ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 93, 14 January 1929, Page 11

ITEMS IN BRIEF

FROM FAR AND NEAR Canadian Minister to Japan.—An Australian Press Association-United Service message states that the Premier of Canada, Mr. King, announced that the Government had recommended to the King the appointment of Mr. Herbert Marler, of Montreal, as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary for Canada to Japan. Motor-cyclists Injured.—As a result of a collision between a motor-car and a motor-cycle at Gisborne on Saturday evening John Jennings, aged 25, the rider of the cycle, and Joseph Waters, aged 26, a pillion rider on it, were admitted to hospital, but their injuries are not serious.—Press Assn.

’Plane Crashes at Port Melbourne.—A Moth ’plane crashed at Port Melbourne and was badly damaged. The pilot and a woman passenger were unhurt. They refused to give their names. —Press Assn.

Price of Butter in Auckland.—Retail prices of butter in Auckland will be advanced to-day another penny a pound to Is. 10(1. and Is. Bd., according to grade. The increase follows the remarkable strength of the London market. Forward buying offers for the English market are a penny higher than a month ago.—l ress Assn.

World’s Largest Lifeboat. —The largest and fastest lifeboat in the world, designed for the rescue of distressed cross-channel aeroplanes, is being built for the Lifeboat Institution. Its speed will be 18 knots. She will be stationed at Dover, and will assist cross-Channel steamers but is unsuitable for the shallow waters of the Goodwins.- —“Times” Cable.

Railway Trucks Break Away.—During shunting operations at Mount Lofty, South Australia, a guard’s van and twenty-one trucks broke away, and dashed down the line at a speed of eighty miles an hour. After travelling four and a half miles, the trucks were derailed, some of them being smashed to pieces, and portions of the track uprooted. Pigs and sheep in the trucks, valued at £llOO, were kiflgd. None of the train crew was aboard. —Press Assn.

Disturbance at Rabaul.—A Rabaul message states that the Deputy-Adminis-trator has promised that a commission will inquire into the native disturbance. Disciplinary action has been taken against the members of the native police who took part in the recent mutiny. Six months’ imprisonment was imposed on those who absented themselves from duty. The suspected ringleaders were remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence on a charge of conspiracy.—Press Assn.

Queensland Floods. —For the sixth successive day there was no traffic on Friday on the Great North Coast Railway between Ingham and Tully, relates a Press Association message from Brisbane. The Herbert River was ten feet over the railway bridge, and the Tully River was over its bank, and for three miles the rails were five feet under water.