VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 17 This morning’s competitions results: Baritone —AY. Bennison (Hastings) 90 points, 1; J, Cosgrove (Palmerston) 2; M. McKenzie (Hamilton) 3. Flu gel Horn—B. C. Johanson (Palmerston) 88pts 1. RESULT OF SHELL-SHOCK. Auckland, Feb it. At. the Supreme Court, a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity, was returned against Allred Joseph Rvan, charged with a series of cheque forgeries and obtaining money by false pretences. The Crown Prosecutor said the accused was a genuine victim of shell-shock, and under the influence of drink, lost self control. Other evidence waif given that accused whs a quiet industrious mail, out on license from Tokiniii, where h 0 was ordered to he detained during the pleasure of the Minister of Justice.

PRODUCTION OF QUICKSILVER. DUNEDIN, Febtiiary 10. [t is not often that title hears quicksilver mentioned as one of the products , f New Zeaiafid. The fit’s* export of quicksilver from the Dominion m 1918 was of four and a half tons, valued at £2122. Professor I). B. Waters, of the Otago University, paid a visit doling the vacation to the mine at Pulupnili, in the Whangarei district, and he says that the Auckland company which is operating there, having a dozen or more men at work, knows how to treat the quicksilver and is now and then sending away a few tons. Ihe profexs,r seems to be impressed with the value if the deposit and its possibilities commercially. hydro-electricity. DUNEDIN. Fob. IT. A deputation representing bodies interested waited on the Hon. Mr Coates tliis morning urging the adoption of t’ie Hawen-Wannkn hydro-electric scheme. The Minister in reply, said that he lmd this and other Otago schemes un.Yr consideration. Ho thought at prosent that the development of the Dunedin City Council's Waipori works to a maximum with the addition of a station in Central ()fago would be the cheapest, quickest and host method of generating power fbr Otago Province. tie would go into the matter and give full details at an early date.

NEW MINIStKR CHOSEN. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb 17. St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church unanimously decided to send a call to Rev. Norman D. ebster 8.A.. of Mornington, Victoria, to succeed Rev. R. M. Ryburn, newly appointed Director of the Youth of Church York. Rev! Mr Ryburn. addressing the coni'rogation, said that every eft oil had been made to obtain a minister in New Zealand, hut unsucccssfuly. Mr A\ ebster was very strongly recommended from Australia.

LOCAL BODIES’ OFFICEHS’ GFILD WELLINGTON February 17. Following on the reading of . a letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs approving of the ferhistioit of an association of local bodies’ officers, Air H I>. Afourant, secretary of the Bank Officers’ Guild, expressed the opinion that the I tody to b<‘ formed •should upon its doors so as to etubrace al! members of the clerical staffs of local bodies, men and womefi. They had also to consider the question of a federation of guilds, which would interest itself iti any legislation tlitit might be promoted by the Government or in framitur any nmeiktinent <>f the law that might be considered necessary, the chief point was necessarily the question of salaries, also they shotild consider points that promotion should he by way of merit iihd tliitt they should institute a superannuation scheme founded on contributions from members and subsidies from local bodies. If tliyy did not have a guild they would have a union and the employers would sooner have a guild than a union. That Was the experience o! the promoters of the Bank Officers’ Guild. The chairnian said the idea ahead was to form one big middle-class guild fob the DoTniiion. ft was decided to fOrnf ait association to lie known as the New Zealand Local Bodies’ Officers’ Guild, jihd the meeting wciit into committee •to consider details of its constitution.

FSCAPIiE GOES TO GAOL. WELLINGTON, Feb. U». When a thick-set mail named Frederick Yeldon made an appearance before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.AI., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge of being deemed to he an incorrigible rogue in that lie had escaped from a farm before the expiration of the time for which lie was committed, he explained that he had been prompted, to so act partly bv his distaste for that particular farm and partly on account. of an urgent desire to see his Wife and child. It was stated that the accused had been undergoing a sentence at the prison farm and had escaped on August mil., being only arrested a few days ago. Further, it was- stated that lie had served the best part of his sentence, and had behaved very well during that time. “Apparently,” said Sub-Inspector Willis, “the man had a difference with the gaol authorities.” Yeldon was sentenced to six months’ iinprisomrtent.