The timber for the huts was ordered yesterday, and tenders were also called for the necessary carting. The dam when completed, will cover an area of no less than 1700 acres, and it is thought that it should be completed within a year. There are two or three other dams to be formed in connection with the scheme, and about 100 miles of races, with all the usual flumings, syphons, gaugings, etc. This latter work is estimated to occupy another year, and the whole work should, therefore, be completed in about two years.
• The piercing of the Big Hill tunnel on the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway was effected on Saturday, when the gangs working from both ends met. The tunnel, which is 22 chains in length, will be 17ft high and 15ft wide, and lined with concrete 15in thick. Very hard schist was met with all the way through the tunnel, and, fortunately enough, it proved to contain a large quantity of quartz, which readily broke up with the force of explosions, and was at once available for mixing with cement to form the concrete for the lining.
This was the means of considerable saving in the cost of the tunnel, as otherwise it would probably have been found necessary to carry the gravel from as far as Waitahuna. The construction work is being done by co-operative labour for a little over a mile beyond the tunnel, while after that a section of about three-quarters of a mile has been let to Mr G. W. Ryan, of Waitahuna.
• Mr Joseph Rodgers, Assistant Public Prosecutor at Philadelphia, has issued a circular in favour of labelling single men. He believes they should be distinctly marked, and suggests that a bachelor button would be about the proper thing.
In advocating this innovation Mr Rodgers gives several reasons, the chief one being to protect young women from married men, as, with the single men distinctly labelled, he declares the lack of a label would also mark the married man, and prevent him from flirting with unsuspecting girls.
Mr Rodgers bases his suggestion on long years of experience in criminal courts, and especially in the divorce court, where he has seen many homes wrecked through the naming of a single person as co-respondent.
• Christchurch: At a meeting which was attended by about 60 persons, and addressed by Mr J. Cameron, it was decided to form an Anti-Chinese League in this city. The chairman (Cr Hunter) and Mr Cameron deprecated demonstrations against Chinese, and advocated a boycott and the education of public opinion.
Resolutions were arrived at declaring that those present use every legitimate means to prevent Chinese from securing shops and other premises, and resenting the action of house agents and property-owners in renting business and other premises to Chinese, such action being inimical to the social, moral, and industrial welfare of the European citizens.
- ODT, 29.3.1912.
COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM STAR STATIONERY SHOP, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
