DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1935, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS

SUSPICIOUS FIRE AT SCHOOL. (Per Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. The second fire in five days broke out at Amberley House Girls’ School, at 6.30 this morning, and, this time, it is believed an incendiary has been at work. In the main dining room and in a small study near by, kerosene had been thrown lavishly on the woodwork, and a match applied. Luckily, the smoke was seen by one of the employees, who gave the alarm, and was able, with the assistance of members of the house and teaching staff, to confine the damage to a matter of a few pounds. EX-RAILWAYMAN FOUND HANGED. CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. David Ferguson Nelson, retired railway inspector of permanent ways, was found hanging in a shed at his home' this morning. He had been suffering from nervous breakdown. He accompanied Mr. Casey, then Chief Engineer, to Napier, at the time of the earthquake, and was largely responsible for the restoration of rail services, but the strain involved seriously impaired his health. NEW PLYMOUTH BURGLARY. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 13. An attempt was made to open the strongroom of the Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Society, New Plymouth, during the week-end. The lock was shattered with gelignite, but the explosion jambed the door so tight that a day’s work with any oxy-aeetylene cutter was required to open it. Thieves secured | only £1 in cash from a drawer, but. may have taken groceries from the store. Entrance was gained to the cellar through a window, and a double locked door was broken open, to the main floor, where the strong room is situated. It is believed that two charges were used and a neighbour remembers hearing two muffled explosions on Sunday afternoon. INQUEST ON MOTOR VICTIM. AUCKLAND, August 13. “It is unfortunate that, the police inquiries have not traced the driver of the vehicle who knocked down the deceased.” said the Coroner at the inquest concerning the death of Janies Edward Smith, 41, of Papatoetoe, who was found on June 7 on the Great South Road seriously injured beside his smashed bicycle. Counsel for the widow said there was special provision in such cases for compensation to be paid, but it was necessary to prove that death was due to being struck by a motor vehicle. “There is no question of that” said the Coroner, who returned a verdict that death was due to gas gangrene, following deceased being knocked down by a motor vehicle, the driver of which was unidentified. EMERGENCY ORGANISATION. AUCKLAND August’ 13. At the last meeting of the Auckland City Council, it was proposed that an emergency organisation should be prepared for operation in circumstances such as those created by earthquake or a major epidemic. Speaking at a St. John Ambulance meeting, to day, the Mayor, Mr Ernest Davis, referred to the proposal and pointed out the possibilities in connection with gas at'tacks in future. It was possible, he said, that in a few years the people of Auckland would be brought under the same rules as had now been introduced in European cities, and they should be prepared for such an occasion. People abroad were now being taught what to do in case of gas attack, and to be prepared was right.