NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 258, 28 July 1936, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

New Pay-day

'Tuesday, instead of Saturday, will in future be the pay-day for employees of grocers in Wellington. This decision was made at a meeting of the Wellington Master Grocers’ Association last night. The reason for the change, it was stated, was because with the 40honr week many firms would eliminate Saturday morning trading, and if employees were paid on Fridays or Saturdays there would be little opportunity for them to do their week-end shopping.

Shortage of Farm Labour. Although the wages being offered this year show a definite increase over those obtaining at the same time last year, and are higher than they were a few months ago, many farmers of Auckland are unable to find men willing to do farm work.

Hulk Breaks Adrift. The Union Company’s hulk Occident broke adrift from her moorings during a southerly squall about 7 a.m. yesterday and began to drift in toward Kaiwarra. The company’s tug Terawhiti was sent out to the hulk and returned her to her moorings undamaged.

Tramping Mishap. While tramping over the Tararua Range on Sunday, Mr. A. L. G. Heenan, clerk, who lives at 25 Moana Road, Kelburn, slipped in the snow and dislocated bis right shoulder. It was Monday afternoon before he reached Otaki Forks, where he was picked up by the Wellington Free Ambulance and taken to hospital.

Infectious Diseases. For the week ended July 27 six cases of infectious disease were notified to the department from the central Wellington health district. There were two of scarlet fever and one each of diphtheria, tuberculosis, erysipelas and eclampsia. Six cases of infectious disease were reported from Wanganui-Horowhenua, 10 from Wai-rarapa-Hawke's Bay and none from Nelson-Marlborough. Two deaths from tuberculosis and one from puerperal fever were reported from the Wanganui-Horowhenua district.

Charity Rugby Match Postponed. Because of the met weather in Wellington yesterday, the annual charily Rugby match between the Police and the Post and Telegraph Department which was to have been played at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon was postponed indefinitely. This was the second time on which the weather caused a postponement of the match, as it was originally to have been played last Wednesday. In the event of the annual match between Wellington College and St. Patrick’s (Silverstream) being played next Wednesday, it is possible that the game between the Police and the Post and Telegraph Depart <nent may be held on the following Wednesday.

Tram Hold-up. Some eight or ten trams were held up in Courtenay Place by a recalcitrant brake for about a quarter of an hour yesterday afternoon. In addition to the ordinary hand-controlled brakes there is an emergency brake which, when applied, pulls a tram up very suddenly. Some boys, either accidentally or on purpose, actuated this brake and pulled a car up “all standing?’ The trouble which ensued was a difficulty in releasing the brake. The car had to be driven slowly along Manners Street, and then side-tracked to lower Cuba Street, while its passengers were accommodated in other cars.

Monowai’s ‘Tin Can” Mail. Advice has been received by the Union Company that the greater part of the 14,000 letters which were put ashore at Niuafoou, Tin-Can Island, by the Monowai during her recent islands cruise, have been returned to the addressees by H.M.S. Wellington, which is due at Pago Pago on July 27 and at Rarotonga on July 31. Many of the letters intended for New Zealand and Australia should therefore reach their destinations some time in August. There are still several hundred letters to be dealt with by the islanders, and these will be returned by a later opportunity.

Political Argument. “Three men were standing at the street corner waiting for a tramcar when accused came behind them and called them by the names complained of. Part of his language suggested that he had been having a political argument, and in his drunken state had forgotten with whom he was arguing,” said Senior-Sergeant J. Dempsey, prosecuting a waterside worker, Alfred Henry Grant, on charges of drunkenness and obscene language. The ease was heard by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M.. in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The language was stated to have been used in the presence of women and children. Grant was convicted and discharged on the first count, and fined £2, in default 14 days, on the second.