General News. (Press, 15 January 1926)

On 15 January 1926, it was reported that the final pile for the Sumner bridge had been driven, with plans for the bridge to open for use in early February. The Railway Department announced extra express train services between Christchurch and Dunedin, scheduled to depart at 9.10 a.m. from Christchurch and 9.5 a.m. from Dunedin on the weekdays of the coming week. Positive feedback was noted regarding the application of the bitumen hot seal method on the Fendalton tramway line, praised by motorists for creating a soft, dust-free road surface as trams passed. This method is also being implemented on the Riccarton road line between the Hospital and West Belt. Statistics revealed that there were 1,074 births registered in urban areas across New Zealand in December, a slight decrease from November's figure of 1,086. Meanwhile, deaths increased to 507 in December, marking a rise of 33 from the prior month, with male deaths numbering 256 and female deaths 251. Among the deceased, 51 were children under the age of five, which constituted 10.06% of the total, with 39 of these being infants under one year. A historical discovery was made in Rotorua Lake, where an old gun was found submerged in shallow water near Mokoia. Although the barrel was significantly rusted, the stock and brass fittings remained intact. The brass shoulder plate bore the date 1842 and other markings, raising curiosity about how long the item had been submerged. In a display of generosity, visitors at a concert at the New Plymouth prison spontaneously threw cigarettes and tobacco to the performing prisoners, despite it being against regulations. The audience hoped that the authorities would permit the prisoners to enjoy these unexpected gifts. Reports indicated that before the previous year, Wellington had few passenger buses operating on a timetable, with significant competition against tramways developing only in the winter months. Currently, the city had thirty-five buses operating on its streets, not including services to various suburbs. Among these, five were designated for long-distance travel, eight were sightseeing buses, and eleven were operated by the Tramways Department. Finally, Armstrongs' Summer Sale was highlighted, claiming to feature significant discounts on new summer stock. The sale was described as unprecedented in scale, with customers encouraged to take advantage of the deep price cuts available at their shops in Victoria Square and High Street.

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