VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[PKH PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] FAITH HEALING. A DOCTOR ON RAT AN A. WELLINGTON, April 27. j ‘ “Quacks and Quackery, and the { Credulity of the Human -Mind” was ( the title of a lecture by Dr J. S. Elliott, ( under the auspices of the Red Cross. | The lecturer, referring to faith healing, ( said that faith played a most important part in healing. There was nothing new to medical men about that. Tie believed in the efficacy of prayer. He believed it gave people the peace and calmness that was conductive to their healing, hut to tell him that all other proved means of healing were to he neglected was the height of absurdity. Batumi, the Maori faith healer, was subsequently mentioned by a speaker. In reply Dr Elliott remarked: “That ionics under the head of faith healing. Wo admit the value of faith healing for certain functional conditions. Regular medical practitioners know the value of faith. We resort to it. We often have cases Will ere people have been in great pain and they have been given hypodermic injections of morphia. They are sometimts given distilled water instead of morphia, hut they think it morphia and go to sleep. They are made to sleep on faith. There has been I'adh healing in all religions.” DOMINION RE-VALUED. OFFICIALS’ CONSERVATIVE BASTS. WELLINGTON, April 27. The Valuation Department, which expects a complete valuation of twentytwo counties by tho end of the year will by that time have revalued the whole of New Zealand, except seven counties, since the war. In the latter there is a large area of Crown leasehold, the* value of which has not appreciated to any extent ; in fact in some places it is probably lower now than when the last valuation was made. Some people are under tho impression that the recent fail in imat and wool prices will he reflected in the valuations. That might have been so had the Department adopted the practice of putting the valuations up to the level owners themselves were asking for land. This, however, was never done, and ample margin was allowed for the difference in value due to disturbed economic conditions. It has I icon said oil occasion that revaluation is being speeded up so that the Government may hare .idrnwl value for taxation purposes. This assertion is definitely contradui >d 'y valuation officers.

Objections to the revaluations which have recently been made will ho heard ami determined hv the new assesmier.t court constituted under the Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 1020, wlii'li came into operation on April 1, 1921. Tho Assessment Court will c.enp.ise a president, who is to he a hamster ir solicitor of the Supreme Cent, appointed for five years, an assessor appointed by the Government for each land district, to hold office for two years, and an assessor appointed by the local 'authority concerned, as may lie required. The main purpose in reconstituting the. Court in this way is to obtain relative uniformity of values ami consistency of decisions, which it was almost impossible to obtain under the old system of separate Assessment Courts presided over by different magisI rates.

A. V. WHITTA’S SENTENCE. REMITTED BY CABINET. WELLINGTON, April 27. Tho sentence of throe months’ imprisonment imposed on A. V. Whitta, the Christchurch lxiokmaker. was recently remitted. The remission of the sentence is due to the fact that he was not the principal offender, hut only an agent. MR MASSEY’S VOYAGE. WELLINGTON April 27. News received by mail from Suva (Fiji) states that the Prime Minister and liis party arrived there in excellent health. The voyage, so far had been very enjoyable, and Mr Massey after work in the morning, entered into the life on board the ship, taking part in the deck games and presiding at meutings of the Sports Committee and at concerts. He was most popular with all on hoard. He was the guest of the High Commissioner of Fiji during the brief stay at Suva. To-day tin* ship should In 1 nearing Honolulu.

N.Z. RETURNS. WELLINGTON, April 27. .wnongst the preliminary census returns just published are Akaroa borough, 619 (an increase of 79); Hampstead town district, 1912 va decrease of 167). DUNEDIN, April 27. The population () f the borough of Waikouaiti is 582 (a decrease of 29). FREIGHT SLUMP. WELLINGTON, April 28. New Zealand coastal shipping companies are beginning to experience a serious slump in cargo carrying. The representative of a prominent company informed a. “Times” reporter tonight. that he was afraid some of the company’s boats would have to lay up shortly owing to the slackness in trade. The Home liners coming to the Dominion, he said, have only small cargoes of coal or are in ballast. The liners leaving for Homo had in some eases only one sixth of their general cargo space taken up. Tin’s had a serious effect on the smaller coastal vessels. Unless things improved, the position would ho serious. He added that some services were not effected, as their work is to curry Dominion produce from port to port for loenl consumption. SCULLING ARTICLES. BLENHEIM, April 28. Articles were signed to-day between Dick Arnst and Rat Hannan for the world’s sculling championship. Tt is to he rowed on the Wairau River on June Ilth. j

Arnst has settled down to hard train