NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Nt TJLEOBAPR—PBEB9 ASSOCIATION.) '..■. ■ -» BOOKMAKERS AND THE GAMING ACT, ' EIGHT MM, FINED. Hamilton, April 6. Mr. Cntten, S.M., yesterday heard charges under the Gaming Act, whereby two Dookmakers wero indicted for carrying on .business at the South Auckland Racing Club's meeting at Hamilton in February last' without being licensed,'the meeting being, one where a totalisator was used. The prosecution was brought undor Section 34. His Worship ruled that no legal offence had been committed, and that clubs had a remedy where unlicensed bookmakers operated, by turning: them off the couree. The cases were dismissed. ' '■', .. . , Subsequently, eight ; bookmakers were charged with betting and offering to bet after tho notified time to stop. Each was fined £5 and costs. These are the first Mses of this nature under the new Act. • ■■■■'■'■ ■•'' 'J~l 'jwilwl bin ...I. ~". FIRE INSURANCE. ~;■,SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. .. Auckland, April 6. From the fteures for the year ended December 31, 1008, which information it is customary - for the fire insurance companies to'supply annually, it appears that the result of the. operations of all the fire insurance companies wifch respect to their business, in tho Dominion for the year 1908 is a loss of £159,364.' Over the priod covered by the previous four year's, the companies made an additional loss of £95,602, so that during tho five years ended December. 31, 1908, the companies, after paying all losses and expenses, have made a total loss of no.less than £250,956. This amount would probably bo found to be greater if the claims recovered from- Lloyds other outside companies could be ascertained and brought into the account. The results of the 'State Fire Department are also omitted from the above statement... ;

" HOTEL ACCOMMODATION. WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES. ! Chrfstohuroh, April 6. A case at Lyttelton a few months ago drew attention to the duties and responsibilities of publicans in tho matter of providing accommodation, and the point was further omphaeised.bv Mi\ H.' W ; Bishop. S.M., to-day, when Ihbmas George I?ox, licensee of the Southern Cro3S Hotel was fined 10s. and costs for failing ,to furnish H. R. Hewson with board and lodging. SIXTY VANISHED SOVEREIGNS. : Ghristchurch, April 6. A strange case of alleged robbery iiae been reported to the police by a man about thirtyfive years of age. Last evening ho took a room at a hotel in. the city, and was then in possession of £60 in gold and some loose silver. .During the evening he left the hotel and; was in company with several bad characters and thieves. Returning to the hotel he. went to bed, and, on rising, felt in hia 'pockets and found the loose silver still 'there. He jiaid his bill and left, but soon afterwards discovered that his purse containing the gold, was missing. He was not clew whether ho lost it at the hotel or earlier in tho evening, ■ . ■■ THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. ' ' Christchurch, April 6. 'Five members of the British Antarctic expedition (Messrs. Wild, Ma'rston, Joyce, Day, and' Priestly) will leave for Wellington to-morrow night to join the Paparoa for London. The only members of tho expedition then remaining in Christchurch will be Lieut. Shacklcton, Dr. M'Kay, Lieut. Adams, and the ship party. The Nimrod, it is stated, will leave Lyttelton at tho end of the week, and will sail for Sydney, whore, it is understood,' an effort' will be made to dispose of her. THE MINISTER FOR MINES. ■"■'■' Reofton, April 6. The Minister for Mines (the Bqn. R. ArKensrio) was entertained' at a banquet last night. Ho received an enthusiastic welcome from a large gathering. A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER, Auckland, April 6. Joseph Griffiths, against whom a verdict of manslaughter was returned at tho inquest touching the death of Benjamin C. Mores, bpardinyhouse keeper, was committed for trial 'on that charge to-day, accused reserving •his defence. THE ORCHARD PESTS ACT; .Cisbornd, April t>. A numter of orcharding wore liuo;l today, at the instance of the Department of Agriculture, for failing to comply wiUi the provisions of tho Orchards and Garden Pests Act. •