DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] UPKEEP OF ROADS. AUCKLAND, Alay 25. Replying to a deputation of suburban bodies in regard to the damage done to roads by heavy commercial motors, Air Massey said lie did not think it possible to raise all the money required for main roads maintenance. At the present time New Zealand's credit was good in London, but if tlie Dominion sought to borrow millions for this purpose, and it was found that gi 0.1 value was nut being got for tlie money. New Zealand’s credit would drop to zero. Ninny county councils, ATr Massey said, could do more than they were now doing. He thought there would he legislation limiting the weight ol vehicles mi certain roads and an adjustment in the direction in which the revenue went from the license tees of commercial and motor vehicles. ALLEGED ELECTION BREACH. AUCKLAND. May 25. Eleven persons were charged in tlie Police Court, under tlie Local Elections and Polls Act. with (a) having inlliienced electors, and <l>) having interfered with electors on their way to the polling booth at the recent election of the Auckland City Council and Alt Eden Borough Council, by delivering to them cards having thereon tlie names of candidates. Tlie cards produced in Court Imre the names of certain candidates approved by various bod i es. For tlie defence, in the* case that was taken as a tost, counsel submitted it bad not been proved that the ticket w as delivered to any elector except tlie police sergeant who gave evidence. He also submitted that tlie ticket was not calculated to influence ail elector, since it simple bore tlie names ol candidates approved bv a- eiriain body. It was competent for an elector to deliberately refrain from voting for any of the candidates named thereon. Decision was reserved.

EIRE IN SCHOOL. TAUAIARFNFI, Alay 2(i. At eight o’clock last night an oiitb’.cak of lire was discovrood in the District High School buildings. The brigade was quickly on the scene, hut the flames already had a good hold on the building, which was one of the oldest wooden structures in the town. The lire was subdued after two hours of strenuous work, but the major portion of the building was badly damaged. The cause of the lire is on. known. The library books, a quantity of stationery, the desks, anil the science room equipment were saved, r.eviytliing was in order when the headmaster locked the school at five o’clock. Tlie insurances are not available. CIRCULAR SAW FATALITY. DUNEDIN, .May 28. Robert Morris, single, aged 55, die! at Owaka from injuries received by contact with a circular saw on .Saturday. TUTANEKAFS CRUTSE. A USE LAND, .May 28. The Tula lick a i arrived from Kerinadee on Saturday. They made a thorough search of the islands, but found no sign of castaways and the provision depots were intact. ’1 he hull of tlie schooner Columbia River, wrecked in Sept. 1921, Uas been battered to pieces. WOMAN DROWNED. AUCKLAND, Alay 27 Airs Isabella Johnson, aged 57, wile of Ah Clifford Johnson, engineer at the Western Springs pumping station, was drowned yesterday morning in an overflow race nearby. She had been in ill-health for some time, and tlu- indications are that she fell into the race during a fainting fit.