NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 99, 21 January 1935, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

More Conscience Money Every now and then one reads if Government Departments receiving sums of money as “conscience money,” but it is not often that mercantile houses have to acknowledge similar tokens of an awakened conscience. This week a business firm whose history extends to nearly half a century in Wellington received a one pound note with slip of paper attached on which was written “Conscience Money.” Theft of 2/6. One month’s imprisonment was imposed by Jlr. W. E. Stilwell, S.M., m the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Saturday on Janies Cope, labourer, aged 39, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing 2/6. Harbour Excursion. Owing to the unpleasant weather on Saturday the .steamer Muritai carried only about 160. people when it left Wellington on a nocturnal cruise of tlie harbour. The rain was, however, practically over and those who accompanied the steamer thoroughly enjoyed their outing. A visit was paid to Day’s Hay, and the Muritai returned to Wellington at 11 o’clock. Week-End Accidents. A severe lacerated wound to his left thigh was received by a schoolboy, Alfred Harding, 4 College Street, when the motor-cycle lie was riding collided with a motor-car yesterday. He was removed to the hospital by the Wellington Free Ambulance. Knocked down .by a motor-ear, Jlr. S. J. Smith, carpenter, 32 Jessie Street, was taken to hospital suffering from injuries to bis head.

Southland’s Brown Coals. A considerable air of expectancy is hovering over Riverton just now, reports the “Southland Times.” Rumour has it that within the next four months a large chemical works and low temperature coal carbonisation plant, producing oils and motor spirit from the brown coals of' Southland, are to bo established there. Preparations are far advanced at the Invercargill laboratory, where the whole of the preliminary work has been conducted. The Invercargill resident who is pioneering the venture states that an announcement will be made to the Press within a month’s time It is possible the Riverton harbour will once more be the active little port of old-time days Shortage of Cornsacks.

An acute shortage of cornsacks exists in Christchurch at the present time, this being due to the early harvest and the fact that labour troubles in Calcutta delayed the departure of the Narbada, which has a consignment of cornsacks on board. Unless the weather breaks and holds up harvesting for a time, it t is stated that the supply may not be great enough to meet the demand until the arrival of the Narbada at Lyttelton on January 23. The continued spell of fine weather has had the effect .of ripening the grain before the usual time, and it may yet be necessary for a number of farmers to stack wheat which normally would have been thrashed from the stook. Sports Postponed.

Though the heavy rain which fell in the city and suburbs on Saturday was welcomed by farmers, market gardeners, and householders with vegetable and Hower gardens, it was not relished by athletes. Quite an important programme of outdoor athletic events had been set down for decision, including the lawn tennis match for the Wilding Shield between Wellington and Canterbury on the Miramar courts; the Dewar Shield athletic meeting on Petone Oval; a swimming carnival at To Aro baths; and the continuation of the croquet tournament at Kelburn Park. In addition, all cricket and bowling games had to be postponed. The only athletes who defied the rain were the oarsmen, as the Wellington Rowing Association proceeded with its regatta on the Petone course. As if to mock the athletes, yesterday broke beautifully fine. Treasure on Gallipoli.

“Numbers of amusing and some pathetic letters were received by those of us who made the Gallipoli pilgrimage last year,” said Mrs. E. L. Jones, an English visitor to Christchurch. “Most of the communications were to the effect that their writers had buried sovereigns and other valuables during the Gallipoli campaign, and had been unable to reclaim them, owing to the speed with which the evheuation was carried out. Some of the letters were accompanied by elaborately-drawn plans, showing tlie approximate localion of the buried treasure. The quaintest letter of all came from a “Tommy” who, having by some means possessed himself of a keg of rum, had carefully buried it. He had been wounded in a trench raid immediately afterward and had been taken to Alexandria. He requested that one of the pilgrims should dig it up and take it back to England for him.