NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1935, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Three Bankruptcies at New Plymouth. Three bankruptcies were filed at New Plymouth during August, There were none in August, 1934.

Airport Visitor. On a cross country flight from Palmerston North, Mr. J. Bowers arrived at the New Plymouth airport at 12.40 p.m. yesterday in a Manawatu Aero Club plane, ZK-ABVi He returned later in the afternoon.

Visit by Airman. Mr. H. Gatty, the Australian airman who became famous because of his round-the-world flight with the late Mr. Wiley Post, would be unable definitely to fix the date of his arrival at New Plymouth for some days, stated a telegram received by the Borough Council from the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Education. Jarvis Won Title. (

It has been suggested in South Taranaki that the boxing contest between J. Jarvis (Eltham) and C. Rayner (Blenheim) on Saturday was not for the New Zealand lightweight title. A letter from the New Zealand council, however, makes it clear that the fight was for the title and that when Jarvis won he became professional lightweight champion of New Zealand. / New Mokau Classroom.

A grant to enable’an additional classroom to be erected at the Mokau school has been approved by the Minister of Education, the Hon. S. G. Smith, according to advice received by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, member for the district The classroom is needed to accommodate the children it is proposed to convey to the school from surrounding districts. Pilots* Examination.

Several pupil pilots of the Western Federated Flying Club who have been undergoing training with Flying Officer lan Keith at the New Plymouth Aerodrome recently will be examined on their qualifications for the A grade license shortly. Tire examiner, who will come in any case from Auckland, has not definitely been announced. Accidents Will Happen.

One cannot get blood from a stone, but it appeared at first glance yesterday that the portion of Devon Street that passes over the railway line at Strandon was prolific in onion-growing. A motor-truck was stationary in the road and a man was shovelling a plentiful supply of onions from the tar seal into a large sack. He was, however, merely putting them back.

Work at New Plymouth Airport. The provision of a billiard room as part of the clubhouse at the hangar at the New Plymouth aerodrome has been considered for some time and during next week-end a start will be made on its construction. A working bee of pilots and members of the aero club will be in charge of the work. Fitzroy Wheelbarrow Race.

The Fitzroy school carnival committee asked the Borough Council last night for permission to hold a wheelbarrow race on September 14. It was stated the race would be run in stages, from the post office to Brougham Street, from Brougham Street to Currie Street, from Currie tSreet to Liardet Street, to Gover Street, Eliot Street, Hobson Street, Watson Street, Mangorei Road' and Nobs Line, to the Fitzroy hall. Competitors will halt 20 yards from intersections. The permission was granted subject to the inspector’s requirements being followed.

Building Increase. An increase of over £6OOO is shown in the building statistics for New Plymouth for August compared with the corresponding month of 1934. Tire figures are £BOO2 and £1305. A summary of the work undertaken, with the figures for last year in parentheses, is: Business one (none), dwellings six (one), alterations, additions, garages, sheds, etc., 12 (11). During the month the only large work authorised was a private hotel in concrete in Gill Street. Much Travelled Team.

The Hawke’s Bay Rugby team, which was beaten by Auckland at Auckland on Saturday, passed through New Plymouth yesterday on its way to play Wanganui at Marton to-morrow. It will return to New Plymouth for the fixture with Taranaki on Saturday before going back to Hawke’s Bay. Two large buses are being used for the tour. The team will have travelled nearly 1000 miles for its three matches by the time it reaches home again.

“Keep to the Left.” “Keep to the Left” signs will be painted on 66 of the street lighting globes in Devon Street, New Plymouth, from Gover Street to the post office, as tHe result of a recommendation to the Borough Council last night. The work is estimated to cost £3. No action was taken by the council regarding Inspector Day’s recommendation that special bicycle racks should be provided at intervals along Devon Street, but the council decided to instruct the inspector to erect warning notices at the main entrances to the town intimating that parking in Devon Street between Eliot Street and the post office was limited to 20 minutes.

900 Vehicles Inspected. Of the 900 motor vehicles he had inspected under the lights and brakes regulations approximately 10 per cent, required headlight adjustments and 2 per cent, had inefficient brakes, Mr. R. Aroa, county inspector, reported to the Taranaki County Council yesterday. The inspection had to a certain extent been hampered by wet weathgr and for that reason he intended to devote a further period to complete the inspection. Eight of the worst offenders were brought before the court. Business Confidence.

To restore public confidence, leading to the release of more money, Mr- C. S. Cottam suggested at a meeting of the New Plymouth Retailers’ Association yesterday that employers should call their staffs together to inform them that there would be no more cuts in salaries and that, rock bottom having been definitely reached, no retrenchments except for poor work would henceforth be made. The suggestion found favour with those present. Mr. Cottam also suggested that a shopping week should be held, with all cuts to be restored for the week on the understanding that employees should spend the money in the town. No action was taken.

Engine Derailment , The derailment at Ngaere at 4 p.m. yesterday of the AB engine piloting the 11 a.m. goods train from New Plymouth caused a dislocation in the time-tables of evening trains northwards. The goods engine fouled the points in the Ngaere yard and the trucks had to be taken back to Stratford, the engine having to be left till this morning.' The main line was not affected but a slight delay was caused, necessitating an alteration in the crossing point of the mail train and the Auckland express from Lepperton to Inglewood. As a result the mail train, which carried visiting primary school teams for the North Island Association football tournament at New Plymouth today, did not reach New Plymouth, till 8.30, three-quarters of an hour late, and the slow train due at 6.45 arrived at 9.40.

Post Office Position. I The New Plymouth Retailers’ Association decided yesterday' to make representations to the Hon. S. •< G. Smith, member for New Plymouth, that the post office was not in a position sufficiently central to suit the needs of the general and business public. Large Shark Caught.

While fishing in Doubtless Bay, North Auckland, Mr. Raynor and. his son landed a toheke shark, 12ft. in length and estimated to weigh more than 8001 b. Mr. Raynor had buoyed a line off Cable Bay and the shark was hooked shortly afterward. Following a struggle the shark was hauled alongside a launch.

Hall on Ground for Over a Day. The heavy hailstorms. on Saturday passed over the higher levels near Okato about midday. The foothills of the Pouakai ranges were covered by a mantle about four inches deep. Though the sun shone through about an hour later, so deep was the covering that it remained unmelted in many places until late on Sunday.

Enormous Sunspots. \ Two large sunspot groups are at present visible on the sun. One group is near the centre of the disc, the principal spot having a diameter of about 8001) miles and the darkest portion being fully 3000 miles across. A large single spot has recently come round the eastern limb, however, its diameter being about 7000 miles, with a penumbral shading of 16,500 miles in extent. Although not quite of sufficient size to be naked-eye objects, both of these sunspots are larger than the earth. Progress of Hospital Patients.

Four persons admitted to the New Plymouth public hospital in the week-end as the result of accidents were reported last night to be progressing satisfactorily. They were Thomas John Cavey, farmer of Okato, who suffered hip injuries in a fall from a dray; Leslie Hudson, Waitara, who suffered severe bums to the face when he fainted at his home and fell forward upon the kitchen range; Francis' A. farmer of Egmont Village, whose arm was gored by a bull; and Charles Price, New Plymouth, who was admitted with concussion following a friendly •wrestling bout on Saturday night.

“Grossly Exaggerated.” With the correspondence read at a recent meeting of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Otago and Southland was a letter from amused and delighted relatives who. stated that the Synod’s kind letter of condolence in respect of the death of their mother had been received and had occasioned no little amusement since the allegedly deceased lady—who is in good health—had been among those who read the epistle. The members of the Synod were assured that no harm had been done, as their kind sentiments were gratefully received, and, of course, heartily reciprocated. This mistake arose from a hasty assumption by the clerk of the Synod that a Mrs. —, regarding whom he addressed the body’s sympathy, was the lady whose death notice had that day appeared in the newspapers.