TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1922, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] SHOW GROUNDS FIRE. CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. Damage to the extent of £IOOO was ; caused by- a fire at the Show Grounds this morninfi, tihe loss falling on the Canterbury A. and p. Association and Mr J. W. Francis, contractor for the new sheep pens, who had 600 gates cud 400 hurdles made of hardwood timber destroyed. j The fire occurred in the merino House which was being used as a workshop by Mr Francis, and, only for the ;ood work of. the brigade, many' of tihe oerraanent buildings would have gone. The loss is not covered by insurance.

PEACE AND AVAR. WELLINGTON. Oct 11. There was a spirited debate oil the question of peace and war, at the monthly meeting of the Presbytery. Dr Gibb moved a resolution that it was the duty of ministers of religion to take steps to arouse in the minds of the community a hatred of war. Rev J. H. MnoKenzie moved an amendment condemning war, and rejoicing in the movements for disarmament, but recognising that the country cannot safely become defenceless, and for discrimination between aggressive and defensive warfare. In the course of a speech he condemned some utterances of Dr Gibb, and his association with certain Labour leaders. Dr Gibb, in reply, defended himself, and went on to condemn Mr Massey for immediately responding to Hon Lloyd Geoige’s call, instead of making enquiries first. The meeting then rejected both proposals. & AVAR PENSIONS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. Giving evidence to the AA’ar Pensions Commission, Dr Fenwick, specialist in neurnthenia, said that he had nothing to do with the assessment of pensions. Me merely expressed his opinion as to the percentage of the disability. The actual pension was fixed by the Board. Ho did not consider assessment in terms of money, though perfectly aware what money any percentage meant. He did not consider n man’s occupation.

Dr F. T. Bowerbank said that tpe simplest method of assessment was to take the physical basis comparison with a normal healthy man. He approved of an Appeal Board ■ in which the lay element predominated,- preferably with a judge or other trained sifter of evidence as President. One member i .iglit lie a medical mail whose advice w add be valuable. An appeal friOMiiul was necessary because men wove often dissatisfied through not understanding '.be reasons for the decisions. POLICE APPEAL SUCCEEDS. PALMERSTON N., OH iO Justice Reed has reversed the decision of Magistrate J. L. S. mt in tho police prosecution of " Robert AA’illinm Davidson, for using premises occupied by him ns a eomnuitgg-imiiig lu/.t.'-o The ’ Magistrate, at> the hearing, in dismissing the information, held that the evidence as to the telepbriic communication between the police and U ird persons was inadmissable, and that even if it were ndmissahle it was only evidence of defendant’s repute, and that before tho defendant could he convicted there must he evidence of actual betting on the premises. In a lengthy review of the evidence, his Honour said the question to decide was not: “Has it been proved the actual hot has taken place in the house,” blit, “ was this particular house open, kept, or used for betting purposes?” The answer, lie said, depended on the cumulative effect of probably a number of circumstances. Tlis Honour also held that the evidence us to th e receipt of telephone messages was ndmissahle as tending to prove that- a systematic business was being carried on bv the respondent. 'Phis and admissions made by the respondent had definitely linked up the

subject matter of messages with business carried on on the premises and messages sent in order to aseersain what was the nature of the business. The appeal was allowed with costs of seven guineas, and the case was remitted to the Magistrate. SEAMAN droavned.AVHANGAREI, October 10. Berrinnti Knip, aged 23, a single man, with no known relatives in New Zealand, a member of the crew of the scow Selwyn, was drowned yesterday at AA’hangarei Heads, when takking a kedge anchor shorewards in a dinghy. AAHien he was heaving the anchor overboard, one fluke caught in the gun-' wale. Knip vainly attempted to swim back to the scow. The body has riot ■been recovered.