Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21216, 10 December 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Fifth of the Oxfords The last of the five Air-speed Oxfords, ordered some time back for the New Zealand Air Force, is due to reach Auckland on December 22, by the Federal Steam Navigation Company’s vessel Durham, leaving Liverpool on November 19. Unusual Force Of Flood So great was the force of the flood waters that damaged the Timaru water supply race last weekend that a heavy cast iron air vessel attached to one of the pipes in Briggs’ Gully was snapped clean off. From indications the vent had been broken as though it was but a thin, brittle piece of glass. Tidying the Town Cleaning of the streets and general tidying of the town of Timaru so that it will be looking its best for the holiday season is being carried out by the Borough Council’s staff. At present kerbs and channels and the sides of streets are receiving attention, and it is anticipated that before long more than 60 men will be engaged in the work. Would-be Hero Wairoa possesses a hero, or, t,o be more correct, it would have possessed a hero had the young man, who was seen to plunge into the Wairoa River the other afternoon and strike out for the opposite shore, not mistaken the cry of a seagull for that of a damsel in distress. The would-be rescuer was on his way to the river for a swim when he heard what he thought that a cry from somewhere near the opposite bank. Without a moment’s hesitation he hurled himself into the river and with powerful strokes made for the onnosite shore, a distance of about 300 yards. It was not until he reached the other side, however, that he realised the real source of the cry. By the time he had swum back again the would-be hero had had all the swim he wanted for one day. Thirteen Cars Lost in Fire Thirteen motor cars and four motor cycles were destroyed in a Are at Wyndham on Saturday night last, when Messrs George C. Kerse and Co.’s garage In Redan Street was burned to the ground. One car, a new one, had been partly paid for by a purchaser who had not taken delivery, and this was one of the several that were not covered by insurance. The building, a big wooden one, was 42 years old, and before it was converted into a garage it was a well-known livery and bait stables. The Are was first seen by Mr S. McKay about 6 o’clock, and the news was telephoned to Mr Kerse at his home. He was quickly on the scene, and after rescuing his books an attempt was made to reach some of the cars sheltered in the garage, but this was found to be impossible, and the full contents of the garage, comprising 13 cars and four motor cycles, were completely destroyed. Commended By His Honour Pleasure was expressed by Mr Justice Callan during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court, Auckland, with information conveyed by a witness that it happened occasionally that separated spouses who had cause to meet at legal offices to transact business were talked into reconciliation by solicitors. While admitting that this did happen now and again, one of the counsel engaged in the case scouted a suggestion by the witness that in such event lawyers would consider having the parties sign an agreement of reconciliation, as it would be only a useless gesture. “I have bften wondered,” said his Honour, “whether the profession is sufficiently interested in bringing parties together. A written reconciliation, I think, is a good idea; I commend it. Signing an undertaking setting out that the parties would agree to exercise more patience and forbearance towards each other in the future would probably help the relations between the parties." Crowded Hospital Accommodation at the Northern Wairoa Hospital at Te Kopuru has fallen so far short of requirements that two large marquees have been purchased at a cost of approximately £52 and will be erected in front of the main institution within a few days. The marquees, one of which will be set aside for women and the other for men, will accommodate at least six beds in each, and It is intended to use these for convalescent patients. The period for which this temporary accommodation will be required is indefinite, but it is hoped to avoid its use during the winter months. The marquees will be Atted with electricity, while they will have wooden walls extending to a height of 4ft and wooden Aooring suitably covered. Accommodation at the hospital has now been fully taxed for at least six months. At least 30 persons have waited for months for operations, and it is chiefly on this account that the Kaipara Hospital Board decided to provide marquees. Power Plants Linked It is expected that electric power from Waitaki will be available in Southland by Christinas, by which time the linking up of Waitaki with Monowai will have been completed. Between 50 and 60 men have been employed in erecting the 110,000 volt power line from Dunedin to Gore, and a few more structures have to be completed before the line is finished. The voltage of 110,000 from Dunedin will be automatically stepped down to 66,000 for transmission to the substations at Winton and Invercargill, and for supply to the Gore district the voltage will be reduced to 11,000. After the connection has been made the Monowai plant for the time being will supply the Winton and Invercargill districts, and Waitaki will normally supply Gore. In the event of trouble at Monowai, Waitaki will supply the whole province, and Monowai will perform a similar function should there be trouble at Waitaki. Lake Monowai has been full for more than a month, and on Monday last was nine inches above normal.