NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 279, 22 August 1944, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Cause Of Elephant’s Death The report of the post-mortem examination made of the Indian elephant NelliKutha who died at the Newtown Zoo last week, discloses that she suffered from ulceration of the intestines. The complaint had been long-standing, and had affected her to such a degree that she gradually lost her strength and vitality. This was the cause of her. death. Coal Mine Idle. The Strongman Mine was-idle yesterday because the men declared the bath house temperature too low following repairs to the heating machinery during the night.—P.A.

Fine Stag’s Head. A 12-pointer stag’s head has been presented to the Wellington Acclimatization Society by the president, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp. This head was secured, on White Rock Station in 1005 and is a fine sampie of the heads that were obtained in the early days when land was being brought into production and the bush and scrub was being cleared to establish grass. Maori Attributes, ... Referring at the Early Settlers’ Asso : ciation meeting to tributes to the Maori race, the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Appleton, said that time bad not changed their inherent qualities of courage and courtesy. Their courage had been made world-famous by the exploits of the Maori Battalion; their courtesy was known to every New Zealander from the time of the arrival of the first Europeans. Link With" Bristol, Now that Bristol Channel sand bos been placed on Oriental Bay beach the Bristoliau Fellowship has suggested to the mayor of Wellington, 'Mr. Appleton. that a- nlaque be placed on the seawall to mark the link between Bristol and Wellington. Mr. Appleton. subject to the approval of the reserves committee, la agreeable and a ceremony will probably be arranged. Princess's Birthday. The fourteenth birthday of Princess Margaret Rose, younger daughter of the King and Queen, fell yesterday. Born at Glamis Castle, the home of the Queen's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, on August 21. 1930, Princess Margaret Rose was the first Royal Heir to be born in Scotland for more than three centuries. The heir-presumptive, Princess Elizabeth, passed her eighteenth birthday on April 21 last. '

Donations to Free Ambulance. Grants and donations to the funds of the Wellington Free Ambulance were announced by the superintendent. Mr. R. Olen, at last week’s meeting of the Free Ambulance Board, as follows: —Wellington City Council. £650; ladies’ auxiliary, ‘‘New Ambulance Fund," £200; Wellington Racing Club, £3O; Motor Vehicles Third Party Pool, £25; ,Pukerua Bay Citizens’ Committee, £2l/4/4; Wellington Structural, and Reinforcing Steel Company, £10; D.I.C. Ltd., £p/5/-; C. W. Rickard, £5/5/-; Women’s National Reserve (Lyall Bay branch). £5.

New Award for Fire Brigadesmen. It was mentioned the recent meeting of the Wellington Fire Board that an application for a new award for the fire brigadesmen of Wellington would come before the 'Conciliation Council on September 11. The chairman, Mr. S. S. Dean, said the union proposals included several new demands on the board. He proposed that counter-demands on' the lines of the terms and conditions of the existing award should be lodged. Messrs. S. S. Dean. W. J. Gaudin, D. McCartney and W. J. Mount.ioy were named as the board’s assessors. Retail Trade Group. A national trade organization of mercers and clothiers has been formed under the auspices of the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation. Officers elected were: Messrs. H. Laban (Christchurch), chairman; H. G. Fowues (Wellington), vice-chairman; executive, Messrs. L. O’Malley (Auckland), S. R. Hawken (Hamilton), N. Blackmore (Hastings), W L. McPherson (Palmerston North), W" T. Wood (New Plymouth), J. Living (Wellington), W. F. Stark (Christchurch), J. A. Neilson (Dunedin), J. M. Wood (Invercargill).

Beach Dogs Beware. Dogs, not held on leash, are no longer to enjoy the freedom of Oriental Bay beach. The Wellington City Council, having deposited 12,000 tons of Bristol sand to make the beach fit for the people, has decided that dogs shall not share the amenity unless under strict control. All dogs found straying there will be impoundedl—three have been already. The responsibility is on the owner to inquire at the corporation yards if his dog is missing and dogs unclaimed will be painlessly destroyed. Unfortunately there is no means of letting the dogs know that the council has declared war.

Prevalence of Gorse. While he could not say exactly how rnanv gorse fires occur on an average in Wellington, the superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, Mr. C. A. M ooiIcy. said at the last meeting of the fire boa’-d that it was nothing for tlie brigade to have to turn out three or four times a day in the late summer to gorse fires, some of which threatened property. Mr. W. J. Gaudin. who represents the city council on the board, said he was well aware of how gorse had spread over the city reserves. The trouble was that little could be done about it. as no labour for gorse-grubbing could be secured.

Income Tax Defaulters. . “In his 1943 Budget, Mr. Nash indicated that it was hoped to collect a substantial amount of money as a result of “a drive against defaulting taxpayers, said Mr. N. S. Hunt at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. No information on this point had yet been given to the people. It was fairly common talk that some sections o. workers had refused to pay their, income tax and hnd got away with this, m spite of the provision whereby employers could be required to deduct overdue income tax from current wages. It was decideu to write the Minister of Finance suggesting that an early statement on the matter would be in the public interest. Cold Southerly. In marked contrast to the mild weather of the last few weeks the cold southerly which pounded Wellington over the weekend and was still blowing last night, brought heavy rain, cold temperatures and high winds. Up to 8.30 last night 1.64 inches of rain had fallen at the Kelburn Meteorological Office since 7 a.m. on Sunday. This constitutes almost half the total rainfall recorded so far this month. The lowest temperature registered at Kelburn since Sunday morning was 39 degrees. The strongest gust yesterday was 58 miles an hour and was recorded shortly after 4 a.m. At Rongotai one gust reached 65 miles an hour. Though still cold and showery. the weather late last night was showing signs of clearing.

Sunday’s Dinner Intercepted. While the third cook at the Grand Hotel, Henry Charles Richardson, aged 49. was leaving the hotel last Saturday night ho was intercepted by the proprietor. Mr. T. H. Collman. and asked what he had in the attache case he was carrying. He replied it contained clothes, but when the case was searched. in among the clothes was found a quantity of noultrv and part of a loin of lamb, of a total value of 25/-. These facts were related in the Magistrates’ Court Wellington. yesterday hv Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson, when Richardson pleaded guilty to theft. The detective-sergeant said that when accused was searched at the police station a cooked chicken was found tinder his pul over. Mr. btou . S.M.. convitced accused and admitted him to probation for six months.

Anglers’ Club. , There was a record attendance ot members of the Ul’P® 1 ’ \ a n at °,„n' n -il Tongariro Anglers Club at meeting recently “f T,l . rau ? l ’,,4 h _ e „nort sident, Mr. Grant Fargie, in his rep rl. dealt with the various remits which had been placed before the Minister ot infernal Affairs, and appreciation «‘xpressed with tlie departments excellent work in giving better access ” 1 pools. It was unanimously resolved that the Minister be requested to extend the fishing season in the Inupo district to May 31, the present regulations providing' for the closing of the season o_p May 14 The urgent necessity for opening up additional fishing water in the near future was emphasized, in order to provide sport for the greatly increased number of anglers and with the prospect ot the return of a large number ot seas anglers.