ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 9

ITEMS IN BRIEF

About People and Events

NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW

The decision to hold a national flower show at Wellington, iu tbe Town Hall and the Concert Chamber on January 26 and 27 of next year, as part of the celebration of Horticultural Week, was arrived at at a meeting of all the national horticultural bodies and local horticultural societies. This will be the third national conference and show held iu the Dominion. The first was held in Wellington in 1929, and the second in Christchurch this year.

Canterbury Rugby Selector. Mr. J. T. Burrows, ex-international forward, has been appointed sole selector for the Canterbury representative Rugby teams.

Tublie Hall Burnt Down. The public hall at. Bucklaud. Auckland, together with all its contents, was destroyed by lire early on Monday morning. The loss is estimated at about £l5OO, against which there is insurance in the State Office on the building and contents amounting to £991.

Launch for Fishing. A new launch, which has been built by Mr. J. Scoringe, of Petone, will enter the water in a few days’ time. The boat, built; of New Zealand timbers, is 25 feet long and has a Oft. draught. It will be used by a Masterton syndicate for fishing off Castlepoint. The launch is as yet unnamed. There.is a spacious engine-room and cabin amidships. On the fore deck is a large storage hold. No engines have yet been installed.

Fish Ladder for Arapuni. A suggestion had been made that a fish ladder should be constructed to enable trout to climb the new Arapuni Falls. The completion of tbe hydroelectric scheme has destroyed all means of access to and from Lake Arapuni for trout, owing to the obstacle constituted by tbe falls, up which it is impossible tor tlie fish to climb against the large and swiftly-flowing volume of water.

Christchurch Tramway Losses. The net deficiency on the Christchurch Tramway Board’s revenue account for the year ended March 31 last was reported to tbe board to be £5240. In making this announcement the chairman said that an economics committee was at present dealing with the question of reducing expenditure aud putting tlie board on a better financial basis, and that the recommendations it. would make would be of a revolutionary character. No Room on Limited. Pressure on the accommodation on the Limited express at Auckland on Monday occasioned by the return to Wellington of 16 members of Parliament caused 12 passengers to be turned back from the railway gates. The train was made up to its limit of eight coaches, Including the guard’s van. Two would-be passengers were allowed to search the train for unclaimed seats, aud when their seeking proved fruitless they joined tlie others who had been unable to gain the platform. Found Under Bed. A sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment was imposed in the Police Court: yesterday on William Frederick Garner, alias William Robert Gardiner, labourer, aged 42, who was found hiding under a bed in a house at; 26 Palmer Street recently. Senior-Sergeant Scott said accused was found hiding under a lied by Mrs. Hyde. While she was telephoning the police, he escaped into the street, but was caught by Mrs. Hyde and brought back. Methylated Spirit Addicts. Methylated spirit-drinking is on the increase in Wellington, according to one who has a good deal to do with social activities iu the city. As nothing can be done with those subject to this demoralising habit, its victims are not to be dealt with so generously in the future as in the past by at least one organisation. It has been suggested that steps should be taken to prevent methylated spirits being obtainable as easily as at present, which would probably call for some form of legislative control. Rain Insurance. No payment will be made by the insurance company with which the Auckland Aero Ululi took out a policy as cover in case of rain diminishing attendance at its display at Epsom on Saturday, as tbe raiu gauge installed at, Alexandra Park recorded only .019 iu. The parties had agreed that in the event of .Jin. of rain falling between 11.30 a.m. ami 2.30 p.m., the insurance company should pay tbe club £lOO. The premium was £l2. About £250 was taken at Hie gate. Rescue of a Spaniel. Lowered by a rope passed beneath his armpits, a boy, aged about eight years, rescued a small dog which had slipped down a steep cliff at Campbell’s Point. Auckland, aud had become wedged in a precarious position. The dog. a black Spaniel, was playing at the top of the cliff ami overran tbe edge of an almost vertical bank, over 100 ft. high. The clay face of the cliff was greasy and the dog was unable to check its descent until it reached a small depression about 2in. deep scoured out by water about a third of the way down the cliff.

A Lost Opportunity. "Since I have been with tlie society tbe council has only made one mistake.” said Mr. C. I. Dasent. the retiring secretary of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, at a farewell gathering yesterday. "That was a most serious mistake. It was when it declined to purchase the property at Silverstream where tbe old hatchery was located. The council was offered the whole of the thirteen acres for £2OOO. and refused tbe offer, and so had to i iovc out and establish a new hatchery on leased land. The whole of tluit purchase money could have been recouped in three years. But. the property was acquired by St. Patrick's College. if lhe council had bought it then, and cut up and sold it later, the society would have made between £7OOO and £Booo—- — nice little nest-egg. It. was the saddest tiling 1 ean remember in connection with Hie society."