LATE LOCALS,

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1931, Page 5

LATE LOCALS,

In the early hours of Wednesday morning a large hoarding-house ae Millerton owned hv the Westport Coal Company and occupied by Mrs Auld, was totally destroyed by fire. There were about 10 boarders in the house at the time and they all escaped. Practically nothing was saved. The premises next door were threatened, but were saved by hanging wet blankets and 'mattresses over the fence to protect it.

The Christchurch Times sivs: The method of the appointment of the police representative on the Public Service Superannuation Board is causing indignant comment amongst members of the police force in Canterbury. As with all other braiiches of the public sel'vioei it has been customary for tile police repvewhtafive on the board to bo appointed by emotion. Hncentiy it was announced that the CoiuiuismoiiOr of Police (Hr W. G. Wohlmann) had been appointed. No election was gold and the men had no opportunity o nominating anyone for the position, Police officers, it is stated, have no personal feeling against the Commissioner who. they agree, has always treated them fairly, but they are indignant at the procedure adopted and the precedent established. Such metnods were entirely unfair, they claim, and may lead to injustices being done.

A newspaper advertisement calling for passengers for Wellington in a private car led to the appearance of a motorist, Edward Hooper, before Air PH. Harper. S.M., in t’e AI gratrnxn’s Court at Gisborne, charged with plying for hire without being the holder of a public motor-driver’s license. V.unstable Birch stated that defendant admitted that he had inserted the advertisement and thought £1 was “a fair thing’’ for a passenger to Welling-’ ton. The defendant’s explanation in the witness-box was that lie bad said nothing in the advertisement about fares or fees, and merely wanted company on the long journey. He had admitted to the constable that fie wanted £1 for each passenger. Actually he took no passengers with him. The Alagistrate remarked that it was only right that taxi-drivers-should be protected. The ease did not appear to lie a very bad one, and the accused would be fined 10s and . costs

Aii iron box of great age and weight, which is supposed to have been used as a treasure chest or ship’s safe in Elizabethan times, has been sent from England to a Christchurch auctioneering firm. The box measures about three feet by five and is heavily math* of thick, riveted sheets of iron. Its chief peculiarity, however, is the complicated and effective mechanism bv which it locks. A dummy keyhole is set in the side of the chest; the real keyhole is in the lid. cunningly hidden under a small, revolving section ol iron. Beneath the lid is the heavy locking mechanism, which operates no fewer than 12 iron slots with one movement of 1 the key. These slots fasten under an iron band to such good effect that without the help o! the key, the chest would probnoty have to be blown open. Tile chest is guaranteed by the British Antique Dealers’ Association.

Addisons’ bargain table is a real magnet. Call and see for yourself some of the snips which are being replaced each day.—Advt.