Big digger makes for fast work

With the completion of the work being carried out on the western bank of the Taieri River by the Public Works Department, West Taieri will have nothing to fear from floods in the future. The embankment has now reached ample proportions, and the huge steam-shovel with which the spoil has been trucked is still sending truckloads of material along the river bank. To any who have watched this machine at work, the task of freeing the Taieri farmer from the menace of floods does not seem so impossible after all. Like the gaping maw of some huge monster the bucket goes down into the bed of the river or bites into the bank, bringing up with it a load of spoil which is just dumped into the waiting trucks. Four bucketfuls is sufficient to fill a truck of four cubic yards capacity. All day long this machine is loading two sets of trucks, and more than keeping them going.  Present operations will secure, for a portion of the Taieri at least, complete immunity from the floods that are ruining the production of the fertile plain, but East Taieri is by no means free from the menace of despoiling waters.

New landmark

At the corner of St Andrew and Filleul streets there is at present in the course of construction the largest church that has been erected in Dunedin during the past 14 years: the Church of Christ. A Daily Times reporter made a tour of inspection of the works yesterday afternoon in company with the architect (Mr D.G. Mowat). The Renaissance exterior is ideally situated on the corner of the two streets. Along St Andrew street is the church itself, and on the Filleul street elevation is the Bible school, and on top a spacious social hall. The whole edifice has been done in brick, with doorways, windows and copings of Oamaru stone. Three large windows assure adequate lighting in the church.

The interior will be finished off with granite  plaster work with a dado running round all the walls. The floor of the nave is dished in three directions, all the slopes converging on  the pulpit. The choir seats will face the congregation direct, the organ pipes being on either side. Between the Bible school and the church are  accordion doors, by means of which the seating accommodation can be increased.

Daylight saving in darkness

Wellington, July 8: At 25 minutes past two this morning the House of Representatives passed Mr Sidey’s Summertime Bill by 35 votes to 18.

It remains now to see what the fate of the Bill will be in the Legislative Council. There appears to be a growing feeling in favour of the Bill in New Zealand. Mr Sidey has been battling with his Bill for many years. 

When it was first introduced in 1909 and for many subsequent years it was regarded as a joke, and members made merry over its provisions. Now it is taken quite seriously and there are evidences that it is being received with more favour in the country towns. One reason for this is that the population in country towns, especially in the North Island, has increased considerably during recent years. 

In 17 years the Bill has been introduced 15 times and only on one previous occasion was Mr Sidey successful in getting it through all its stages. He then had a majority of 12 on the third reading, but Mr Sidey’s pet lamb was slaughtered by the Lords of the Upper Chamber. The majority against it, however, was only three. Mr Sidey has had many congratulations on his present success. — ODT, 9.7.1926