DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1923, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[_BV TKLKGRArU —TKR I’RESS ASSOCIATION.] REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT. AXOTIIER F.X-0 F FICER A R R F.STEI). WELLINGTON, June 25. Following enquiries concerning defalcations in the Repatriation Department, another ex-officer of the Department—Harry Patrick Ilodgins—was arrested bv Detective Nut tall. The accused was brought before tin Magistrate's Court to-day ami remanded on a charge ol forging an inventory of furniture. WELLINGTON COLLEGE. WELLINGTON. June 25 To-day the Governor-General laid the foundation stone of a new -,-bool at the Wellington Boys' College building. There was a large and representative gathering present. Lord Jolliroe. in the (oiir.-e ol his remarks, said that Government House at. Auckland was (15 years old, yet they were living in it. As il was with old buildings, so it was with old ships. Sir Francis Bel! also spoke. SECRETARY'S THEFT. DaNNEVIRKE. June 2b. Thus. Heurv Jones, accountant, formerly secretary of the Arcadia picture Company, was to-day committed to the Supremo Court at Wellington for sentence on five charges of failire to recount for money, the property of the ■Arcadia Company, and others, the amount. involved being (.'399. The accused made a voluntary' confession. band contests. ASHBURTON, June 2d. Advocating an annual championship meeting alternately in each Ll .n l, Mr Tucker, a'-' member of ilie Ashburton Band, which claims to be the New Zealand champion band, said fiat whenever tin- South Lland promoted a toutest the North immediately arranged a I counter eonlest. thus preventing a real obamp.ion-’op nievti'ng.. Other mem- 1 tiers confirmed the grievance and resoliii ioiicd unanimously to co-operate with bands to secure a re. onciliation. DUNEDIN EXHIBIT'D i.V. DUNEDIN. June 2d. U is understood that the vote among members of the Manufacturers' Association no whether tile exhibition sco| e should be international or Imperial, favours the former. POWER FOR TIM ABU. TIMA It U, June 2d. The South Canterbury Power Board to-day considered the purchase ol electric plant from the T imam Borough Council. The Board is desirous to obtain possession ut the Cuiiueil s plant to run it in conjunction with Lake Coleridge. A .special lommittce reported interviewing 11io Public Works Department wlien the promise of 1850 horse-power from Coleridge was given, with the probability of an increase to 1500. The Board unanimously decided to reticulate the whole district according to Mr .1. R. Tcmplih's (consulting engineer) recommendations, as soon a> the promised power from Cob-ridge L assured. An oll'er of £2“ bind in lean money at 5.1 per cent, was received Imm a Wellington broker. HERD TESTING. BLENHEIM. Julie 2d. A sub-committee that wa- set m by a recent semi-public meeting in Blenheim to go into tin l matter nt hetd-tc-sting lias been active. It- has bad several meetings, and lias obtained from various dniry factories lists ol supnliers and of the approximate number of cow.-' owned bv each. I lie committee is now ready to start out on a campaign to arrange groups. Meetings will be held at various centres at an early date for that purpose. The project'appeal •- to he finding favour among tiie dairy supplier-, and as each dairyman become-' at q uainted with the details, lie is evincing a disposition to fall in with the movement.

QUTXNAT SALMON. BLENHEIM. June 2d. In pursuance ol an attempt to stock the Marlborough Sounds with quiuimt salmon, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, _\lr 1.. K. Avmiii. will reaeli Bleniieiui t.b-moijmvv night w ith h H1.(19.) evedova. weighing appruximately hail a ton, for the Maori Creek hatchery, at T'eran. The transport arrangements have been made for the eggs ami camping gear to he taken to lerau on Thursday morning. CHANGE OF CREED. ASHBURTON. June 25. Believing that infant christening has no scriptural auiliuril.v the Rev. b. A. Crawshu-vv, Anglican minister at- blinds, i,err AshblirP u, has I unit'd Bapli-t and accepted «■ fall to Gishorne. He held his last service last evening, "hen the Anglican Church was overcrowded for an undenominational song service alter which presentations vveie made to the minister and his wile. Mr ( ruvvsiii,vv recently was baptised in tee Hinds River. DEATH FROM DRUGS. PALMERSTON X., June 25. At tie inquest on Walter l'.rne-t Hall, whoso hotly "as found on llmrsvlay in a local chemist's shop, where he was employed, evidence "as given that he was addicted to taking drugs : in' must have broken into the simp while under the itilluemc of liquor. In deceased's hand was a hypodermic .syringe and on the counter thine were Mice tubes which hul previously contained a narcotic, and also an empty bottle previously containing a narcotic. The Coroner's verdict was that death was due to an overdose el a drug, selladministered. while under the in 11 lienee of liquor, YERDICT t ONTTNT ED. WELLINGTON. June 25. Ait unusual defence was put it,) at the Supreme Court iu the ease o' Maud Canning, whose husband was killed tn a collision at a level crossing between a train and a lony lie v.-»s driving. She vva» awarded £R W dam- j ages, tile jury finding that- too Railway Department was negligent. 'The Crown contended that there "as mt sulfieient evidence of neg'igeme on their part, but conclusive evidento ol eontribiitoiy negligence. It al-o "■- contended that deceased broke the regulations iu not stopping leiore coming in contact with the Lite. I t;e Cro’-vn contended that the Department had taken all reasonable precautions to make the crossing sale, iheietore was not guilty of any negligent e, anil even if guilty of negligence the accident would clearly have I soon avoided il deceased Imd kept a proper lookout. Ihe Crown held that the verdict was unreasonable and must be set a..-ide. It was submitted for Mrs Canning that the crossing was so dangerous that it was very difficult to ascertain whether a train was coming or not. al-o that deceased took every reasonable precaution to ascertain whether the line "as clar. After lengthy legal argument, decision was reserved.