New motor traffic rules reaches speedy compromise

At Tuesday's meeting of the Lake County Council a deputation was in attendance to urge the necessity for prohibiting motor traffic within the county. A resolution forbidding such traffic stands on the records, and notice of motion was given to rescind the resolution. The deputation, having been heard, a compromise was arrived at, and the following restrictions were agreed to, it being also agreed that a poll of the ratepayers of the county as a whole be taken on the question of permitting motor traffic or not. The restrictions are: "Motors to go to Pembroke via Arthur's Point and Zig Zag and return by same road - coming from Pembroke on Tuesday afternoons and returning on Wednesday mornings in each week; to take the outside of the road in meeting and passing vehicular traffic; speed round bends to be five miles an hour; in meeting any vehicle or person car or cars to stop on the person in charge of the vehicle or other person holding up his hand until they pass; horn not to be sounded, but conductor's whistle can be used; in rounding bends, man from the car to walk in advance of car in bad places; cars to pass Crown Terrace, near W. M'Kibbin's farm, not earlier than about 2 p.m. on Tuesdays from Pembroke, and passing same place on Wednesdays not before 7 a.m. on return from Queenstown." Motor discs will be erected on dangerous parts of the roads.

• Very many queer things happen, even on the public trains, of which the great world is not made aware. On Thursday a Christchurch Press reporter was told the tale of a dare-devil act performed on the south express, perhaps a fortnight ago.

Several men were in a carriage next the guard's van, and one of them at least was not absolutely sober. They discussed various topics, and argued on diverse subjects. At length one of them declared that he could travel faster than the train - said he could do it on account of the "laws of gravity." Before the others were well aware of what was happening he had climbed to the roof of the carriage, and from there had commenced a race to the front of the train. He passed over the roofs of seven carriages, and from above peered down at a startled engine-driver. The train was stopped, and the man got down vastly pleased at having clinched his argument.

• On a Sunday morning during the heat spell in Melbourne a few instances were noticed of butchers' carts being used for the delivery of meat, saved overnight from ptomaine and corruption in the ice-chests of the shops. While onlookers view this invasion of the Sabbath leniently, curious questions were asked "as to what civil law was being infringed". No complaint reached the Factories Department, nor would complaint have been of avail in that quarter. The Factories Act operates only on six days in the week. But the drivers of the carts could have been proceeded against by the police under a law of Charles II, and fined 5s each. Failing payment, they would have been "sent to the stocks", but as there are now no Government stocks the probability is that the offenders would have gone unpunished.

• The dredging industry is decidedly on the wane. On the Molyneux there are the old Hartley and Electric No. 2. Electric No. 1 and the Cromwell Syndicate dredges are the only two on the Kawarau, and on the Clutha River the Rising Sun and Rise and Shine No.1 are the sole survivors of no fewer than six dredges formerly working between Cromwell and Lowburn. - ODT, 17.2.1912.