The expansion of traffic and the decay of locomotives have necessarily produced a shortage, keenly felt during the last five years.
Of course, it may be regretted that the employment necessary for the building of these must go out of New Zealand.
But so far as regrets go from those who manipulate them, there should not be any, if the manager places his order with the right firm.
We have in New Zealand many excellent locomotives from the Baldwin works, and also one from the Brooks works.
There is no doubt that Price Bros. can build an excellent engine, and so also can the railway workshops.
We have many excellent engines which were built in New Zealand, but it appears to us that the cost is prohibitive.
If we can get three imported locomotives for the price of two locally made, of the same class, would it not be very foolish to still go on building in New Zealand?
There are bold thieves at Castlecliff, as has frequently been demonstrated (says the Wanganui Herald).
In addition to numerous petty thefts, it will be remembered that some years ago a two or three-roomed untenanted house gradually disappeared.
Consequently one need not be surprised at anything occurring there.
The latest exploit is the theft of a 400-gallon tank and about 50ft of flooring on which it was erected from the Surf Club's shed on the beach. Probably the shed will be the next thing to go.
The much-discussed plans of work to form an esplanade along the sea front from St Clair to St Kilda seem to have reached finality.
At last night's meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board the city engineer's plans, specifications, and cross-sections were presented to the board for the first time.
They were approved of, subject to a few trifling alterations, and will be submitted to the Expansion League Committee at once.
Mr Hancock said there was no reason, as far as the board was concerned, why the improvements should not be started next Monday morning.
A huge skate was stranded on the sands of Caroline Bay, Timaru, on Sunday evening, and was quite a centre of attraction (says the Post).
The skate must have measured about 8ft from snout to tail, and about 5ft at its widest part.
Having got into the surf it appeared to be powerless to get into deep water, and was left high and dry on the sands. - ODT, 6.11.1914
