VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

f.ilY TELEGRAPH— J’Elt PRESS ASSOCIATION]

POST OFFICER’S LAPSE

CHRISTCHURCH, January 28

“Every person in tlio Post and Tele gt'ajih Department is in a position of trust and under great responsibility. The public would not have faith in our public institutions if persons who stol" letters were free to do that sort of tiling without punishment.”

These remarks were made by Mr Jus

tiee Herdman in the Supreme Court to-dav, in sentencing Adam Morrison Rattray, a postal employee, to three month’s imprisonment with hard labour t for the theft of a letter containing ,£5. In extenuation, Mr 0. T. J. Alpers submitted that Rattray had been already punished by a heavy monetary loss. In three years lie was to retire J from the service and had made a sorry I mess of his otherwise unblemished career. Prisoner had been a volunteer officer in Canterbury for 25 years; lie received a salary of £320 per year, and was under no financial stress. He was occasionally addicted to drink, and in •mo of bis ‘‘bursts” be yielded to sti , a letter which lie knew contained £5. Mis Honour in sentencing the prisoner said the case was a pitiable one, and lie would extend the benefits of the Probation Act to Rattray if lie could, but bis age and service record would be taken in;*' account. UTILISING SAND DUXES. WELLINGTON. January 31. A deputation to the Prime Minister laid before him a resolution passed at the conference of the Wanganui, Rangitikei. Horowhenua. and Manawatu County Councils, and other Associations urging that the sand dunes area on the West Const of the North Island should be afforested, and asking for an

• annual grant of £ICOO for five years for the purjio.se of enabling ail experimental station to be set uj> by the Forestry Department for demonstration purposes. Mr Massey said that the Government litid already shown its earnestness in forestry work, and the Cabinet was sympathetic. If the Government could make a success with the £2500 asked •for, lie would sure it would be well spent. He would not commit himself jln the expenditure, but said that the .'amount Mould probably be part of the jfinstry estimates next session. Tlllv DM AKA TR AGEDY. WELLINGTON, Feb. 2 The search for the bodies of the remainder of the crew of the Omaka, drowned, continues daily. So far there is no result. Wreckage and cargo is strewn along the beaches inside the Heads. The masts of the ill-fated vese! weie reiuveicd to-day. Stiange to ay, not a vestige is discovered on either Somes or Ward Islands. Some clothing cast otf by the men in their desperate struggle lias also been found. OIL-BURNING STEAMER. WELLINGTON, Feb. 2 The R.M.S. Tahiti is the first oilburning vessel to receive her 'bunker” supjilies at Wellington, the oil being drawn from the ex-hull: “Addersly,” which was converted into an oil tanker by the Union Steamship Company some six months ago. The operation was completed in a little under twelve hours. In that time some 000 tons of oil bad been transferred to the liner at the rate of between 00 and fit) tons jier hour. From a coal-bunkering point of view the Tahiti is looked upon as a “long job,” , so that the time saved by the new system is verv considerable.

THE ARMS ACT. CASK IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, February 2. Edward William Turner, who came to Wellington as second engineer of the American steamer Roll Rock, was charged with (a) discharging a nistol at Owen Collins oil the Queen s wharf with intent to do grievous bodily harm; (b) presenting a firearm at Collins; (e) discharging a firearm without reasonable cause; (d) being drunk while in the possession of a firearm; and (e) earning a revolver for other than a sufficient and proper purpose. The ease was to have been heard a few days ago, but the principal wit ness Collins, eoidd not bo found.

He appeared to-day, but bis mind was a blank as to tbe occurrence on the day of the shooting. He said that he was so drunk that he should K-ve I ecu locked up. Another witness said he saw the accused in uniform come through the wharf gates. Collins was walking a few yards behind. Then Turner, who was noticeably drunk presented a pistol :

Collins’s feet twice and fired. Corroborative evidence was given. The Bench held that the evidence did not show the intention of accused to do anv harm. The action was

parently that of a drunken man. The first charge was dismissed. On the third charge a fine of £5 was imposed and on the other convictions were recorded without penalties. Turner was also ordered to pay costs of the charges B.C.D. and E. the first to be laid in the Dominion under the new “Arms Act.” : SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ! NELSON February 2 Speaking at Tikaka the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. S. Ande-son) said that lie hoped to increase very considerably the vote for scientific research. He referred to the Cawthnrn Institute of Scientific Research as the “Pride of New Zealand and a credit to the man who endowed it”.