LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15898, 24 January 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A heavy earthquake was felt at Whakabane on Tuesday evening. No damage is reported beyond a few broken windows. A shock was also felt at Opotiki. Writing to the Hamilton Borough Council, last night, the Railway Department regretted that it could not comply with the request to run the 7 a.m. train to Auckland from Hamilton instead of Franklon.

The Railway Department is to be asked by the Hamilton Borough Council to ease the ramp leading from the railway bridge to the new. River Road subway. The Council proposes to take over the road formation' from the Department, and the plans include the lowering of the bumps in the road opposite O'Neill Street The building returns for Hamilton during the past 12 months, as already published in the Waikato Times, were submitted to the Hamilton Borough Council last night, the grand total being given at £230,403. The figures were regarded as highly satisfactory by the Council, His Worship the Mayor remarking that it was a wonderful record.

A number of licensed drivers of motor vebioles are still plying for hire without having renewed their application for licenses, despite the fact that the Council has notified them by advertisement that they must do so. The Council decided last night to take action against all defaulters. A quarry workman at Te Aroha named E. Parr met with a nasty accident prior to knock-off time on Wednesday. A lump of sharp rock came away from the higher reaches of the municipal quarry' and struck Parr on an arm, inflicting a very deep wound, and severing some muscles. He lost a considerable amount of blood, but was soon despatched for surgical aid. A friendly court action brought by the Superintendent of the Hamilton Fire Brigade against the Hamilton Borough Council will be heard on Friday week, to test his authority to order the Council to pay for the services of firemen at the Town Hall during the progress of public meetings and entertainments. The case will be of interest to public bodies throughout New Zealand. A particularly smart little river steamer, the Aurore, has been leased by the Roose Shipping 80. from Mr C. Roose for use in the Hamilton passenger and' cargo trade. The vessel, which is a comparatively new steamer, is fitted throughout with electricity, while sleeping accommodation in the cabins forms another outstanding feature. The Aurore has been secured chiefly for the use of smaller picnic parties a'nd excursionists, for which purpose she is specially suited.

A sensational incident happened at Tirau when a largo 4 4-ton Tho-rney-cnoft lorry belonging to the Matamata County Council and driven by Mr Ell’is, crashed through the decking of a bridge over the Oraka stream near Tirau and just missed being submerged in the rushing torrent below. Tiie lorry carried a maximum load of three yards of metal, weighing somewhere between four and five tons. The driver was unhurt, hut received a shock as a result of his unique and perilous experience. The chassis was badly damaged, and damage was also 'sustained by the axles and undergear.

The Hamilton Borough Council last night passed a special vote of appreciation to the workmen engaged on bitum-enising the surface of the Traffic Bridge last Sunday. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) said he visited, the work four times, and it was sfry gratifying to notice the assiduous way in which the men worked at the job. Some of them were on duty for 30 hours, and all seemed determined to see the job through as speedily as possible. The bridge will be closed again on Friday next to enable a further resurfacing to be carried out. Traffic on that day will he permitted to cross at half-hour intervals. If the day is fine the.work may be completed by 3 or 4 p.m., as a start will be made at dawn.

The trouble in the Thames Hospital, which has occupied the attention of the Board for some time past, was again before the members yesterday, when the resignation of Sister White, who wishes to take a holiday, and Sister Morrison were accepted with regret. According to the statement supplied to the press, Nurse Benn was admonished for insubordination, and reduced in rank for six months. The next development was that the bod and bedding of Sister White on December 2S had been thrown out on the balcony, and the Board exerted disciplinary measures by stopping all leave for three days. This was followed by the resignations of Nurses Benn, Ellis, Johnson, Wilsher, Hood, McKenzie, Wells, Ganley, and Fleming. The doctor and matron having assured the Board that they could carry on, it was decided to relieve the nurses of their duties in 48 hours. That the motor regulations in Hamilton arc driving trade to other towns was the burden of a complaint to the Borough Council last night by Ml* F. W. F. Fagan, who said that farmers had told him that they preferred to do their business at Morrinsville and Cambridge rather than risk prosecution for leaving their cars standing about the Hamilton streets. He suggested that the Council should permit cars to park in the business areas on a slanting angle, as was done in America. By such a system cars took up less room and found an easier exit. The writer also suggested that business men who required the frequent use of iheir cars, should be licensed to occupy a certain space in or near Iheir premises. This would bring in a definite revenue to the borough and avoid much unpleasantness. His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. l’ow) said Hie Council had set its face against the parking of cars in Hie main street, if land agents were permitted to leave their cars in front of Iheir premises, so should lawyers, auctioneers, and all' other business men. If such were permitted the street would be crowded out with cars. Cr. A. E. Webb thought the letter should merely be received. It was notable that farmers were not prosecuted for leaving their cars about the si reels. The only prosccnlions appeared to be against councillors. (Laughter.} The letter was formally received.

A petition In bankruptcy has bc#a /Hod by Albert John Devlin, painter, Hamilton.

At Morrinsvflle a neighbours* iju&rrel which originated over one keeping fowls and the other a garden, culminated in a charge of assault being brought by Edward R. WfcttcoEabc against G. Twidle. Twidle was fined £5 and costs-

St. John’s Anglican Chnreh was crowded to the doors cn Wednesday'}' morning, when Mr J. M. Hicks-on concluded his faith-healing mission at Invercargill. The Invercargill series complete a five years' tour cf the world by Mr Hickson. Mr Hickson paid a high tribute to the press of New Zealand for its work in connection with the mission.

At Matamata, before Hr, Cano tan and Mr S. Salisbury, J.P.’s, a young woman was brought up for the theft of an amount involving a three-figure sum. When charged with the offence she pleaded guilty and was commit ted for sentence to the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Acting on the request of her counsel, the Bench ordered that' the name of the accused should not be published. Tho Royai Mall steamer Maktrra, Which arrived at Auckland at 11 jum. to-day from t Vancouver, was 19 hours ahead of her schedule time. She made a smart run from Suva, covering the distance of 1140 miles In two days. 224 hour*. This gives the speed at 14.75 knots, whereas Oie vessel is capable of doing 17 knots The Royal Mail steamer Niagara, on her last trip, was three days on the run from Suva to Auckland, amt she is an 18-knot vesseL

The removal of a jigger without lawful authority from the Eureka railway station and placing it foul of the line cost Harry Greighton £2 and costs at the Morrinsville Magistrate's Court. It was stated that Creighton, a stranger to the district, arrived at Eureka by a late train and os he could not find his way to the factory he slept in a wash-house. The following morning he took a jigger out, but could not work it as it was locked, lie then took it off the line.

Good progress is being made with the construction of the 50,000 volt line which is being erected between Hamilton and Auckland, for the purpose of conveying current from the llora Ilora power station to the city. About five miles of the line has been erected and it is expected that the work will be completed in a year. The excavations in connection with the extensions to the Hora Hora power station are completed and the foundations are laid in preparation for the super structure to house the two new turbines. These have been accommodated in Auckland for some months, and will be removed to Hora Hora in March.

Haymaking In the Morrinsville district is now practically completed. The crops aru Sn most cases lighter than the previous year. Beneficial rains have promoted an exceptionally good growth of new grass in the recently cut hay paddocks, as well as considerably freshening up the other pastures, consequently there is a good supply on hand in most quarters, and the milk production has increased slightly. With good crops of supplementary feed prospects of a good “tail-end” to the season are anticipated. A lady commercial traveller had a (: somewhat unenviable experience at ' Waitoa yesterday. Accompanied by a child, she was driving a Ford car, which was heavily laden with goods, when a package fell, and in her efforts to protect the child the driver momentarily neglected the steering wheel, the result being that the car ran into a nearby bank and capsized. Help was speedily forthcoming, when it was found that the damage sustained was nothing more serious than .a broken wind-screen. When a recommendation rrom tho Borough Inspector oarne before the Hamilton Council last night, that two residents of Lake Read be permitted to combine in a common drain, Cr. .T. McKinnon strenuously opposed the recommendation and on his motion the matter was referred to the Works’ Committee. He was supported by Crs Webb, Denz and Watts, the latter urging that some definite rule be laid down for the guidance of the Inspector. A letter was received by tho Council from a firm of solicitors, objecting to their client being forced to connect his property in view of the fact that he had installed an effective septic tank. Th-e Council decided to adhere to its compulsory rule and to require the ratepayer in question to connect up, several councillors intimating that although they had installed septic tanks they had been compelled to connect up.