DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TOWN CLERK APPOINTED. BLENHEIM, May 25. Air T. F. Bull, accountant for the N.F.C. Alotors, has been appointed Town Clerk of Blenheim, out of 42 applicants. BRIDGING THE CLARENCE GAP. LESSON FROSI THE AIAORIS. WELLINGTON, Alay 23. A graphic story of how through telegraphic communication was restored with the South Island over a serious break in the lines, due to the destruction of the Clarence Bridge, is told by Air E. A. Shrimpton, Chief Telegraph Engineer.

There was a gap of dcß yards over a rapid flowing current, and it, seemed impossible to get communication. Floats were vainly tried, but were washed into the nearest hank. Then the engineer thought of a peculiariyshaped board used by the Alaoris in fishing. AVhon they do not want their lines to be carried down-stream, they use this board, weighted along one edge to keep it upright. Pushed out from the shore it keeps its position, making no leeway in the current. The Alaori name for the contrivance is “Ratiruku,” meaning “throwing a snare.” Utilising timber from an old glass case, Air Shrimpton manufactured this contrivance, which worked splendidly, carrying the line across the gup to the engineers on the further side, when it was a matter of comparative ease to draw insulated wires across and restore communication.

Railway and Public Works engineers have already been interested in this' clever device for throwing a line across a river, and Air Shrimpton is having drawings made of the old scientific* achievement of tins Alaoris. 0 SUPRKALE COURT. INVERCARGILL, Alay 23. In the Supreme Court, .lohn Francis Scully, for the theft of a war loan certificate belonging to his mother, was admitted to probation for two years on the condition that he take out a prohibition ordei > and does not frequent racecourses, or make bets. John Scully, for perjury, was fined £lO, the judge stating that the accused had nothing to gain by his statements. WELLINGTON WAR AtE.MOIUAT,. WELLINGTON. Mav • A meeting of the Alanagenieut Committee of the Wellington Football Association to-night considered a letter from the Citizens’ War Memorial Committee asking what the football section had to report as to progress. The chairman, Air A. Wells, said he was opposed to the erection of a memorial on the site proposed, a. vacant triangle in Courtenay l’laec. at the rear of the Royal Oak Hotel. Front what lie could gather Air Whatman was pulling one way and the memorial committee another. To spend £25,000 on ihe memorial would he a sinful waste of money, lie. favoured something for the hospital : establish a ward or endow bods, something practical. The whole matter was handled from a wrong standpoint. The Government had set aside £IOO.OOO for a national memorial. A reply on the above lines was ordered to he sent.

COAIAf.OX GAMING HOUSE. AUCKLAND, May 23. In tlp> Police Court, Herbert Briefly, tobacconist and hairdresser, was lined £2l) and costs for keeping a common gaming house. Leniency was shown because the accused went to the war IK*fore he was eighteen years old and helped to maintain his mother. COALY!UNITY SINGING. WELLINGTON, Alay 2* Community singing, which was started here to cheer up business men and office workers generally in the luncheon hour, promises to lapse into a sort of cheap entertainment for women and children. Afany business men who at first regarded the novelty with favour have now tired of it. But apart from that, fiy the time they have had a hurried lunch, and have got down to the hall, they are apt to find themselves crowded out. This was the position to-day, when before the programme was commenced, the big hall was almost., full of women and children. There appeared to he as many children as women, it Doing school holiday time. If the original object of tho promoters is to he given effect to, it may he soon necessary to hang out the sign “Aten only,” in which ease the women might he constrained to organise community singing on their own behalf.

KAIKOURA CTT OFF. CHRISTCHURCH. Alay 25. Kaikoura will be cut off by road from Christchurch for at least tlir-’c weeks, and meanwhile, coastal vessels are still unable to work the Kaikoura port owing to the heavy seas. The C.vgnet which arrived from Lyttelton to-day was only able to lai d mails and newspapers at South Ray. These mails were taken aboard at Lyttelton on Sunday. Aieanwhile the Wakatu is waiting at South Bay for the sen. to moderate. At Kaikoura the ears, at present, are restricted to a live miles radius round Kaikoura. WOOL SALES. WELLINGTON, Alay 25. The New Zealand Loan and .Mercantile Coy reports at the sixth stile of the season, held to-day, the combined brokers offered 17,5(t<) bales. There was a very good attendance of buyers representing Home. Continental, American and Japanese interests. 'I lie local mills, scourers and shippers were also well in evidence. There was spirited competition for all super-sorts and lambs skirtings and criitchings. A\ ellington woollen mills tools a fair quantity of good Romney fleece and some of the best lines of lambs. America aiul Bradford competed for the finer wools, Lincoln and low crossbred did not realise quite up to. owners’ expectations. Oil the whole it was a most satisfactory sale, as a good proportion of the wools oflered by us comprised 1920-21 and 1921-22 clips as well as late shorn clips of this season. Me found excellent competition for a number of clips reelassod by ourselves on owners’ account, ail selling at most satisfactory prices.

COLLISION AVITH TRAIN. DUNEDIN, Alav 25. Charles Sband, a well-known wool and skin buyer of Baklutha, while driving a two horse trap, was run into In* the south express near Kakapuaka station. The trap was carried forty yards over the cattle stop. Hie horses escaped hut Shorn! was apparently thrown with his face against a post. He is unconscious and badly injured. CHILD SERIOUSLY INJURED. AYANOAXUL Alay 25. Chas Win Crisp, aged ten. received serious internal injuries last evening by falling off a motor lorry, and the wheel passing over him. CHEMIST CHARGED. DUNEDIN, -May 25. .fames Reynolds Havne, a chemist, was charged at the Police Court with unlawfully using an instrument with the intent to procure a miscarriage. He was remanded to June Ist,