TELEGRAMS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1922, Page 4

TELEGRAMS

[by TELEGRAPH PER TRESS ASSOCIATION] . OBITUARY. DUNEDIN, Aug. 3. Obituary.—James Gray, one o! the founders of Reid and Gray, implement makers, in lii,s 88th year. NAVY LEAGUE. WELLINGTON, August 2 The Navy League conference passed a resolution that it is desirable that an opportunity for naval, in lieu of military, training, should be given under the regulations regarding the New Zealand naval reserve entry to be extended to bovs from 14 to 18 years of age.

LIQUOR IN DRY AREAS. WELLINGTON, July 29. Invercargill easily takes the record for consumption of liquor among the “dry” areas in New Zealand. The usual return on the subject shows that it maintained its position of 1920 at {he head of the list. The consumption of liquor in the various no-license areas of the Dominion during the year ended December 1921 is shown in an official return to be ns follows: Ashburton 20,484 Bruce 25,969 •flint ha 24,108 Eden 15,197 Grey Lynn 5,539 Invercargill 101,450 M.asterton 40,850 Mataura 43,850 Onninru 37.537 Ohiremnri 20,310 Roskill 4,817 Wellingto nS 9,523 Wellington Sub 12,071

Total 361,707 The total shows a reduction on the previous year’s consumption in no-li-cense districts of 17,966 gallons.

AMUSEMENT TAX. SHORTS BODIES SEEK RELIEF. WELLINGTON, August 1. Correspondence was read at a meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union to-night displaying a desire on the part of sports bodies to obtain relief from the amusement tax. Representations already have been made to Mr Massey, who promised that the matter would be considered by Parliament during the present session. A letter from the New Zealand Sports Protection League suggested that Mr Massey's sj a lenient meant that it would depend upon the degree of pressure sports bodies were able to bring on members of the Parliament whether the same exception would he granted them as had been promised agricultural and pastoral associations. The union was asked to (oinmuniesite with its various branches throughout the Domiiom asking them to get into touch with thei. ic pc< live members, indicating the. steps which they were recommended to take. The League would give every assistance in its power. It was resolved to circularise unions accordingly. I

a “hon;n house.” | I ! CHARGES OF ASSAULT. j i WEIJJXGTOX. Aug “ ! I As an aftermath of a fracas at the ' Taita Hotel on tlie evening of July loth., Alfred John Cox, George Fraser, Uohiu Thompson and William ; Burgess Thompson were charged at ! the l’oliee Court at Hutt with asj saulting John Bentley, Ernest Stevens, proprietor of the hotel, his wife, Florence Stevens, and Alice Bland; with theft, and with damaging pro- • •perity. Eraser wa s further charged with assaulting John .Miller, who is still in hospital. i The evidence disclosed that Fraser and Robin Thompson were ejected from the hotel early in the evening I for being quarrelsome. Late at night defendants returned in a motor-car looking for trouble. They demanded the return of the money paid for a broken window. When the request was refused Stevens was knocked ; about, the telephone wires were cut, ! and money was taken from the till ! and lii|our from the bar. j Florence Stevens and Alice Bland j stated that they were caught by the : throat by Hobin Thompson. j Bentley said that he wa s rendered unconscious by kicks. I Constable Frost detailed the damage done to the premises. The defence was that Bobin Thompson and Fraser went to the hotel for tea and were refused. They left, and were overtaken by Stevens. Thompson, it was alleged, was roughly handled and was made to pay for the broken window. On his arrival homo he explained the circumstances to his brother and returned for the pound he had paid. The .Magistrate, Mr S. Free, said that no doubt defendants had converted tlie hotel into a rough-house. Defendants were convicted and were each fined Co for the assault on Stevens, £o for that on Airs Stevens. £o for Bentley. In addition Bobin Thonip son was fined Co for the assault on Alice Bland, and for damaging the telephone box £5.

INQUEST OX VICTIM. NAPJEH, August 3. At an inquest on Sydney Charles Korrosti who died Inst, night after having taken a mixture of ingredients, which lie procured and made up himself, it was stated that deceased bought and hoiled an extract instead of herbs to make tip a prescription taken from a medical hook. Medical evidence was to the effect that death was due to kidney disease accelerated by an overdose of spirits of juniper and oil of wintorgreen, which, however, would not affect a man in normal health.

MAOJIT HUT. CHRISTCHURCH, Au K . 3At Tualmvi the FTui was to-day attended' by the Hon Contes, the Native .Minister, ami a. number of membei'H .of both Houses. Hone Tain re Taiko and Taranaki To [Tjv brought under the notice of the Minister the Cotnniission’s report recommending that C3f>4,000 he paid to Llie Maoris, as compensation for land taken. They asked him to bring the matter under the notice of the Government so that finality might tie reached M> Coates, in reply, said the Coiru

mission’s report Inn! not hcen forgotten. At tho present time it was quite impossible for tho (lovoininem to hand over CIV) 1,000, lint, it was quite pr:ssii>! • tluit tho amount would ho paid in instalments spread over a numhor of years. Katana will he present to-