LOCAL & GENERAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12704, 8 November 1935, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Tile Aorangi has sailed from Sydney for Auckland..—P.A. During the pasl year, according to the report of the Inspector of« Fire Brigades, Mr R. Girling-Buteh-cr, there were 5(15 fires in the Dominion, flic loss totalling £129,060- Of the total, 127 were of unknown origin. The principal causes of fires were: Sparks from fireplace?, furnaces, etc.,, 30; defective chimneys, 2; defective hearths and fireplaces, 17;; blow-lamps, for burning- off pai nt, 11: electric irons and radiators left on, IS 1 ; lighted, mutches dropped, 11; fire spread from other buildings, 11; ashes in wooden boxes, 11; allowing benzine near naked lights, 11; sparks from locomotives, etc., 10.

Appearing before Mr. I. Mirfield J.P., in the Police Court yesterday, Louie Kit, 42, a native of China, was charged with assaulting Stanley George Matched, thereby causing him actual bodily harm, in Huxley road, Haiti, -aiding the previous night., A remand was granted to November 13, bail being allowed in accused's own recognisance of £lO9 with one surety of a similar amount. Senior Sergeant Wade represented tho police and Mr. T. A. Coleman appeared for the accused.

According to announcement yesterday by Mr. Walter Bromley, deputvchainnan of the Unemployment Board, who was paying a brief visit to Gisborne, there is every likelihood of the Darton Field development work being proceeded with next year. “I think you may rest assured .on that point,” lie said, “but, owing to tlie nature of the -soil, it will probably be March before the work can be 'started. By that time the Board should hav-e details worked out and a scheme can be put forward which the district will hardly be able to refuse.” Ho mentioned also that tho obligations of local bodies in i'c<mrd, to labor outlay would be small.

The Emperor of Abyssinia, .is. not so mu.eh concerned with Ills, dispute with Italy that he cannot turn his attention to Die lighter side of life. The Negus wants to introduce, horse racing into the country, according to “Paris Sport.’ : Colonel .(Incite, a delegate of the Confederation of Sporting Societies, has received an'official letter from the Negus announcing. ,his intention of opening the first racecourse at Diredawn, and asking for complete details of. the French racing system and an account ol the w.rking of the pari-mutuel system. The .Societe. d’Encouragement, at .Die request pi" Colonel .duetto, lias sept the Emperor a document containing its rules, .with instructions as to .the nature of the ground required to open a racecourse. .No doubt t|ie war has interrupted these negotiations.

A Gazette issued last night shows tht.it the population of New. Zealand proper (including Maoris) at September 30 last was 1,502,129 of whom 795, 8-17 wore males and-700,282 lenmles. Excluding Maoris, the total was 1,480,705. comprising 750,527 ■ ■ ■ males and 730,178 females. The Miapris nyny bored 75,424 of , whom wore males and- 30,104 females* Tho population'of the North Islandr was 1,012,221 (hie! uding Maoris) - and 940,018 excluding Maoris). The pdpulaS,p.n of the South Island wtis 549,908: (including Maoris) and 540,087- (excluding Maoris). During the quarter ended September 30 last, the-population of New Zealand proper showed an increase of 3,183 compared wtith an iucretaso of 2,821 in the corresponding quarter ,of 1934,. The. population .of Ccok Islands, Niue, .etc.-; at (March 31, was 16,203, of Tokelau. Islands, at August 1 4,198 and of mandated: territory of Western Siunt/a at June 30, 53,790.—P.A.

An Amsterdam P.A. cablo states that the fifteenth international chess game was- (drawn ''after sixty-one mures.

Mr. D. W. Lysnar, ‘.lndependent candidate for the Gisborne seat will

address electors at Christensen’s Ha 11,.. Wairoa, at 8 o’clock this,evening. To-morrow evening Mr. Lysnar will spe.uk at Bartlett’s Hally on .-Monday at W.ainui Tlall, and on Tuesday at tho Mangapapa Oddfellows’ Hall, each ipeetipg starting at 8 o’clock.

The work of the Cjisborne Eire Brigade fpr the year ended March 31 last 'is indicated a-s follows in. the annual report- of the Chief Inspector, Mr. Cirlingi-Butaher: Population served by brigade, 14,700; .rateable capital value, £4;597,91Gi; insurance companies’ premium income, £19,791; number of-fire .calls, 29 ;-fires involving loss of property, 13; insurance on property involved in fires, £62.878; insured .fire losses, buildings and contents, £6,567, uninsured -fire loss, buildings ; and contemns, £529; the total fire loss .being £7,096.

The decrease referred to in the. fast hnnual report in the number of fires recorded a-s: of suspicious origin has beep fully maintained, states the Inspector of Fire Brigades, in his annual report.. The special inquiries by the police into all fires, the cause of which is not dearly .accidental, are still carried out, but the number of extensive inquiries found necessary is less than one-fourth- of those made when the- present -.system was commenced. Only six coroners’; inquiries into fires were held during the year ended March ■ 31. While the • present position may be regarded as .Satisfactory it must be noted that it hs mainly the result of police activity during recent -years’...in conjunction with the fact that most: people are now awhre that It is unprofitable to have a lire owing to the insurance recoveries being based oil the lower property values at present existing. With the riso in : these values the temptation to arson as ia means of release from financial difficulties -will

increase, and, it is most important that measures should b G taken- to reduce over-insurance to the -minimum. Til 1931 there were 28 prosecutions, with 16 convictions; 1932, -27, with 11 -convictions; 1933. 13, witlr 7 convictions: and 1934, 10, with five convictions. ■— '■