EPIDEMIC OF FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 7

EPIDEMIC OF FIRES.

Priceless Dutch Treasures

Burned. WATER SUPPLY FROZEN. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received i>. yo a.m.) LONDON*, February 12. There is an epidemic of fires throughout Holland owing to the cold freezing the water supplies. The lire brigade was called out 50 times yesterday in Amsterdam alone. The well-known Theatre Flora was burnt to the ground and the famous town ha'l at Leiden was burnt down, priceless archives and numerous treasures being destroyed. The brigades were helpless owing u the freezing water. Three other buildings were burnt at Leiden, where the damage is estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

RELEASE REFUSED. DE VALERA STAYS IN GAOL

(Australian and X.Z. Press Association.) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON. February 12. Acting on the suggestion of Mr. \V. T. Cutfgrave that de Valera should be released purely as an act of μ-race, the Minister of Home Affairs of Northern Ireland offered the prisoner his freedom conditional on necessary undertakings being given. De Yalera refused, ami thus he remains in gaol. DUTY ON N.Z. BUTTER. CANADIANS ASK PROTECTION.

(Australian and X.Z. Press Association.) (Kevelrt'd 1.30 p.m.) VANCOUVER, February 12. The Western Canada Dairy Association and the British Columbia Dairymen opened their conventions simultaneously on Tuesday. Intimation was given that the question of the trade treaty will be discussed. The annual report draws attention to the growing feeling amongst dairymen in favour <■!' the restoration of a moderate degree of protection to the dairy industry.

The secretary, Mr. W. F. Stephen, of the National Dairy Council, gave figures showing huge imports of New Zealand butter. He was instructed to obtain information of the benefit, if any, that the lumber industry has received from the treaty.