NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 201, 22 May 1936, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Many Dogs Poisoned

Within the past few weeks there have been numerous instances of Hie pobsoiling of dogs in Kelburn, particularly about Central Terrace, and it is .said to have been established that the poisonings have been no mere accidents. Many animals have died lingering and painful deaths, ami the occasions have liecome so frequent of lute that: a special meeting of the Society tor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in Wellington yesterday to consider the position. It was decided to offer a reward of £3O tor information leading to the prosecution of (be person or ]x>r,<ons concerned. Cuts Restored. At yesterday's meeting "f Ibe Wellington Free Ambulance Board, it was decided to restore ihe ;> pm' vent, economy cut in wages. Payment is to lie made retrospective from April 1 A Warm Welcome. Mr. C. J. B. Norwood. president of the 'Wellington Free Ambulance, who recently received serious injuries m a motor accident in Canterbury, received a warm welcome mi resuming bis sent as chairman of the board yesterday morning. On behalf of tlie members, Mr. 1). J. McGowan tendered him n hearty welcome back to the board. A Question of Paternity. “My friend is putting up straw theories and knocking them down again,” counsel t-aid during the hearing of a claim for damages in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, before Mr. Justice Blair and a jury. "And asking you to father them;” his Honour suggested. "Yes. sir,” counsel replied, “and we are guiltless of these affiliation proceedings." “A Lost Ari." “I always regrm. that, witnesses will not use 'the expressimis ‘off-side’ and 'near-side’ when referring to vehicles.” said Mr. Justice Blair in the Supreme Court. Wellington, yesterday, (luring the hearing of a- claim for damages arising out of a motor accident. “It would be much plainer,” his Honour added, ‘but unfortunately it seems to be a lost art. "It went; out with carriages. I'm afraid, sir," counsel replied. Magpie Takes a Tram. If anybody in the Hataitai district should happen to be searching for. a missing magpie, Jte or she will be interested io know that the bird was seen yesterday morning in Courtenay Place, taking a tram ride. The magpie perched upon the tram as it was leaving Hataitai, and remained there throughout tlie journey to 'Wellington city. Bright-eyed and unruffled the magpie passed through Courtenay Place, sitting as calmly as a hen on its ]>ereli.

No Representative. “As you know the Mayor of Wellington is" an ex-officio member of the board,” said the president of the ’Wellington Free Ambulance (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) at yesterday’s meeting of that body, “but so far be has never attended a. meeting, nor has he appointed anyone to represent the City Council. 1 don't, think that should be the ease, ami 1 would like you to express t.n opinion.” No opinions were expressed. but the matter was left in the hands <>f the president to ileal with as lie thought lit.

British Motor Trade. Great activity in the British motor trade was noticed by Mr. F. F. M. Ferguson, manager of the Dunlop Rubber Company (N.Z.), Ltd., who returned to Wellington yesterday from a world tour. Business seemed to be extraordinarily brisk, so far as his own company was concerned, in the territories he visited, and the factory at Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, was working day and night at full pressure. He visited ihe factories of several other firms interested in the motor industry, including those of a maker of commercial vehicles and one of the maker of cars, both of whose products are prominent in New Zealand, which were working at full pressure to compete with the tremendous demand for the finished products.

Transfer of City Funds. Strong opposition to the Wellington City Council’s action “in appropriating some thousands of pounds from the electricity department's funds for the purpose of street lighting” is expressed in a motion passed at a meeting of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee held on Wednesday night. The committee contends that street lighting should be a charge on the city rates. Reference was made at the meeting to the fact that the Mayor had previously stated that no further funds were available for the relief of unemployment. Although not endorsing the principle of using the funds of a trading department for any oilier purpose than to reduce the price to the users, it was felt that a certain amount of latitude was permissible where ihe question of unemployment was concerned.