NEWS IN BRIEF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22426, 5 September 1947, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

BACK FROM PACIFIC CRUISE.—The New Zealand Navy cruiser Bellona returned to Auckland from a Pacific cruise yesterday. The vessel left Auckland on July 7 and called at Fiji, Ellice, and Tongan groups. MURDER CHARGE DROPPED.—The count of murder having been dropped on the application of the police, Ngaone Te Rata Tahere, aged 29, was charged in Kaikohe yesterday with the manslaughter of Akaripa Pou near his home at Kaikohe on August 2. Medical evidence was that death resulted from a blow on the head, prob-

ably with a bottle of soft drink found alongside the body. ANTI-TITO PROTEST.—The Slovene Democratic Union in the area of Venezia Giulia, occupied by the British and Americans has sent a cable message to the United Nations protesting against Marshal Tito's secret police kidnapping and killing nonCommunisf Slovenes and Croats m Venezia Giulia. M. Andrew Ursic, one of tlie union’s leaders, dis-

appeared on Sunday. U.S. AH) TO TURKEY.—The acting United States Secretary of State, Mr. Robert Lovett, said today that he expected substantial military equipment would be en route to Turkey shortly under the United States programme of aid to Greece and Turkey The shipments to turkey so tar were valued under 3,000,000 dollars. They comprised mostly bunding and harbour construction machinery. The United Slates programme provides for 100,000,000 dollars’ worth of equipment for Turkey, MUNICIPAL COMPOSTING.—If his experiment in municipal composting at Dannevirke had failed there was no doubt that iiis professional standing would have been seriously jeopardised. said Mr. H. A. Truman, engineer to the Dannevirke Borough Council, when a presentation was made to him by .the Auckland and Suburban Drainage League in recognition of his efforts. He said the results obtained at Dannevirke could

now be used by every local body in New Zealand. CRITICISM OF N.Z.—Two passengers in the vessel Largs Bay expressed trenchant criticism of New Zealand before the vessel left for Sydney and South Africa yesterday. Mr. Henry Holford, a New Zealander who went to South Africa many,years ago, described New Zealand as a “Gestapo country.” Mrs. F. M. Halse, a South African nurse married to a New Zealander, who is leaving on a visit to South Africa, said: “Auckland is half the size of the Port Elizabeth cemetery and twice as dead.''

SUPPLY OF WIRE NETTING.—"The outlook for the supply of wire-netting is much brighter,” said the Minister of Supply, Mr. A. H. Nordmever, in Wellington yesterday. He added that orders for 51,500 rolls of wire-netting had been accepted by the United Kingdom and 13,000 rolls by the United States. “These shipments are expected to arrive before the end of this year,” the Minister said. “Practically all this wire is 36in.” The orders totalled 64,500 rolls, as against an estimated annual demand of 72,000 rolls. CHURCH BUYS CITY HOME.— The sale of “Ngaroma,” the 34-roomed home of the Hope Gibbons family, Queen’s drive, Wellington, to the Catholic Church lias been approved by the land sales committee. The church is expected to take possession in about three months. The home will be used to house girls from the Polish camp at Pahiatua who come to Wellington to work or for advanced studies. Polish sisters will nave a part in running the hostel. It is hoped to accommodate from 70 to 80 Polish girls, but if this number is not available other Catholic girls working in Wellington will be accommodated. CARGO THIEVES GAOLED.—“This is a very bad type of offence, which is much prevalent in New Zealand and apparently in other parts of the Empire at present,” said Mr. Justice Fair in the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday when sentencing three seamen from an overseas vessel for the theft of goods pillaged from a ship’s cargo to 12 months’ gaol with hard labour each. They were Frederick William Robert Cherry, aged 21, John James lleptinstall, aged 28, and Peter Hiscock, aged 25. They engaged a taxidriver at midnight to drive them with parcels of rugs and dress material valued at about £SOO from the ship Aka.-oa into the city, but were taken by the taxi-driver to the police station.