VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1921, Page 4

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

TELEGRAMS.

1,2. x xELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

JEWELLER. IN COURT,

WELLINGTON, May 27

A sturdily-built man named Herbert Julius Mailer appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer a charge of theft at Wellington on May sth, of a quantity of diamonds, opals, rubies, and sapphires, and also of £27 in money, of a total value of £377, the property of Charles R. Kline. Mr C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for accused. Chief-Detective Ward said that the defendant had been employed as a workman jeweller. An arrangement was entered into between Kline and accused whereby Mailer was to make ■up the gems, which were the subject matter of the charge into various articles of jewellery. On May sth accused bad gone on board the Sydney boat under a fictitious name, and bad taken the gems with him. The police were not quite ready to go on with the case, and consequently he would ask for an adjournment to Wednesday next. Under the circumstances he would submit to His Worship that bail, if allowed, should be fairly substantial.

Mr Treadwell, for accused, objected to the statement that bis client bad journeyed to Ausralia under a fictitious name. Mailer bad left Wellington quite openly, and when the case ■ame on ho would convince the court of that fact. There was a possibility of its being settled in the civil court. When apprehended accused bad had gold to the value of £3OO in bis possession. This was not included in the •barge, and counsel considered that it should lie set against the amount of the bail.

“We haven’t anything like £3OO vorth of gold in band,” remarked the •hief detective. Bail was fixed at £250 in one or two sureties.

A GAMING HOUSE.

MASTErTDN, May 27

As a result of a police raid, Wilburn Rowell, tobacconist, was charged .0-day before Mr S. L. J’. Free, S.M. ,vith keeping a common gaming hous.'. He was convicted and fined £SO and •osts. Charges against his assistants Daphne Clarke and James Collins, of icing found on the premises of,fa com non gaining house, were dismissed.

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, May 28

Various remits dealing with industrial matters will he considered at the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour I’artv to be held in lulv.

A proposal will come forward from Hastings: “That an All-New Zealand Conference, consisting of representatives of political, industrial and cooperative bodies, having for their object the • socialisation of industries and means of life be convened at an early date for the purpose of arriving at a practical policy acceptable to all for the early realisation of their objective,; the delegates to this conference to be members working in the organisations they represent, and all fulltime officials to bo debarred.” Hastings also proposes that the conference shall organise a council of action to take charge of all industrial disputes. Tile Palmerston North Labour Representation Committee desires that the following clause bo inserted in the constitution of the Labour Party:-—“The abolition of the arbitration scheme imposed on the working class, on the (•rounds that there -can b c no arbitraiion between robbers and robbed.”

McDEVITT ACQUITTED

AUCKLAND, May 30

The second trial of Cornelius MeDe\itt on charges of hookmaking was heard in tho Supreme Court before Justice Stringer. There were seven <eunts, concerning bets alleged to have i een made on February 12, IG, 17, 24 2G, 27, and 28th. Evidence, similar to I hat previously reported, was tendered hy tlio prosecution. His Honour summed up advising the jury that the statements made in tho 1 ox were quite sufficient to prove accus- ( 1 was carrying on business ns a bookmaker. Unless they were prepared to siv lhe v disregarded the evidence, it was clearly and definitely proved that

.'lcDevitt was on the days mentioned currying on business as a bookmaker. If 1 hey had any mntorial doubjb, accused was entitled to the benefit of it, but it must b e n reasonable doubt, founded on the facts before them. He considered thnt unless they discounted the evidence, the jury would find it difficult to come to any other conclusion than that accused was guilty. The jury, after two hours’ retirement i eturned with a unanimous verdict of “Not Guilty.”

FOUND DROWNED

PAHIATUA, May 30

Tho body of Mrs Mary Connell, wife of Mr James Connell, an old settler of Konkoni, was found in a creek this morning. Deceased had been in illhealth for some time. Her husband missed her early this morning and subsequently found her dead body in the creek in two feet of water.

LE QUESNOY’S TRIBUTE

MASTERTON, May 30

■ Colonel Hart has received from the town of Lo Quesnoy a richly embroidered flag ,commemorating tho liberation by tho New Zealand Rifle Brigade in tho last week of the war. ft is a French tricolour, bearing the arms of Lo Quesnoy and the badge of the brigade. As the Brigade is now disbanded it will be necessary for the surviving officers to decide where the flag shall ho deposited. BUTTER RAILWAY FREIGHTS. AUCKLAND, May 30. Tho North Auckland Dairy Conference resolved that tbc Minister of Agriculture he requested to look into the great increase in railage rates for butter. The Conference being of the opinion that the increases are unwarranted in thir extent ,ns compared with those | on other goods