DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1945, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS

BODY FOUND CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 22. The body of John William Hannan, aged 48, of 91 Princes Street, Woolston, was found on a roadside at the foot of the Scarborough cliffs, Sumner, shortly before 6 p.m. to-day. CENSUSRETURNS WELLINGTON, November 22. The following census returns were released this afternoon: — 1945. 1936. Auckland city" 123,278 102,29 a Invercargill city 23,460 22,113 * Amended return. BOOKMAKER’S DEFENCE WELLINGTON, November 23. James Patrick King, 57, painter, charged with bookmaking in a hotel bar, put up the defence that a betting book in his possession was not his, and he did not know what it was. Mr Stout, S.M., rejected the defence and fined him £lOO. KILLED BY RAILWAY TRUCK WELLINGTON, November 22. A man was run over by a railway meat truck on King’s Wharf, Wellington to-night, and killed. He was Ralph Foster Ward, a ship’s carpenter, aged about 72. He lived at 18 Crawford Green, Miramar. Ward was returning to work about 6 p.m., and when crossing the railway lines near the wharf gates, was struck by the leading truck of a goods train shunting on King’s Wharf. He fell underneath the truck, and was dead when extricated. ARMY DEFAULTERS. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. “I am very glad to know that the Army authorities are pursuing these defaulters who managed to dodge their obligations. Although hostilities have ceased, those who deliberately evaded their responsibilities should be branded as defaulters and treated as such.” So said the Magistrate, Mr. Luxford, this morning, in committing a single man, Gordon Leslie Upson, 27, to defaulters’ detention. Upson admitted a charge of failing to make application in writing for enrolment in the First Division of the Reserve. NAVY’S STORE FIRE AUCKLAND, November 22. A fire which broke out in one of the Navy Department’s large victualling stores at Devonport to-night caused considerable damage io the

building and contents. At its height, the fire drew large crowds of spectators from surrounding districts, and it was brought under control only after an hour’s strenuous efforts by members of the Devonport Fire Brigade and parties of sailors from the naval base.

The store is a large building of iron and wood with walls between 20 to 30 feet high. The outbreak was first noticed shortly after 8.30 p.m., and although the brigade was on the scene in a matter of minutes, the fire had gained a good hold, flames pouring through the roof of the building. By 10 p.m. the fire was brought under control, although the volumes of smoke still rolled up. Men stayed on duty throughout the night to guard against any further major outbreak. The authorities have been unable so far to form any estimate as to the extent or value of the damage.