VARIOUS DOMINION ITEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEM.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

CHARGE OF CRUELTY

WELLINGTON, January 29

Ernest Whiteliouse, a station owner at Ohariu Valley, was charged with having treated shgep with cruelty, and also with having caused them unnecessary suffering. The defendant placed 4 sheep in a yard with no food or water, expecting a neighbouring farmer to collect them. The latter failed to do do, and the sheep were left in the yard for a couple of weeks. The defendant was convicted only on the first charge and on the second was convicted and fined £3 and costs.

BOXING. TIMAItU, January 28. .J. Stewart (Timaru) on points beat IC. Crook (Christchurch) in six two-minute rounds. The men were evenly matcheel and it was a very good bout.

NAPIER’S HARBOUR SCHEME

NAPIER, Jan. 28

The first pile of the inner harbour, designed by -Mr Geo. Nelson ,A1.1.A1.E., was driven this afternoon by -Mr W. J. McGrath, president of the Inner Harbour League, in the absence, through illness, of Mr Nelson. Details of the new port were given by Mr A. E. Jull, chairman of the Harbour Board, who explained that provision would first be made for erecting concrete quays in place of the present wooden ones, so as to provide berths for vessels drawing 18 feet. The progress of the scheme would depend mainly on the prices of I materials. Had these been more satisfactory, they would not have hesitated on account of the increased cost of labour, as compared with previous days.

A smoke concert hold in the evening was attended by amongst many others the Hon. W. Nosworthy, and Messrs M. M. Campbell, J. Vigor-Brown, A. McNicol, and G. Mitchell, M.P.’s. The Minister congratulated the district on the inauguration of the harbour scheme, to which sanction had been given by Act of Parliament. He affirmed that the Government, in face of manifest difficulties, was doing, and would do, all in its power to settle soldiers oil the land, and would generally endeavour to act for the benefit of the Dominion as a whole.

Presentations were made on behalf of the district to Messrs William Nelson, George Nelson, and A. E. Jull. AN IRISH APPEAL. DISCREDITED IfY BRITISH GOVERNMENT. WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. A paragraph appeared in the newspapers some time ago to the eflect that the dairy companies in New Zealand had received an appeal from Ireland for financial suport. With reference to that appeal the Prime Minister stated that the Imperial Government has sent out tlie following cablegram:—

“The appeal made by the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, Dublin, to co-operative dairy companies in New Zealand for moral and financial support is calculated to binder the Bn

Government in its fixed deteiininal

to stamp out murder, and is wholly superfluous and uncalled for. Some of the creamery managers, however, are Sinn Feinners, and some creameries have been used as rendezvous of the Irish republican army. Owners of creameries which have been maliciously destroyed or damaged can and do apply for compensation to County Courts, and these Courts assess the damage, which is then payable from local rates. Where there is delay in securing payment from the local authorities the Government have made it known that they are prepared to consider sympathetically any case of .hardship resulting from such delay.

“The total number of co-operative creameries in Ireland is <lO, but of this number only nineteen have been destroyed and twenty-four damaged, seven of which are now believed to be again carrying on business.”

BANK OFFICERS’ GUILD. WELLINGTON, Jan. 28,

The second annual conference of the* Bank Officers’ Guild concluded its deliberations here to-day. The atendance of councillors was thirty-one, representing the various banks of the Dominion. The report showed that the membership was over 17-"50 and was rapidly increasing. The president, Mr H. J. King, was unable to accept re-elec-tion on account of ill-health. The election of officers resulted: —President, Mr A. G. Henderson (Wellington), vicepresidents, Messrs J. H. Baxter (Auckland), G. March (Christchurch), H. N. K. Swanston (Wellington), and J. J. M’Leod (Dunedin); executive committee Messrs Paqualin, Williams, Nicholson, MacDonald, Adams, Kohner, King, Stevens and Fitzsimmons.

NEW PU B LIC TB U STICE. WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, secretary to the Treasury, who was offered by the Government the post of Public Tustee, cannot, it is stated, see his way to accept the position. Mr Massey states that the appointment of the new Public Trustee lias not vet been decided by Cabinet.

HALF HOLIDAY. OPOTIKI, Jan 28. A special meeting of the Borough Council last night, by five votes to two, appointed Wednesday as the half holiday. A large deputation from the Trades’ Association presented a petition signed by practically every business institution in the asking the Council to revert to Wednesday instead of Saturday, claiming that Saturday closing was against the best interests of tho town. The County Council and the Farmers’ Union supported the Wednesday holiday. A smaller petition was presented on behalf of the employees, asking that Saturday be the half-holi-day. It is recalled that last year Lie change was made to Saturday on the Mayor’s casting vote.