lure of gold soon caught him, and, in 1886. led him to try his fortunes in the great rush to Kimberley. AA'ith his cousin, Mr John Hardley, he landed at Derby and walked for 300 miles along the Fitzroy River. After some months on the goldfields in the interior of the country he made his return by way of AA'yndham, Cambridge Gulf. Before reaching Wyndham, the two men came across a salt pan which extended for many miles, and Mr Hardley narrowly escaped death. The water which they were carrying in a canvas bag was exhausted when they were some 15 miles from the port, and the temperature was 120 degrees in the shade. Only those who know the Australian climate can realise what tortures of thirst the two men must have suffered on the final stage of their journey.

The British Election “ I believe that the verdict of the English people will be overwhelmingly in favour of the Nationalist Party at the coming British general election,” said Sir Newton Moore, M.P., former Prime Minister of AA’estern Australia, and now contesting a. seat for Richmond Borough at the election. Sir Newton, who is at present in Christchurch, said if the people only realised the national danger, and the necessity for party aims to be put aside, they would put his party in. “It will enable the Old Country to be rehabilitated,” he said. “ Personally, I was sorry that Mr Ramsay MacDonald was not able to bring a greater number of Labour members into the National Government with him. AA’hen it is realised that a stubborn old freetrader like Mr Philip Snowden has thrown away the beliefs of years, it would be thought that Labour would be better represented. They should have been prepared to back the concerted stand taken by Mr MacDonald and Mr Snowden, men who have won the faith of the community by their acts.”

Ferry Steamer Rangatira The Union Company's new ferry steamer Rangatira, which arrived at Port Chalmers on Fridaj’ morning from Greenock, was the centre of much interest during the week-end. On Saturday the scraping and painting of the hull below the waterline, and the cleaning of the blades of the twin propellers was undertaken by a large staff of men. The Rangatira is being renovated in the well-known colours of the Union Company’s fleet. A feature of the hull design of the ship which attracts attention is the fineness of entrance at the waterline. The new steamer, alter leaving the Otago dock, will occupy a berth at Bort Chalmers, where she will remain until November 2. She will leave on that date for Lyttelton and Wellington, Care of Polynesian Peoples

" New Zealand, by reason of her succes“tul management of the Maoris, is the one country in the world best fitted for the care and control of all Polynesians," said Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, at the opening of the new buildings at St. Stephen’s School for Maori boys at Bombay, Auckland, on Saturdav.

there may be difficulties in the way," he added, “but it would be a good thing it it could be accomplished. I will admit that we made a few mistakes in Samoa and also in New Zealand, but that, so to speak, is between you and me. AA'e sent to Samoa the very people who had no experience of the Alaori race, and that was our first mistake. No doubt it will be remedied in the future, ami the years will heal the wounds.” Excursion to Wetherstones

Sime the inception four years ago of the Railways Department's annual excursion to the daffodil fields on Air A. Hart's property at AA’etherstones, this outing has become more and more popular with flower lovers, and on Simda.v morning. although the weather gave promise of anything but a line day. no fewer than 17i) excursionists left Dunedin b.v the special train to Lawrence. The intermediate stations added to this tot d considerably, and by the time lhe train reached its destination it had a complement of approximately 250 passengers. With the exception of a light shower about mid-day, the weather was mild ami fine, and although a number of excursionists preierted to have a picnic lunch m the railway carriages, the majority ol them started at once for AVeatherstones, where the Railways Department had provided a plentiful supply of hot water. Although the rough weather earlier in the week had played havoc with some of. the larger blooms, the thousands of white and golden daffodils presented a wonderful spectacle to the visitors, many of whom, probably, had no idea that the flowers could grow in such profusion. In addition to those who travelled by train, a large number made the trip by bus or b.v private car, and during the afternoon there must have been fully lODO people loaming through Air Hart’s grounds. The department's arrangements for the convenience of the excursionists were in every way admirable, and the running schedule both on the outward and the return journey was maintained to the minute. Demolition of Chimney

The demolition of the 120 ft chimney stack of Alessrs Evans and Co.’s flour mill in Beach road. Tiinaru, wa,s commenced on Friday by the New Zealand Steeplejack Company. A day or so ago the steeplejacks ran a steel ladder, similar to that of a fire escape, up to the top of the chimney in under 40 minute.-. Driving iron pegs into the mortar and the bricks and lashing the ladder to them with ropes, the steeplejacks secured the ladder firmly to the stack and then ran up and down it to make sure of its safety. The bricks on top were so loose that several were pushed over by the steeplejacks inside with their hands. On Friday work commenced in earnest, each brick being carefully chipped away and dropped down the centre of the chimney and carted awaj from below. It is estimated that fully 50 per cent, of the bricks will be so broken as to be useless, but the balance will be used b.v the company for erecting stores. One of the most difficult features of the work will be to ensure that the limestone parapet near the top does not crack or for that matter any of the bricks, which would tear through the roof. The decision to demolish the chimney followed upon the advent of electricity. which made steam too costly for milling purposes, together with the fact that the stack required repairs which would be more costly than its demolition. A Plucky Shot J. D. M'lntosh, the Wellington professional, is known as one of the “ gamest ” golfers in the country, and to his credit goes the pluckiest shot played in the New Zealand Open Championship at Shirley. On Friday morning (says the Christchurch Times) his tee shot at the first hole was pushed out, and left him with two pine trees, 60ft high, between ball and green, with but a slight opening at the very top. Nine players out of ten would have played safe, short of the green. M'lntosh, scorning risk, took his niblick, studied the line carefully, and hit at hard as he could. Up soared the ball, just brushing against a branch at the top of one ot the trees, and finished Sft from the pin. Summer AVeather A blazing sun in the afternoon and a light breeze from the north-west caused the temperature to rise rapidly on Friday, the thermometer registering 80 degrees at mid-day and at 5 p.m. The night was very oppressive. Friday’s temperature was the highest registered since February 20. when the thermometer rose to 87 degrees.