TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[PEH PEEBB ASSOCIATION.—OOPYIiiGHI

3 YEARS DETENTION. WELLINGTON, May 27. Arthur Marryatt, who pleaded guilty of embezzling £3775 from the State Fire Insurance Office, was sentenced to three years reformative detention.

SATURDAY HALF HOLIDAY. GISBORNE, Mav 27

Magistrate Barton to-day had before him a petition for an enquiry into the validity of the recent half holiday poll, which resulted in Saturday being carried on one vote. He held that the poll must he declared void, on the ground that the voting was not in accordance with the Act in that it only provided for a vote on the question of Thursday or Saturday instead of on any working day of the week, and that the requisition asking for the poll did not comply with the Act.

KETCH ASHORE. GISBORNE, May 27. The prospects of refloating the ketc h Huamii, ashore at Waikanae Beach, arc considered favourable. Her stern has been turned towards the sea. Poor tides are .hampering operations. The bodies of Captain Anderson and Captain Martin, who .wore drowned during the initial efforts at salvage, have not been recovered yet.

BETTING PROSECUTION

MASTERTON, May 27

As the result of a police raid William Powell, tobacconist, was charged to-day before Mr S. L. P. Free, 5.M.., v r keeping a common gaming house, He was convicted and fined £SO and costs. Charges against his assistants, Daphne Clarke and James Collins, who were charged with being found on premises of a common gaming house were dismissed.

OPIUM SMUGGLER

WELLINGTON, May 27

At the Police Court Rudolph Finderup, who said he was an alien, was charged under the Customs Act with being in possession of opium fit for smoking. The Crown Prosecutor said the police paid a night visit to the house of a Chinaman and found accused. When searched, three tins of opium were discovered in his possession, and the sum of £139 was found in his wallet. Accused had refused to give any information where lie obtained the opium or how ho intended to dispose of it. It was explained accused was employed on the wharf for the past six years and had a dean record. Being an alien lie required a permit to work on the waterfront. This lias now been cancelled. The Magistrate inflicted a fine of C 45. Accused: “T can pay that immediately.” MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURE., WELLINGTON, May 27. Owing to the financial position the City Council is compelled to abandon for the present a comprehensive programme of 'city improvements involving an expenditure of over £1,500,000. At present the preliminary work of a water supply scheme is being carried out, the auxiliary electric power scheme will he .reconsidered, and the housing scheme will he carried out at the rate of CIO,OOO per year. ■’ AUCKLAND SESSIONS.

AUCKLAND. May 25 At the Supreme Court, sentences to reformative treatment were imposed ns follows John Gibson, breaking and entering at Mnungaturoto, not exceeding five years; Claude Alexander Basil Morten, assault, not exceeding six months; James Joseph Mallory Ross, theft, six months ; Eric R. Maroroft, theft, Cambridge, not exceeding three years; Samuel M. Frank, indecent assault, not exceeding three years.

Term of probation ns follows;—Jessie Aleeske, theft, five years, with a bond for good behaviour for two years; May Gibson and John Gibson, breaking and entering, three years; Donald Peter MeCnskill, assault, three years; Charles Tucker, theft from the person, three years; John Brittain, false pretences, three years; Trevor Napier Peak, theft from his employers, three years ; Thomas Edward Wong, theft of lodge funds, throe years; Joseph Jesse Clark, theft and failure to account lor moneys, five years; Ngntiua Nitio, breaking and entering, and theft, at To Awninutu, two years; Manuel Yalvor, indecent assault on a male, live years; -Margaret Metcalfe, attempted arson at the Door of Hope Institution, four years. Freda Hutchinson, ringleader in the Door of Hope affair, was committed to a receiving home. In many cases restitution was ordered ; also payment of costs of the prosecution.