DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1944, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

THEFT OF JEWELLERY.

AUCKLAND, September 26. Jewellery and watches of a total value of £260 were stolen from the premises of A. E. Innes, jeweller, up 4 per Queen Street, on Monday night. The thieves gained entry by boring a hole in the front door of the shop, and then releasing the lock. They went to a box under the counter where valuable stock taken from the window is stored overnight, and took all the diamond rings and a number of watches.

SHOTS AT CONSTABLE. AUCKLAND, Sept. 27. Two men were arrested by a force of detectives at a house in Newton at seven o’clock this morning, in connection with the Karangahape Road sensation on August 11, when Constable Richard William Meyer was Wounded in the arm by a bullet from a revolver. It is understood that one of the men will be charged with attempted murder.

FIRE AT HERMITAGE. TIMARU, September 26. The office at The Hermitage, Mount Cook, was completely destroyed by fire about 11.10 p.m. on Monday evening, when a fierce gale was blowing. Considerable damage was done by fire, smoke, and water. Because of the smell of smoke m the bedrooms and water in the corridors, the 20 guests in residence were asked to leave to-day to give the management an opportunity thoroughly to clean the hostel, which vjll be closed for a few days.

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 26.

A new procedure involving the right of the Crown to have first option in the event of the resale of land was disclosed by the Taranaki Land Sales Committee at Hawera. Permission was granted to an applicant to purchase a property on which to settle a returned serviceman son, but it was stipulated that while the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act was in force, a covenant would be required that, if the son ceased to farm the property, that land should be offered to the Crown at the present price, plus the cost of permanent improvements made in the interim. The applicant already owns 183 acres and has a lease of 29 acres.

HUTT PORT PROPOSAL. WELLINGTON, September 27. Discussing statements made by the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce regarding the possible savings on cartage of cargo now landed at Wellington wharves and transported by road or rail to the Valley, by direct handling through the proposed Vai-.' ley port, Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson, representing the Wellington Harbour Board, said at a sitting of the Hutt Harbour and Valley Development Commission, to-day, that overseas experience was that substantially increased costs followed from the operations of a port within a port. There could be practically no outward overseas shipping from the Valley port. This was admitted by the Chamber’s speaker, who said that consideration had not been given to the question whether increased costs, if any, should be carried by the Hutt traders or should be spread among all traders to the port. SEAMAN IN DOCK AUCKLAND, September 27. Making a dual appearance, first as an interpreter and later as accused, a seaman enlivened proceedings in the Police Court to-day. The climax to a bright interlude came when the man did a few dance steps and emitted a whistle as he stepped from the dock into the prisoners’ room on remand. A native of Honduras, Peter Alvarado, a ship’s fireman, was charged with unlawfully. entering New Zealand without a permit. Accused said in broken English that he did not understand the language well. John Jernes Merrigan was then called from the prisoner’s room and read the summons in Spanish to Alvarado, who was ordered by the Magistrate (Mr Morling) to be deported when his ship returned. Merrigan was then charged with ihe theft of linen and six table knives. Merrigan performed a few jaunty steps and added a few notes by whistle as he left the doclc.