ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 49, 21 November 1932, Page 11

ITEMS IN BRIEF

About People and Events BROKEN SKYLIGHT A broken skylight at the back of Macky, Logan and Caldwell’s premises, Lower Cuba Street, led to the suggestion iast evening that an attempt had been made to gain entry. Detectives were soon on the scene and investigated the matter, but from all appearances it was not possible to determine whether the breaking was accidental or otherwise. In any case entry was not gained and no goods were stolen. Fire Destroys Hotel. The Kokatabi Hotel was completely destroyed by fire at four o’clock on Saturday morning, reports a Hokitika Press Association message. A small quantity of furniture was saved. Old School’s History. The Clyde Quay School, the site of which is proposed to be secured as the location of the new Central Fire Brigade Station, was built in 1888. The portion of the school on the Clyde Quay frontage, used for many years for the infant classes, was erected two years later. Mr. W. T. Grundy was its first headmaster. Centre-boarder Capsizes. While competing in a centre-boarder race on Evans Bay yesterday, Kotare, capsized just off Kio Bay. Being out of sight of the club-house it was some time before assistance arrived and her crew had some difficulty in keeping the yacht from damaging herself on the rocks. The place where the mishap occurred is described by yachtsman as the most treacherous area of water in Evans Bay. New Zealand Air Force. A short training course will be taken by several members of No. 4 Squadron, New Zealand Air Force, for a period of five days from November 28 at the Wigram Aerodrome. Squadron Leader T. W. White, officer in command of the squadron, will be in charge of operations, and on November 29 an inspection will be carried out by Major-General W. L. 11. Sin-clair-Burgess, 0.C., New Zealand Military Forces. Valuable Poultry on Ship. Six valuable Wyandottes, four hens and two cockerels, arrived at Auckland from England by the motor-ship Otaio recently. The birds, which were consigned to a prominent Auckland breeder, were placed on the vessel at Liverpool and were kept in crates on the upper deck. During the voyage they were treated with considerable care, which was rewarded when the hens commenced laying before Auckland was reached. The birds were landed in good condition. Currency in Fiji. "There are no half-crowns in circulation in Fiji,” said Mr. W. G. Roberts, of Christchurch, ' who has returned from a visit to Viti Levu, the principal island of Fiji, in the course of an interview. “I understand the reason to be that, with such a large native population, the florin is easier for counting. Another thing I noticed is that Australian silver coin is not taken into Fiji now. The Fiji Government has prevented that; but I do not know why. Fiji’s currency is unusual in still another way, in that there is an issue of 5/- banknotes.” Legend of the Lily. What was described as a pretty legend concerning Fritillarias, which are closely allied to lilies, was recounted by Mr. F. J. Shanks at the meeting of the New Zealand Lily Society recently. Mr. Shanks said the legend was that the Fritillaria grew in the Garden of Gethsemane, and that during Christ’s vigil there the flower developed the teardrops which were found high up in the parent bells. That and other legends should not be examined too closely, but certainly the habitat and time of flowering fitted in with the legend.