Fire Damages Church

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 14

Fire Damages Church

Police and firemen are investigating a fire which damaged the interior of the Apostolic Church in Gladstone Road, Gisborne, on Wednesday night, according to the Press Association.

The minister in charge of the church. Pastdr T. J. Robinson, said today that the fire badly damaged the pulpit and

burnt a microphone and amplifying equipment kept under the pulpit. Part of the carpet on the pulpit was also burnt, as well as Pastor Robinson’s personal Bible.

The damage could be as much as 400 dollars. The church, which is only a year old, was kept lighted and open for the benefit of visitors. Pastor Robinson said his wife smelled the smoke and he managed to beat out the fire with a cushion before the fire brigade arrived. | Shark Caught A 13ft 6in white pointer shark, a known man-eating species, was caught in Otago harbour yesterday morning near the spit. Mr L. R. Waters, a 34-year-old commercial fisherman, of Deborah Bay, hooked the shark. This is the species of shark thought to have caused the deaths of two Dunedin lifesavers off Dunedin beaches in the last three years. Bridge Girder A gentle hum from two floating cranes was the loudest noise heard as the largest girder weighing 384 tons was inched into place on the northern side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. One hundred beach-clad holidaymakers were at Northcote watching the lift. The girder was the first to be placed on the Northcote side. The extensions are being done by a Japanese firm. Fishing Limit Auckland fishermen will’.

ask wholesalers to lift the limit on catches imposed three months ago. Their president, Mr W. Griffiths, said: “We have been having a pretty lean time lately and limiting our catches doesn’t help.” Fishermen supplying five wholesalers were limited to 35 baskets of snapper, 30 of trevalli and 20 of gurnard. This meant that once the limit on one variety was reached the boat usually had to return to Auckland. The limit had caused a shortage! of fish in some inland towns.! Seamen Unemployed Ninety Auckland seamen are registered as unemployed and this is expected to increase by next week, according to a spokesman for the Auckland branch of the Seamen’s Union. There were no signs of any improvement, he said. Eleven ships are laid up in Auckland, nine owned by the Union Steam Ship Company and two by the Northern Steamship Company. The Union vessel Konui, now discharging cargo in Auckland. will also be paid off soon. Canning Work There was every indication that production would reach a record level at the Gisborne factory of J. Wattie Canneries, Ltd, said the assistant manager, Mr A. E. Leeves. “In February and March, we will be increasing our labour force to cope with the additional ■ crops coming in. At prese it we are employing about 520 workers and this will be increased to about 950 to 10001 as required.” >