General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24591, 13 June 1945, Page 6

General News

False Alarms of Fire “I am very glad to see that they have caught one of these gentlemen,” said the chairman (Mr T. M. Charters) at the meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board last evening, when referring to a report that the police had obtained a conviction against a man for giving a malicious false alarm of fire. Mr Charters, in moving that the police be thanked, said that their efforts to sheet home such offences were appreciated. Dobson Miners to Meet To-day An announcement was made last evening that a meeting of Dobson State miners would ,be held at the bathhouse at 8 o'clock this morning about the strike action which has been responsible for the mine being Idle on Monday and yesterday. So far as the Mines Department is concerned, the cause of the stoppage is officially unknown, as no request has been made to the management since the stopwork meeting on Monday morning, but it is believed to be concerned with the recent claims by the men for increased tonnages, and the failure of the Coal Council to give a decision on the matter to date. The Strongman State mine, which was idle on Monday, resumed work yesterday, and the Liverpool, Wallsend, and Blackball State mines also worked. Railway Accident The guard’s van of a stationary goods train was telescoped and derailed, and the waggon in front of it damaged in an accident at the Ohinewai station (Waikato) about 7.50 a.m. yesterday. A train was standing at the southern end of the station when it was struck by another goods train travelling through heavy fog. Visibility on the line was poor. No one was injured. The accident caused a blockage of the main trunk line for a time, and two passenger trains were delayed. The limited express from Wellington arrived at Auckland 47 minutes Tate. —(P.A.) Identity of “Buddy” The identity of “Buddy," the purchaser of the winning ticket in the “What a Thrill” art union, remains unsolved, In the meantime a number of persons have had indignantly to deny that they were the lucky holders of the winning ticket entitling them to the £2OOO prize. Strangely enough, the pseudonym of “Buddy” seems to have been a popular one with buyers of art union tickets in Temuka, and more than one ticket-holder who signed the butt with this nom-de-plume was disappointed. Rumour for a time favoured a visitor to Temuka who lives in the Bay of Plenty, but certain better Informed persons have hinted that they know the winner of the £2OOO, but are under vow not to divulge the name. Superannuation for Firemen “We are approaching the stage when fire boards will be asked seriously to consider the question of superannuation for firemen," said Mr T. M. Charters in reporting at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board last evening on the annual meeting of the Fire Boards’ Association. He said that a meeting of fire service personnel In Wellington had agreed on a scheme to be recommended to the boards. Fund? For Council of Sport The Government had'made a grant of £SOO toward the working expenses of the Council of Sport and £25 had been allotted to the Canterbury council, Mr J. E. Jones reported to the management committee of the Canterbury Football Association last evening. This would very materially increase the usefulness of the council, he said. The information was received with general approbation. Westport Coal Supplies Coal is accumulating in Westport but there are at present no .shins to carry it away. Two colliers, the Poolta and the Pakura, are expected to-day, and the Wlngatui, which was driven north and went to Auckland, is reported to be on her way to Westport to load coal for Wellington.—-(R.A-) Judges for Diving The election of a panel of judges for diving events was deferred until October at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Amateur Swimming Centre held last evening. It was suggested that some judges had no knowledge of the finer points of diving. “I have seen one judge award six points and another one point for the same dive,” said a member. Mr L. Donaldson said he was qualified to judge international diving events, and that he was willing to coach judges in Canterbury and to set them an examination. Clubs would then be able to demand a certificate stating that the holders had passed the examination before appointing them to judge diving events. Power Shortage Consumers in the Wgitemata Power Board’s area will be deprived of electricity for short periods in rotation throughout to-day. The Auckland Power Board will also enforce cut-offs in supply unless the load in its district is reduced further by the voluntary efforts of consumers,—(P.A.) Films of Cattle Droving A film unit has arrived In Darwin to shoot scenes of the cattle route from Wyndham, Western Australia, to the Barkly Tablelands, Queensland. These scenes will be incorporated In the film “The Overlanders/’ which is being made by the British producer, Mr Harry Watt for Ealing Studios, London. The unit will cover the whole of the- 2000-mile stock route by motortruck. The films will show cattle moving through all phases of the country—the tropical belts, the desert stretches, ana the grazing areas of the Downs country. Aerial films of the stock route will also be taken from a specially equipped plane made available by the R.A.A.P. While in Darwin and Wyndham. the unit will make shots of town areas, including bombedout hotels for use in the story. Milk Rationing In Dunedin Supplies of milk for Dunedin are insufficient to cover requirements and a system of rationing is to be introduced. Since Monday, several vendors have reduced their deliveries to householders. and the rationing scheme is tq be placed on an official basis at an early date. This announcement was made after a meeting yesterday of producers and vendors responsible for placing milk on the market. The reduction in deliveries has been brought about by a succession of floods and generally adverse weather this year, and as the winter progresses the shortaee will become more pronounced.— (P.A.)