ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 288, 1 September 1931, Page 11

ITEMS IN BRIEF

About People and Events FIRE AT ISLAND BAY A nine-roomed dwelling with a shop attached, 9 Trent Street, Island Bay, occupied by three fishermen, was gutted by a fire which was discovered at about 3.30 yesterday morning. The fire broke out in a part well removed from the quarters where the men were sleeping, and had a good field w ben the brigade arrived. The shop is occupied by Mr. Marie, an Italian cabinetmaker. The owner was Mrs. Taylor, now a resident of Sydney, the estate being administered by the Public Trustee. It was insured for £7OO in the Atlas Office, and the cabinetmaker’s stock was insured for £5OO.

Man Fatally Shot. A shepherd at the Ngatapa Station, F. S. Burrows, aged 37, was fatally shot while repairing a gun, says a Press Association message from Gisborne.

Arbitration Court. The Arbitration Court opens its Wellington sitting to-day, when 24 applications for exclusion from the general order making a 10 per cent, reduction in wages will be dealt with.

Bankruptcy Returns. Five petitions in bankruptcy were filed in the Wellington district last month, as against six for August, 1930. For the eight months of the present year, 58 petitions have been filed, as against 44 for the corresponding period in 1930.

Justices’ Association. His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, will address the Wellington Justices’ Association at Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains’ tea-rooms to-morrow evening.

Road Improvement. One recent improvement in the Shelley Bay Road is the demolition of the awkward little bridge near the Miramar cutting. The drain has been culverted in, and where the bridge stood is now solid roadway and no side-rails.

Prisoners for Sentence. Eight prisoners will be brought up for sentence at the Supreme Court this morning, including those charged with breaking, entering, and theft at Nelson, one charged with bigamy, and one with perjury. j , Hit Gelignite with Pick. Working at the Public Works camp at Kaitoke about 9 a.m. yesterday morning, N. Oliver, labourer, struck a plug of gelignite which had been placed in some rock preparatory to blasting with his pick. He received severe lacerated wounds to his face and hands as the result of the explosion, and was brought to Wellington by the Free Ambulance. Footballers’ Food. “All travelling teams put on condition when they come to the Dominion,” said Mr. F. T. Evans, in welcoming the Australian Rugby team on behalf of old players at the civic reception in Christchurch. “The South Africans all put on extra weight, and blamed it to the quality of our butter. Ultimately, the manager had- to put them on half rations.” “We have all put on condition since coming to New Zealand,” said the manager, Mr. T. S. Davis, in his response, “and were Wondering what was the cause of it.” Improving Taupo Land. “In connection with the development of volcanic soils, the whole area of country covered by the Taupo deposits must be regarded with some suspicion ih view of the incidence of bush-sickness at at least three points widely separated,” stated Mr. T. Rigg in a lecture before the Wellington Philosophical Society last week on the soils of the centre of the North Island. The lecturer added: “In selected localities in this sector the carrying capacity of pastures sown to English grasses and clovers and top-dressed with superphosphates has been notably high, and if the bogey of bush-sickness could be definitely removed there is little question that very large areas of the Taupo deposit could be successfully farmed.”