ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 76, 22 December 1928, Page 10

ITEMS IN BRIEF

FROM FAR AND NEAR No Paper on Cliristnias Day.—There will be no issue of “The Dominion’’ on Christmas Day, Tuesday next. New South Wales Fire Brigade Chief. —Mr. T. P. Nance has been appointed chief officer of the New South Wales Fire Brigade, in succession to Mr. F. Jackson, retired.—Press Assu. Butter Dearer in Sydney.— Owing to the droughty conditions, the wholesale price of butter has been increased by id. to Is. lOd. a pound, states a Press Association message from Sydney.

Mails Reach London.— Postal authorities have received cabled advice that mails which left Auckland on the Aorangi. via Vancouver, on November 20, arrived in London on December 20.

The Philharmonic Orchestra.— For the first time in Berlin’s musical history a woman conducted the famous Philharmonic Orchestra, Dame Ethel Smyth conducting several of her own compositions. —Aust. Press Assn.

Death By Drowning.—At the inquest on Harry Dunean Morton, who was found drowned in Napier Harbour on Thursday, a verdict of suicide while temporary insane was returned, states a Press Association telegram.

Christmas Greetings.—We have to acknowledge the following further Christmas and New Year greetings:—Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, staff. Auckland “Sun,” Dominion Executive, N.Z. Licensing Reform Association. Directors Radio Broadeasting Co., Sisters of Compassion, aud the inmates of their Homes.

Rush to Pay Rates.— The sum of £56,060 was paid over the counter at the Dunedin Town Hall on Wednesday by belated ratepayers (states a Press Association telegram). Of rates amounting to £276.000, about £lO,OOO will carry the overdue penalty.

Tiie Stranded Morinda .— Messrs. Burns, Philp Ltd. have sent their superintendent engineer. Mr. Snellgrove, to the scene of the Morinda stranding in Papua to renort on the best means of refloating the vessel. A quantity of explosives has also been dispatched and will be used in shattering the rock which is holding the vessel.—Press Assn.

Contact with Live Wire.—A Press Association message from Waipukurau states that a fatal accident occurred yesterday morning, when John William Tyne, a married man, who was engineer at the Waipukurau Public Hospital, came into contact with a live wire while working at the isolation ward, and was electrocuted.

Appeal Against Death Sentence Dismissed.—The Full Court, at Sydney. dismissed an appeal on behalf of Martin Jacobsen, of Woy Woy, against conviction and sentence to death for criminally assaulting his former fiancee. The ease caused a great stir, owing to the allegation that the girl was a consenting party. —Press Assn.

Eucharistic Congress in Sydney.— “ The Eucharistic Congress in Sydney was truly wonderful, and might be termed a true miracle of faith and piety.” declared the Pope. “Even Australian non-Catholic authorities and citizens showed lofly feeling of hospitality, respect, sympathy, and benevolence.”

Theft of Frocks.— Frocks valued at £lOO were exhibited at the Criminal Court. Melbourne, in a case against Mrs. Elfrerla Court, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for having stolen them from a city warehouse, where she was employed as saleswoman. Mrs. Court said that she had acquired 216 frocks for her wedding, but all had been bought from various sources, and uot stolen.—Press Assn.

Man Jumps into Boiling Pool.—An unknown man. poorly clad, jumped into the boiling lake at Whaka at 1 p.m. yesterday, before a number of horrified spectators (states a Press Association message). The police and the Maori caretaker were soon on the spot witii grappling irons, and the body was recovered about an hour and a half afterwards. The man's age appeared to be about 55 years, height sft. lOin., and of medium build.

Explorer’s Body round.— An Australian Press Association-United Service message from Valparaiso states that the body of Captain B. J. H. Marden, British explorer, lost last July in an attempt to climb Aconcagua, the South American Continent's highest mountain. 23,000 ft., was found at a height of 14,000 ft.

Melbourne Bomb Outrage.—Bail of £3OOO was granted by the Chief Justice to five men who were committed for trial on a charge of having bombed the Greek Club on December 1 with intent to commit murder, states a Press Association message from Melbourne. The men also have to report to the detective office daily.

Influenza Epidemic in United States.— With the wave of the influenza epidemic steadily approaching the larger centres of population the Public Health Service officials predicted a total of three million cases by Christmas .states an Australian Press Association message from Washington. Fxnerts a r o c-reed that little ran be done to halt the epidemicuntil the cycle has expired. This normally runs from three to six weeks.

Sentence for Manslaughter.—Joseph Livingston, nged sixty .was sentenced to six years in g.-’nl for the manslaughter of Margaret Fearon, his sister-in-law. states a Press Association message from. Melbourne. Mr. Justice Mann de®crib<-1 the crime as revolting and without tl- i slightest provocation, Mrs. Fearon, wh > was housekeeper for Livingston. w.-s found dead ot her homo at Frankston on October 30, witli indications of so- - ape treatment. Livingston was four! with his throat cut. but since recovered. “Coms tn Britain” Movement.— '-i Anstr." ,! ”n Press Association-Unite 4 Se--vieo moss-’gc f --nm London states ti-et •' meeting nt the Mansion House. I.or’ Derby presiding, nnseod a resol-’tlnn » ■ endorsement of the “Come to Bi nns”ic*'; of t><e Overseas ’’’radc D-na-Goo-t. Lor’ DerKv announced a formic tio- f-m-l cf vo'.OOO. an-’ S! ” T”>iU» C--’lfi’-- T .isfe". President of the Tlon’-A „f T—• nr -- m-sed a n nddiGonn’ f.“0 A 0 *■— ->.l’’- r-i ] ( p1...” Clovo-—" ’ ’■!<’" 'mb.i - sndorinl and Cnisu’ar co-ororn’ion. Amazing Abduct’.on C as-*.—Amazing disclosures were made in an abuuctk 1 case against Albert Pe.-.r lon. a marric I man, states a Press Association, message from Melbourne. Evidence was given that he cleared out in 1'123 with V’ det Barry. I lien aged twelve, a ward of the Stat-*, in the cure of Reardon's wife, since whc'i lie had lived with the girl as man and wi 3 in other States. The girl was now tie mother of two children, aged four yea-s and twenty months, respectively. The gi I gave evidence that she was as much to blame as Peardon, who deposed that l-e believed flint she was over sixteen. Cube - wise, he would not have taken her away. Peardon was committed for trial.