NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 101, 23 January 1943, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

American Red Cross Club

An item on the order paper for a special meeting of the Wellington City Council to be held on Monday is the consideration of a proposal that permission be granted to the American Red Cross for the erection of a club for servicemen on the unoccupied area at the rear of the Public Library, fronting on Harris Street. Some time ago the Field Director of the American Red Cross, .Mr. W. J. Enders, announced that such a club was to be provided, and that it would he staffed mainly with trained personnel from the United States.

Anniversary Day. \ . . With many people working, Anniversary Day passed very quietly in Wellington. The fine weather took many to the beaches, but they travelled by public means rather than by private cars. Ibere were no special -rail or harbour ferry excursions.

A Reliable Service. Since its inauguration in April. 1J49, the transtasman air service ot lasman Empire Airways has flown 6,iq2,-66 pasj senger miles, and has maintained '* per cent, of its scheduled runs. The total LHes flown is 527,700, in 3489 hours The total freight-ton miles is 01,68 J. Mail carried adds up to 326,2101 b.

Alien Fined. „ Johannes Johannesan, an alien who had been ordered not to take employment without the permission of the authorities, and then only in an inland area was fined £1 by Mr. Harley, S.M.. in the Magistrates’ Court. Lower Hutt, for accepting work at Nai Nai without permission. Dor changing his place of residence without permission he was fined an additional ±~. Transtasman Air Service. The two flying-boats flying the lasman Empire Airways service between Australia and New Zealand are carrying full passenger quotas these days. Though 59 per cent, load factors in the early days tend to lower the overall percentage, alter 24 years of the service the total load carried is 87.5 per cent, of the capacity for the 390-odd flights made.

Overcharge by Butcher. A fine of £2 was imposed by Mr. Harley, S.M., iu the Magistrates’ Court. Lower Hutt, on George Lunnis Munday, a butcher, for the sale of a forequarter ot hogget mutton for 5/3, when the correct charge under Price Order 9S should have been 4/8. A plea of guilty was entered, but leniency was asked for on the grounds that the sale had been made by a casual hand and the margin of overcharge was small.

Jail for Sly Grog Selling. Edmund Percy Freeman, waiter, aged 26. was sentenced to 21 days imprisonment by Mr. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, for sellin- liquor without a licence to do so. Senior-Sergeant T. Campagnolo said accused had been going about in a- motorcar. and a large quantity of liquor was found in his possession. In one instance he had charged an American marine t-1 for a bottle of whisky. Accused said he bad had to pay £3 for the bottle of whisky.

Ballroom Replaces Church. The removal of a church so that a ballroom might be extended for the occasion of the first royal visit to New Zealand, was recalled at the Anniversary Day meeting Of the Early Settlers Association, bv the singing of a hymn by Mi. W B Allen, the oldest member present. Mr. Allen was a chorister in the cbui’cli which is now the chapel in the Bolton Street cemetery, where it has stood since 1569. He recalled that it had been hauled there on skids when it was decided to enlarge a ballroom for Hie visit of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Theft of Army Petrol. "The Armv cannot afford to have petrol stolen, and the sooner such offences lire stopped the better.” said Mr. Goulding. S.M., in the Magistrates Court. e ington, yesterday, in sentencing 11- illutni George Kyle, soldier, aged 20, to 14 days imprisonment on charges of having, between October 1 and October 14 last, nt I’orirua, stolen six gallons of motor spirit, valued at 16/9. the property of the New Zealand Government. Senior-bergeant 1. Campagnolo said that accused, who was a motor-cyclist in the Army, owned a nibtorenr and had been found syphoning petrol from the Army motor-cycle into Ins own motor-car.

Early Wellington Relics. A panorama of Wellington from the harbour in 1841 and the minute book ot the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1871 were added to the relics preserved by the Early Settlers’ Association at the Anniversary Day gathering. Bare hills are the predominant feature of the panorama which would now show roads amt tiers of houses. Made from the deck of the ship Brougham by Josiah V oodward, it was presented by a grandson. 1 lie records of the fire brigade, including photographs and newspaper cuttings, were recently rescued from waste paper collected for salvage.

Cast Lpon the Waters. \ This from a resident of Oriental bay yesterday: “I was reminded this morning of a song entitled ‘Pennies from Heaven. The bay at an early hour resembled a sea studded with miniature mines. Jo the delight of local beachcombers these miniature mines turned out to be luscious apples, in prime condition. In no time the bay was cleared, the ‘minefield was swept.’ so to speak, and for the lucky ones there will be apple-pie on Sunday, a luxury indeed, these times. It is strange how the sen gives up what people (not the Internal Marketing Division, surely) cast upon its waters.”

Intent to Commit I‘rand. ' John McCullough Forsyth pleaded "uilty in the Magistrates Court. Wellington, yesterday to a charge that, ou July 27 last, at Christchurch, with intent to commit fraud, he obtained from Ellen All wood the sum of £2 in money by falsely representing that a cheque dated July 27,' 1942, drawn on the Bank of Aew South Wales, Hamilton, for £2 in favour of Jim Forbes, and signed A. Johnson, was a good and valid order for that amount. Detective-Sergeant M . McLennan said that accused was at present serving a sentence of three months for an offence committed subsequent to the present charge, and still had a fortnight to serve. Mr. Colliding, S.M.. imposed a sentence of a month's imprisonment, to be served at the termination of bis present sentence.

Public Trust Business. Estates to the value of £671,88b were reported and accepted for administration bv the Public Trustee during the month of December, 1942. The total value of the estates and funds under administration bv the Public Trustee on March 51. 1942, was £64,685,685, and the new business for the nine months ended December 31, was £5,301,067. Grants of administration made by the court>“ of the Public Trustee numbered 20 < tor the mouth. During the month 000 new wills appointing the Public Trustee e. ecutor were prepared on behalf ot testators and lodged for safe custody, and 3;>B existing wills were revised to proiide tor changes desired by testators. Ihe total number of wills now held in the Pubi c Trust Office on behalf of living persons is 119,906.