ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 71, 17 December 1928, Page 12

ITEMS IN BRIEF

FROM FAR AND NEAR British By-election Necessary.—The appointment of Sir Malcolm Macnaughton to be King’s Bench Judge, in the place of the late Mr. Justice Salter, necessitates a by-election in the City and County of Londonderry (states a British official wireless message). Sir Malcolm Macnaughton has represented the constituency since 1922. “Purely an Accident.”— The defeat of the Bavin Government on Thursday was purely an accident (states a Press Association message from Sydney.) The same thing occurred the previous night, by means of a snap vote. Mr. Bavin on each occasion rallied his forces and recommitted the defeated clause, which were agreed to. Thus the Opposition was outwitted. Safeguarding Britain’s Steel Industry. —At the request of the British Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (states a British official wireless message) a meeting between its Executive Committee and the Executive Committee of the Labour Party will be held shortly to consider a proposal for an official’ami impartial inquiry into the desirability of means of safeguarding those industries. Wool-scouring Works Destroyed.—-The wool scouring works of Messrs. Hayes Brothers, at Bourke, New South Wales, have been destroyed by fire (states a Press Association message from Sydney). The damage is estimated at £7OOO. The origin of the fire is unknown. Woman Trapped in a Cave.— Two old women were tragically drowned when a storm drove them to take refuge in a cave (states an Australian Press Association message from Capetown). A cloudburst caused a huge volume of water, and the pair were trapped.

Man Suffocated in Fire.— William McLean, aged 24, was suffocated when a fire destroyed a block of flats in the city at Brisbane (states a Press Association message). Firemen fought their way to McLean's bedroom, but all efforts to restore respiration was unavailing.

Unseasonable Weather on East Coast. —Unseasonable weather is delaying the shearing on the East Coast (states _ a Press Association message from Gisborne). Heavy thunderstorms have been experienced. In five days up to .Saturday 5.51 inches of rain fell, 3.3 S being registered in the last twenty-four hours. The rivers are running high, but no damage is reported.

Run Down by Motor-bus and Killed. — A Press Association message from Christchurch states that Alexander Swanson, of Leeston, aged 33, married, was killed on the road a mile north of Dunsandel on Saturday. He was riding a bicycle when he was struck and run down by a motor-bus. Death was instantaneous.

Charitable Bequests.— Under the will of the late Martin O’Connor, of Westport, the following bequests are made O’Connor Home at Westport. £1000; Home for Incurables, Island Bay, Wellington, £400; St. Canices School, Westport, £200; Catholic Seminary, Galway Island, £4OO. —Press Assn.

Alleged Incendiarism —A message from Richmond (Queensland) states that the homestead of Petersford station was destroyed by fire on Thursday night (states a Press Association 'message from Brisbane). The building is alleged to have been set on fire by a well-known resident of the district, who. it. is alleged, fired a shot at Mr. McMillan, the owner of the station, but missed him. The man, who is said to be out of his mind, then cle.ared into the bush with a rifle. A police party is searching for him, but it is feared that he may commit suicide.