BRIEF ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 130, 1 March 1928, Page 10

BRIEF ITEMS

FROM FAR AND NEAR Cable Tlepaired.—The cable ship Iris has repaired the break in the cable at Suva, ami sails for Auckland.—Press Assn. Over £5OOO for Goldsmith Manuscript. —An autograph manuscript verse by Oliver Goldsmith, at auction in London realised £SGOO.—A.I’.A, and “Sun.” Passenger Dies on Ulimaroa.— During the voyage of the Ulimaroa from Auckland to Sydnev, a passenger, !■’. N. McColl, died. It is believed that death was duo to heart failure.—Press Assn. Fiendish Murder.—A hound man, burned so as Io be unrecognisable, was found in a ditch near Melun (France) with marks of a motor-car nearby to show that the man was brought to ,'he spot bound in a car and on arrival sprinkled with petrol and burned to death. —Press Assn. Reduction in Britain’s Unemployed.— The latest official return gives the total number of unemployed as 1.126.7(19. This is 23,072 fewer than the week lief ore, and 59.359 fewer than a year ago.—British Official Wireless. New South Wales Fire.—A Sydney message states that a fire at Gilgandra destroyed five shops and their contents. The damage amounts to several thousands of pounds.—Press Assn. Prohibition Laws in Sweden.—The Swedish Diet has again strengthened the prohibition laws because drunkenness and the consumption _ of alcohol had increased despite drastic penalties. —Press Assn. Legislation Affecting Television.—Tn the House of Commons Sir W. Mitchell Thompson, Pcstmasler-General. informed a oue'tioner that he was considering the inclusion of television in existing radio legislation, though experts advised that it was still in an experimental stage.— A.P.A. and “Sun.” Britain and Pennv Postage.—Tn the House of Commons Mr. Churchill. Chancellor of the Exchequer, renlying to a question, said that he could not say when he would he ahi' l to make a definite statement on the. restoration .of penny postage, but the time for making an indefinite statement would he at the introduction of the Budget.—A.P.A. and “Sun.” Bushman Killed.—An inquest regarding the death of Walter Aiding, a bushman who was killed aa Manunui through a piece of branch falling and piercing his eye and brain, was held before Mr. A. S. Laird (Coroner), who returned a verdict of accidental death, states a Press 4ssociatiou message from Taumarunui.

Dulcitones for Schools. —Messrs. Clias. Beg" anil Co.. Ltd., have received notification that their tender for the supply of Dulcitones to public schools has Been aceptcd. The Dulcitone is a small piano constructed on tuning forks, and is maae by the firm of Machelles, Glasgow.

Where Are the Bank Books?—In the course of a bankruptcy meeting yestredav, the Official Assignee (Mr. S. Tansley) asked the bankrupt for Ins bank book, which was not forthcoming. “It seems a peculiar thing,” remarked Mr. Tansley, “and there may be nothing in it, but bank books seem to.be missing at nearly every meeting lately.”

A Modern “Artful Dodger.”—Briga-dier-General A. E. Ross, speaking in the Canadian House of Commons, called tho Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Motherwell, “the Artful Dodger of the Liberal Party” because ho avoided the dairymen’s meetings, where he would be asked about the Australian Treaty.— Dress Assn.

Tauranga Show Opened.—The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. 0. J. Hawken), in opening the forty-seventh annual J- au * ranga Show yesterday, congratulated the district on tlie fine showing of cattle, and expressed the opinion that tlie opening of the railway within a few weeks would make a tremendous difference to the district.—Press Assn.

Alleged Malingering at Sea. —The tramp steamer Highgate, which brought a shipment of bitumen to Wellington from California, had a little trouble on board (luring the voyage, it being reported that two of the firemen were accused of malingering. They will be brought before the Magistrate’s Court this morning.

Flying Officer Drowned.—A message from St. John (New Brunswick) states that Major G. C. O. Usborne was drowned there on Monday, when he fell from the steamer Montnairn as she was entering the harbour. Major Usborne last summer planned a flight from Vancouver to Australia, but abandoned it when he found the plane was unsuitable.—Press Assn.

Value to Britain of New Zealand Tariff.—Addressing the Sales Managers Association at the British Industries Fair, Mr. Douglas Hacking, Under-Sec-retarv lor Overseas Trade, said that as a'result of the revision of the New’ Zealand tariff Britain should sell to the Dominion two million sterling more goods annually, increasing perhaps to five million within three years. Press Assn.

Von Luckner's War Exploits.—Ton Luckner’s daring exploits m the beeadler are picturesquely told in ine' Sea Devil,” which has been published in London. He ran the British blockade in the course of a storm, and emerged successiully from a search, one of the crew bewigged passing as the skippers wife. Ranging the South Atlantic and Pacific he scuttled five million sterling worth of shipping during 1917, and sank ’ourisi.'n Kuglish, French, Canadian, and American vessels. Despite the havoc he gained the reputation of never having taken a human life. Eventually he was wrecked on an island by a tidal wave and captured.—Press Assn.

Independent Labour Parly Conference. —A London message states that the Agenda of the Independent Labour Tarty conference at Norwich on April 7, includes resolutions favouring a six-hour day. in the nationalised coal industry; a living wage lor all workers: ratification of the Washington Hours’ ■Convention; training schemes for land workers desiring work in England or abroad; arbitration of international disputes; compulsory \nglo-Amcrican arbitration treaty, and one condemning the Government support of films glorifying war.—A.P.A. and “Sun.”

Governor and a Political Matter.— With reference to the Press report jh a resolution passed at a gathering, 01 returned soldiers at Denniston during the recent visit of the Governor-General, His Excellency desires it to be understood that when the proposal to despatch a telegram’ to Major-General Sir . Georg© hicbardson, commenting on his situation in Samoa, was made. His Excellency expressly stated that as the situation m Samoa was the subject of political controvers v, he could not associate himself with the matter in any form.

Infringing a Colour.—Additional injunctions against seven taxi-drivers, restraining them from painting their cars in resemblance of the Black and M hit© Cab Coy. vehicles, were issued by Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court yesterdav. The drivers concerned were Chaples Montrose Jenkins, Henry Thomas Jones, Arthur Thomas Jone?. George Alexander Waddoll, James Frederick Nixon. AVill’am John Alfred Vetori. and Fobert Herbert Nicholson. He was convinced th a t the arrangements and use of colours was deceptive. sniJ Dis Honour. Costs were awarded the plaintitT company. the application of Mr. T\. A. Kennedy and A rr. S. W. a stay of execution for 21 days was granted, pending an appeal.