New Zealand

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 21 (Supplement)

New Zealand

Parliament Adjourns. After a comparatively short and strenuous session Parliament has gone into recess for some weeks so that the Government’s law office may frame the other important Bills which are to be introduced. Chief among these is the restoration of salary cuts to civil servants and all other employees in the Dominion. A Bill providing for a more rigid contol of motor traffic was put through during the week. Bicycles are to be registered and a speed limit of 30 miles an hour in cities and boroughs has been imposed. The “hit and run” motorist is to incur a much greater penalty than in the past.

The Wahine Hits a Wharf. 111-luck is dogging the Union Steam Ship Company’s inter-island express steamers. Early this year the Rangatira was badly damaged when she struck a rock near Wellington. On Friday the Wahine, when berthing at the Pipitea wharf at Wellington in a dense fog, ran into this ferro-concrete structure with such force that the steel plates of the vessel’s bow were riven sheer, the nose of the vessel projecting over the wharf for 20 feet. Passengers wondered what could have happened when they were disturbed in the early morning by the startling jolt of the collision. Many rushed up on deck, but there was no suggestion of

a gangway placed at the extreme end of the ship. For four hours two tugs worked trying to push the Wahine clear, but it. was not until oxy-acetylene lamps were brought into use that the ship was cut away from the wharf. Fortunately the Wahine was not damaged below the water-line and after being released she was able to steam to another wharf. The Marama has taken over the running. A Breach of Etiquette. Just how strictly etiquette should be observed when foreign warships enter' a New Zealand port was brought home to the authorities this

a panic. They were able to land from week when a mistake was made in the hoisting of the flag at Point Jerningham when the French sloop Savorgnan de Brazza was entering the Wellington Harbour. When off the Point the sloop correctly flew the White Ensign and fired nine guns. Instead of replying by breaking out the French tricolour and firing nine guns the officer in charge of the battery hoisted the Union Jack and fired 21 guns. This could be interpreted as defiance instead of welcome and Captain Robert, the commander of the sloop, was most upset. However everything was put right by going through the correct procedure in the afternoon.