VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1921, Page 1

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] FATAL EXPLOSION. PALMERSTON N., Aug. 3. An explosion of gelignite occurred in the tunnel of the Mnngata’s hydroelectric works to-day, and Alexander Murdock, aged 33, was killed instantly. Michael Lynch received serious facial injuries, and will probably lose his sight. Murdock was married only six weeks ago. Ho saw considerable service with the Tunnelling Corps at the war. UNION COY. BOATS. DUNEDIN, August 1.

At present there are 16 passenger and cargo boats of the Union Steam Ship Company’s fleet laid up at various Now Zealand ports. Of this number 10 are at Port Chalmers, while two arc at Auckland, and four at Wellington. The vessels at Port Chalmers are the Maunganui, Mokoia, Moana, Monowai Wahine Pateena (passenger ships), and the Waikouaiti, Kaimnnnwa, Tarawera and To Anau (cargo carriers). These 10 vessels represent an aggregate gross tonnage of 33,738. Other ships laid up at Dunedin and Port Chalmers are the Stella and Kotare and the schooner Progress, making a total of 34,358 gross tons. The Union Company’s vessels at Auckland are the Atua and Talune. and

at Wellington the Moeraki. Rosamond Poherua and Takapuna.

j Tho Union Company’s fleet totals 81 passenger and cargo ships of an aggro gate pjrosfl tonnage of 266,482. The 16 idle steamers represent 46,625 tons gross. ! GAOL ESCAPEES RECAPTURED. OAMARL, August 9. The prisoners who escaped from the Oamam gaol on Monday night were recaptured to-day within two miles of the Wnitalri mouth. They first made for Enfield where they stole a railway jigger and doubled hack and went north. RAILWAY SERVICE. DRASTIC CUT announced. WELLINGTON, August 3. An important annouuoemient of a somewhat drastic c u L especially in the branch line and suburban railway service in both Islands was made by Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Acting Minister of Railways. The cut commences on August 14. and lasts till the end of November, unless meanwhile the traffic greatly improves. High rates of expenditure and decline in railway traffic since April has made the curtailment of train services a matter of necessity. BANK CLERK’S ALLEGED THEFT.

PA lIT ATUA. August 3. ILiuiiath Noel Blake Marshall, an employee of the Union Bank was arrested for the alleged theft of a cheque for £l2 17s 4d. He was remanded for a week, IMPORTANT DECISION. WELLINGTON, August 3. The question of whether the estate of an insolvent native, alter death may he administered'in bankruptcy wa s the .subject of an important judgment by Justice Sim. (Acting Chief Justice) to-day. He held the position that the Administrative Act applied to the estate of natives

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. DUNEDIN, August 3. A packed and enthusiastic meeting was hold, liciv to-night when an eloquent address was delivered by Professor Prince, of the Otago University, who read the following cable from Lord Robert Cecil : “The support of world public opinion is the Leaguos’s greatest- need. T welcome the formation of a Xew Zealand League of Nations Union.” At the close of an eloquent and powerful convincing address, the meetimr heartily agreed to form a branch of the League■ of Nations’ Union and set up a strong representative committee to give effect to the resolution. SITU,AT! SUPPLIES. WELLINGTON. August 2. The Hoard of Trade received wore! from the manager of the Colonial Sugar Company at Auckland that the Chelsea, refining works would he closed early next week owing to a shortage of supplies of raw sugar. Operations would be resumed as soon as supplies were obtained from the Islands. Tbe reason given for tbe shortage is the difficulty experienced in securing freightage. OT A H I'HU TR OTTING Cl AJ I? AUCKLAND. August M. A protest on belialf of tbe Otahuhu Trotting (’lull in respect to the Rac» ing Commission report was vuthojoyr the Auckland members,. of 'Parliament l,y a deputation of''about U 0 spoil'men. After the club’s case was fully stated the Hon. Garland drew attention to the fact that the Commission had 'been set up under the Gaming Amendment Act, 1020. and that .Clause fl of tin- Act gave the Commissioner power to extend the present racing days, hut no authority to out away the totalisator permits at present in existence. Tn that respect he felt the present << mission had exceeded its authority. Mr Potter intimated that the Parliamentary members present had decided to telegraph tbe Minister of Internal Affairs, drawing attention to tho point mentioned by the Hon. Garland and requesting that no .action be taken until Parliament had considered the report.