NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 304, 18 September 1943, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

Wool Retention Money

On behalf of the New Zealand V 00l Brokers’ Association it was stilted yesterday that the wool retention money (cash and bonds) was paid by the Marketing Department Io the woolbrokers on September 8 and would be paid out to the growers on September 24, by which time the brokers would be able to prepare the necessary documents.

Boon to County. Tiie overseer. Mr. E. Al. Campbell, reported to the Hutt County Council yes* terday that tiie Public \A orks Department was reconstructing the PlinimertonPahautanui highway. The chairman, Mr. R. L, Button, said this would be a boon to the county, as tiie road had been badly cut up by heavy military traffic.

August’s Fires. . The Wellington Fire Brigade received 93 alarms of tire during August. Ot these alarms, 51 proved to be actual fires, and 42 were false alarms. _Of the actual fires, 22 were property, 15 gorse, .grass and rubbish, and 14 were due to chimney tires. Of the 42 false alarms, 21. were found to he justifiable and 21 were malicious.

“Everybody Having a Go.” “I am in the wrong; everybody was having a go, hut I am caught, said' Geotiery O’Donoliuo Smith, labourer, aged 24, who admitted in the Magistrates Court, Wellington, yesterday stealing two bottles of whisky valued at £l/lu/-, the property of the Railways Department. Detective-Sergeant. AV. McLennan said accused, who worked in the railway yards, ■took the whisky and drank it with two other men. Smith was sent to prison for two months.

Infectious Diseases. The sanitary inspector, Mr. D. G. J Oil, reported to the Hutt County Council yesterday that eight cases of scarlet fever had been notified in the county during August. This disease, he stated, was fairly prevalent throughout the district at present, but was reported to be in a mild form. The chairman, Mr. R. L. Button, said that a boy aged seven had died of diphtheria at ITimmcrton during the month.

Cultural Values. Tlie Music- Teachers’ Registration Board adopted a resolution stating that, while the board recognizes that the economic stability of the people as a whole is the primary necessity; it nevertheless urges that the good life must include complete opportunity for widespread in-tellectual-and cultural attainment.. Specially would it plead that all children with talent should have full scope for development to the extent of their ability without regard to any other circumstances that may surround them.

Fatal Fall Down Stairs. An inquest was held yesterday into the death of Francis Patrick Cameron, carpenter, aged 58, who was found lying unconscious at the foot of some stairs in the Wellington Trades Hall, Vivian Street, on the night of September 3. He died in hospital next day. The coroner, Mr. "W. G. L. Melliah, said it was clear that Cameron had fallen down the stairs accidentally and struck the back of his head. The evidence was conclusive that he was not drunk, though at the time it had been thought he was.. Tlie verdict was that Cameron died of laceration ot the brain and fracture of the skull received in an accidental fall. Death in Factory. A verdict that Sydney Ronald White, labourer, aged 29, married, died from strangulation as the result of his clothing being caught on a revolving shaft at the premises of the Carrara Ceiling Company, Ltd., Daniel Street, M ellington, was returned by the corner, Mr. W. G. L. Mellish, at an inquest into the death of White yesterday. Evidence was given that White was instructed to feed the fires in the stokehold of a drying-room and later, when a fan in the stokehold was noticed to have stopped though the motor driving it through a belt was running. White was found tied to the shaft of the fan, which was near the floor, by his clothing. Artificial respiration was applied without, avail.

Plumbers in Demand. Heavy rain means a demand for plumbers, a demand which cannot be satisfied at present. It is said that. Wellington has been left with only 2<> percent. of the number of journeymen phimers necessary to keep properties in order and attend to a reasonable amount of new work. So heavy has been the rainfall during the past month, that the demand for plumbers has been greater than ever, but invariably the reply is that “they will do their best,” which often results in nothing being done. The. plumbers themselves are not to blame for this state of tilings.' They are working overtime in order to keep faitli with the public, but they say I hat there are not. enough men to do the work, so many of the jobs have to be neglected, ponding an alteration in the conditions. This is poor consolation to the person whose roof is leaking and whose property is slowly deteriorating for tlie want, of skilful tradesmen. .