DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1930, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

BOOKMAKERS’ ’PHONES. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. fßy Telegraph, Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. The conviction of individuals for carrying on the illegal occupation ol bookmaking leads to action by the Post and Telegraph Department, which disconnects the telephone of the offender.

Strong complaints have been made within the last few months by members of the House a-gainst the Department going a further step and. disconnecting private telephones at the residences of convicted persons. Eight members of the House- have made protests to the Postmaster-General against the Department punishing innocent individuals by interfering with residence facilities, contending that the extent of punishment is a matter solely for the decision of-magistrates. It is stated in- the lobbies that there hap recently been a reversal of instructions, and that telephones disconnected from private houses, for this reason have been reinstalled,

WELLINGTON FIRE BRIGADE

WELLINGTON, August 23,

“We feel that there is something wrong in the working of the brigade, and it'seems to us that in recent years the efficiency of the brigade lias been seriously impaired” was'-the complaint forwarded to the Wellington Fire Board by the- local manager of the Insurance Office of Australia. The complaint referred to a fire in Courtenay Place at 3 a.m. on August 14th. The brigade arrived on the scene three minutes after the alarm was given, but complainant alleged there was am unreasonable delay bef ore- any water was played on the fire, though there was a fire plug outside the premises. The delay resulted in the extension of the. fire causing a large:amount of damage. Superintendent Oreeke, replying said : There was no unnecessary delay in getting to work. I,t was not possible to work from the fire .plug outside tne premises as it was on the footpath and the flames from the fire covered it. The Board decided to forward the Superintendent’s report to the complainant with a request for further suggestions and also to ask the City Council to facilitate the plain marking of fireplugs. . ( MUSIC WEEK. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 23. Mnjsic' Week in New Plvmouth closed last night. As a movement- to revive interest in good music, if was .an outstanding success. Every night for the week the hoitses were crowded: There will be a profit of’£loo. •"“••'•’• INQUEST ON EPILEPTIC. WELLINGTON, August 23. That the deceased lmd Ids death hv drowning,‘ through“ falling' into - “/the Little Akatarawa during an eoilepfick seizure, was the Coroner’s finding--at the inquest on Walter Blunden Taylor, aged 21, who was found in ,t\yo feet of. water at Karapote on -Tuesday night. • V ■ ‘ SUSPICIOUS AUCKLAND FIRES ' " AUCKLAND,, August 21. Suspicious circumstances surround fires' which occurred at the Auckland Fishermen’s Corporation Ltd., premises on Friday night. The' fire .. was quickly extinguished', with small damage. Suspicions were aroused when it was found that, the edges of a pile, of pauers. in the shop at. the;.;otlier end of the building, were found, scorched, and a- number, of. dead niatebes-were?,.dis-:covered; •It is •. believed.; that entered by -the. open , t wincknyyl-(hut ; nothing was-stolen from, the premises. A second fire in the same locality accurred last night, - the scene of the. outbreak being,a small office belonging to Winston’s, Ltd. a few hundred yards from the Fishermen's Corporation premises. Minor damage was' doniv V