GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1915, Page 7

GENERAL TELEGRAMS.

AN OBSTREPEROUS FIREMAN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■ Auckland, Lnst Night. ■ The defection of. one of her iiremen caused a delay of six hours in getting the Shii-w-Savill steamer Wniwera awav for London this morning. The steamer left Queen's Wharf at 0.45 a.m.. as the men in question had taken an early opportunity of going ashore, she waV obliged t 0 anchor in the stream. A diligent search was made ashec,. hut without avail, till late in the moniW, when Acting-Detective Gonrlcv discovered the missing man, a burlv Norwegian. !n a -state of liquor in Customs Street. A taxi was found neeessarv for the man's conveyance to the inan-o'-war steps, 'but there the captive resisted so stoutly that the detective and Constable MeHugh had a hard job to get him on board a launch. When the latter reached the side of the steamer, the man renewed Ms struggles, possibly having visions of German submarines at the end of the voyage. As there was a fair sea running, and he resolutely declined to mount the accommodation ladder, the police adopted the expedient of trussing hrm up with rope, and attaching his bonds to a couple of lines let over the ship's side. JSy this means he was hauled on board, protesting loudlv, and loefed up in rf-cabih. until such time as work should appeal to him once again.

KAMO SPRINGS. •Whangarei, Last Night. A strong protest was made last night at a special meeting of the iWhangarei Borough Council, caled at the'request of a number of ratepayers, against the Hospital Board's decision to purchase the Knmo Springs Hotel and grounds for £6OOO. Cr. Harrison proposed that the V.inister of Health be asked to investigate the proposition before granting the board borrowing powers. He stated the property was sold four months ago for t'lhlOO. No increase in local values or improvements had been effected, yet the price had suddenly jumped t- '£6ooo. No inspection had been made by the board's architect. The locality was unsuitable for a sanatorium or old men's home, and the site was .-subject to almost nightly fogs. The ground was difficult to drain, and the land was impregnated with alkali. Another objection was, according to common talk in tho town, that there was a secret arrangement into which only certain of the board mer.-'.hers had been let, and which would bring them no credit, for a Government subsidy. The matter of a secret arrangement was also freely talhed abqut by members of the bonrd. Or. Holmes said he. believed. ;'"•' ,vhcn tho Government wished to buy the Knmo Springs property the Government valuer assessed the value at ,C. '.'.>• <h and the owners wanted .€22,000. Cr. Harrison's resolution was carried.