NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 70, 26 July 1929, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

NOTES FROM ALL PART*. THE DOMINION DAY BY DAY. HEBE, THERE & EVERYWHERE. NO SHORTAGE OF COAL. "There is no danger of a coal shortage," said the Minister of Mines, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, to a Christchurch reporter. "The coal is coining in well and the miners on the Wjest C'oaat <are doing remarkably well in keeping the people supplied." In this connection, a record was established on Saturday, when 3000 tons of coal and timber were brought over from the West Coast. All this had to pass through the Otira tunnel, which was designed to handle 1000 tons a day. NOT SO MUCH SPEED. A Wanganui motorist remarked to a "Chronicle." reporter that, on the average, there was less speeding or cars oui the highways than a few years • ago. "That is contrary to what a lot of people expected," he added, "for, with improved road surfaces, it was thought that motoring would become a very much more serious danger to life than it was." He considered that the novelty of thu good road was wearing off and those who wanted to speed were looking to the air. EXTENSIVE BUILDING. The remarkable growth of the city of Auckland in recent years was referred, to Mr. J. S. Tyler at the annual dinner of the Auckland Master Builders' Association, states the "Herald." Mr. Tyler said since 1924 permits had been issued for the erection of buildings to a total value of about £7,000,000. It was a tribute to the contractors that the cost of' inspection had amounted to an exceptionally small percentage of the amount. GLASSHOUSE IMMUNE. A statement that earthquakes bad little- effect on glasshouses was made by Mr. L. Paynter (Government Orchard Instructor) at a meeting of the Christchurch Tomato and Stone Fruit Growers Association, held on Saturday evening. H© said that he had recently returned from the West Coast, and had been through the stricken area. In one place, a dwelling was almost completely destroyed, but a gksshouse, near the "back door, was not damaged in the slightest degree. Not eve n a pane of glass was cracked. TRAFFIC CONTROL EXPERIMENT. An- experi,meaitt in \traffici control that has so far found favour with motorists is being made in tlie city. This is jt<he clothing otE traffic inspectors on point duty at dusk in white overcoats and white gjoves. The white uniform stands out well in the lights of motor-cars and so far, no difficulty has been found in following the inspector's directions. This system jhas been followed 111 English cities for some time. TRAMS PREFERRED. Residents of Northland, Wellington, prefer trams to buses. Since the tramline to the suburb was opened some months ago, the municipal bus service to the city has been reduced, because patronage has fallen/ off much more than was expected. The general manager, Mr. M. Cable, stated last week that whether the people of Northland transferred to the trams on account of the threepenny fare, counting the saving of a penny per trip as a greater importance than the considerable saving in time by the bus run to Ghunzee Street, or whether the trams took people more directly to their places of business or shopping, was not clear. Probably three was a combination of circumstances, but at any rate the number of bus passengers fell off markedly,. w ~~'" " EARTHQUAKE PSYCHOLOGY. Earthquake psychology plays some peculiar tricks, as. was demonstrated by the experience of two lnvercargill ladies who, during a stay in Christchurch, had occasion to visit a motor garage on business. Jn their peregrinations they stepped on to the turntable, a contrivance with which they were quite, unfamiliar, and almost instantly there began that gentle rolling movement with which ■ so many have become unpleasantly familiar in recent weeks. Instinctively visions of another big shake seized them, and as they impulsively embraced for mutual protection the oscillation ' increased. Seized with that "sickly, dizzy sensation," they were on the point of collapse when an attendant observed their strange plight and assisted them from their unstable position to the solid ground of the concrete floor. Nedless to say, they quickly recovered their equilbrium and joined in the hearty laughter the diverting comedy produced. They have avowed to eschew turntables iu, futiiroj. ,%£% jiviiiautU