NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF

New Minesweeper

The first iniaesweeper to be constructed at Port Chalmers will be launched on Tuesday afternoon by Lady Newall. Immediately after the ceremony the Governor-General will drive the first rivet in the second sweeper. Their Excellencies will return to Wellington the next day.—P.A. R.N.Z.A.F. Member Killed.

A member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was killed on Wednesday at a North Island Air Force station -as a result of a gunshot wound in the head. A .rifle was found beside the body. He was Aircraftman Ronald Anthony Muicock; his next-of-kin is his father, Mr. A. C. Mulcock, c/o Post Office, Hamilton. An official inquiry is to be held.

Suburban Trani And Bus Service. Alterations and additions to the rail services between Wellington and the Hutt Valley will come into operation ou Monday week, September 14, when the evening bus service is to be suspended. The Railways Department, iu an advertisement today, gives details of the new train arrangements.

Charitable Legacies. Legacies of £4OO to the Roman Catholic Church, Petone, £5OO to the Home of Compassion, Island Bay, and £5OO to St. Joseph’s Orphanage, Upper Hutt, are included in the will of Mr. Danielßurke, retired contractor, probate of which was recently granted to Mr. W. P. Coles, acting on behalf of the Public Trustee. Extra Trains Required.

The end of primary school holidays has caused the usual heavy bookings on the trains. An extra northbound express left Wellington at 3.40 p.m. yesterday, and there will be a similar extra at the same time today. Southbound traffic has been even heavier, extra expresses leaving Auckland at 7.35 p.m. both ou Thursday and last night, and further extras .will leave at 3.30 p.m. today and 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Employers’ Liability. “It does not seem to be generally known that employers are liable under the War Emergency Regulations if they employ a man between 35 aud 51 years of age not registered for the Home Guard,” said the Wanganui Home Guard group director, Lieutenant-Colonel Hardie. D.S.O. “A full check-up is being made immediately, as it appears that there are a number of liable men still unregistered.”

Heavy Kain. , The northern half of the North Island has been experiencing rough weather in the past few days, and slips and .washouts are reported from Gisborne in the south to North Auckland. Auckland iteself had a hailstorm on Thursday afternoon, and this was followed by torrential rain. By midnight on Thursday 0.53 inches of rain had fallen in tae city.

R.N.Z.A.F. Rescue Boats. The first of a line of "crash’ rescue boats being built in yards at 1’ reeman s Bav, Auckland, was launched on Ihursday afternoon. It is 40 Ret long, uu d constructed entirely of New Zealand timbers to the design of Sir Hubert Scott Paine, a leading English designer. It carries all the necessary salvage and medical aid kit, and is fitted for a crew of two aud a wireless operator. Iwo Diesel engines give the power necessary for the speed required ot this type of craft. False Pretences. , , ... William George Thomas pleaded guiltjj in the New Plymouth Magistrates Court vesterday morning to four charges of theft of cheque forms and 82 charges of false pretences and issuing valueless cheques, by which he obtained goods and money to a total value of £453/1/;- 2- he offences occurred in all parts of the Dominion between April, 1939, aud August, 1942. lie was tommitted to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence. The magistrate, Mr. Woodward, complimented Detectives Jarrold and Hay on the arrest. —P.A. . .