NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1929, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

.MILLIONAIRE’S 29 CARS. Twenty-nine motor cars and 22 overcoats formed part of the estate left by .Mr Payne Whitney, the American financier and sportsman, whose will has been proved for taxation purposes at tbe record figure of £38,865,703 (gross) and £35,776,613 (net). Tin's, the largest fortune ever entered for Stale transfer tax purposes, compares with the £21,410,000 estate left by Mr Annum Harkness, which eclipsed the previous record estate lott by 51 r John Jacob Astor, who died worth £17,443,700. 51 r Payne Whitney died suddenly at bis home at Long Island wliik playing a game ol tennis.

SPEED NOT MAIN CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS. “ | do not think tbe speed limit matters very much,” said .Sir Henry .Maybury, Director-General of Roads, when be continued bis evidence before tbe London Transport Commission. “Restrictions placed on motorists have not been really effective. What matters much more is to make people responsible for their actions and make the penalty fit the crime.” Speed and accidents were not synonymous, lie declared. Indeed, 56 per cent o! the accidents in London happened with vehicles travelling at less than ten miles an hour. London’s traffic problem, in bis opinion, could be solved by essential tube extensions.

TREASURY'S DOUBLE WINDFALL

There are lew, if any inslanees in which tlie British Treasury has reaped double death duties from the same estate in one year, hut such a ease has, been brought about consequent on the very heavy gales which England experienced in November. Captain John Spicer, late of the Ist Life Guards, of Spyre Park. Chippenham, Lord of the Manor of Bromham and Chittoe, died in the early part of last year, leaving estate of £(>sl,9(>L so far as could be ascertained at the time of his death. Captain Anthony Spicer, also of the Ist Life Guards, who succeeded 'to the estate in May, was killed in November by a falling tree during the gale while out shooting on his estates.

NEW NAIL SWALLOWING RECORD

Stories of extraordinary things that have been swallowed by people brought the following list from a correspondent to the “ Evening Standard,” who was present at the time when a doctor made a post rnorten on a man believed to have been employed in a shoemaker’s shop, lie actually saw tin* articles which comprised Shoemakers’ sparables, 1(539; 4in nails, six; 3\in nails, three; 2}in stamps, eight; Bin nails. 19; 2in nails, 18; Hin nails, 40; buckles, ‘2O; shoemakers’ tacks, 14; hits of glass, 14; small pebbles, 10; brass buttons, nine; 31 in piece of leather, one; Sin piece of lead, one; pieces of string, three; fine shoemakers’ awl, one; brass pin, one. The whole made a total weight of lib lOoz.

ORIGIN OF THE OVAL

The Oval, London’s biggest cricket ground, owes its origin to a meeting held at the llorns Tavern early in 1845, Lord Bessborough in the chair. Here the Surrey County Cricket Club was founded, and the locale of the ground decided on. At this period it was largely swamp, subject to pciiodical floodings. The work of reclamation was taken in hand promptly, blit the drainage problem presented many difficulties, owing to the vagaries ol the Eflra river. Eventually, however, these were overcome, and the huge quantities of boggy soil excavated in the process were heaped round, the ..round and cemented over, the result being the sloping embankment surrounding the present Oval, which enables all the spectators to obtain a good view ol the game.

"WORLD'S BUSIEST TRAFFIC CENTRIC.

Giving evidence before the London Transport Commission, Sir Henry Maybury, Director-General of Roads, expressed the opinion that the “round about” traffic system has been “fairly successful}’.” The chairman (Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscnwen, formerly Minister of Agriculture): Cannot.-you do something for the benefit of the unfortunate pedestrians in these one-way streets? I have been nearly killed at the top of the Haynmrket more than once. You have not been following the regulations, replied Sir Henry. amid laughter. The chairman: Oh, yes L have, hut these buses come round at a terrible rat'e. Sir Henry said that Hyde Bark Corner was the largest traffic problem m the world. More traffic passed there in 24 houis than any other place.

UNABLE TO GET A SEAT. Damages lor not being brought hack to London from Bournemouth by charabanc were claimed at Westminster County Court by Mr Frank Baddeley, bank cashier, Mill Hill, against A. M. Kemp-Gee, Limited, High street. St. Giles, W.C. Mr Baddeley said that lie took return tickets to Bournemouth with bis four young, children on July o()th. On August 24th they failed to rret seats for the return journey, ami had to come home by train. Ho claimed £2O damages. He bad to engage taxicabs at Bournemouth and "Waterloo. Mr Rhymer, for the defence read from the conditions on the ticke that the company undertook no responsibility for delays or that local connections would he made, and accopteu no liability beyond the value of the ticket. Judge Sir Alfred lobin said that those conditions were _ badly drawn. Judgment for phuntifl was agreed at £5 and costs.

BEQUEST FOll BO'i’S FTTNER AL. Airs Margaret Muir Alattoi. of St. Andrew's Place, Repent’* Burk . who died on October o, aged 8-,lea\-inir property valued at £11,11)0. dueled" that : “My dear Hole dog. W 1* >• be as soon as possible after iny death destroyed by chloroform, by Mir \> lett. 'veterinary surgeon, of Harley Place. Barley Street. W.. to whom 1 direct a fee of two puineas he paid top his services. I direct that the dog bo buried hv Air John Bmvditch. ol '\ ht> Garden Lodge, Broad Walk. Regent’s Park, who is for such sc vices to have a fee of Co os.”

THE LOVER- WHO LOITERED.. A voting man who was hanging about while waiting to meet a gin aroused the suspicions of a policeman, and was arrested on a charge ol b-’it cring with intent to commit a felony. The story was told at Marylebone when the man was acquitted. the policeman said lie followed the man thioiigli various streets tor about an hour. He stood at corners, looked at houses and entered a garden. He said lie was going to meet a girl at I‘rognal. Ihe girl was in Court to give her evidence but the magistrate did not call her.