ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 163, 5 April 1933, Page 11

ITEMS IN BRIEF

About People and Events

MAIN TRUNK TRAINS Trains passing through 'areas where the recent heavy floods affected a section of the Main Trunk line still have to conform to speed restrictions, a.l* though the work of restoring the line between Okahukura and Ohakune to its normal condition is progressing rapidly. It is not yet definitely known when the work will be completed. Trains are being run with the minimum of delay, and the emergency arrangements are operating smoothly. Apples for Mayor’s Fund. Dr. D. Macdonald Wilson, president of the Rotary Club, announced at yesterday’s luncheon that at the low cost of £5 the club had been able to secure some thirty cases of apples at Nelson. These are being handed over to the Mayor’s fund for distribution among the deserving poor of the city.

Printing Office Damaged. Fire early yesterday morning damaged the printing office of the “Teran Press,” owned by Mr. J. Young, and Hardy’s fruit shop on the floor beneath, but the brigade made a good save, states a Gisborne message. Mr. Young’s loss is mainly in paper stocks and damage to linotype machines.

April Fools’ Day. One exhumation of an old gag was repeated at a Christchurch newspaper office on April Fools’ Day. Over the telephone came an inquiry whether the man at the other end was keen to be given the tip for a good story. The answer was a purposeful affirmative, and a pleased voice advised the reporter to go to a certain grocery store, look in the sugar bin and find the scoop.

Saluting the Cenotaph. The. desirability of school children saluting the cenotaph was discussed at the executive meeting of the Navy League yesterday, when the draft of a letter, proposed to be sent to principals of schools, was received from the Returned Soldiers’ Association. It was decided that the secretary should get in touch with the Education Board asking permission to circularise schools. Insurance Moneys.

Further legal argument on the question of whether life insurance moneys could be used for the payment of debts was heard before the Full Court yesterday. The case was brought by way of an originating summons, the Guardian Trust and Executors Company of New Zealand, Ltd., and Robert James Graham being the plaintiffs. The defendants were Mary Agnes Adeane, widow, and her three adult children and four minors, and certain creditors. Decision was reserved. The Watchful Eye.

“The majority of business men subscribe unhesitatingly to Insurance schemes in protection of material assets. Yet the values of those assets are assailed by Governmental decree which, without the vigilance ot the chamber of commerce organisation, may. reduce values to a greater extent than has yet been attempted.”—Mr. J. P. Luke, retiring president, at the an j nual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last evening, when stressing the need for maintaining the membership.

Moa Bones Found. A few more moa bones were unearthed by relief workers last week in the vicinity of Monck’s Bay, Sumner, Christchurch. From time to time these have been discovered, some in fairly large numbers, together with old Maori weapons and other relics of past occupations. In one cave some time ago large handfuls of human hair were found, while fragments of moa eggshell have been unearthed from time to time. Of those discovered last week some are claimed to be nearly as large as a man’s head.

No Need for Gaol. After having been in disuse for many years, the police gaol at Okarito, an isolated spot 115 miles south of Greymouth, has been officially closed. Farming, timber-cutting, and golddigging are the only industries carried on in the district, which has a population of about 60 persons. There is not even a policeman, and the only State o'fiicial recorded as living there is the postmaster, who also happens to be the signalman. His maritime duties are slight, however, for it is seldom that a vessel crosses the bar there. A proposal is at present afoot for a company to construct a harbour there for the purpose of shipping' timber. Legislative authority for the work was given during the last session of Parliament.