DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nr TELEGRArn—ter press association.]

BANKRUPT OPTICIAN

AUCKLAND, Aug. lo

‘‘l am not at all satisfied with your business. You seem to be hiding your assets front your creditors and I think your ease should he investigated by the Official Assignee," said Mr W. Wilson, S.M.. to a judgment debtor, Watson Russell, an optician of Auckland, who appeared at the .Magistrate s ( uurt in respect of a debt alleged due to C. W . Boss and Coy. of Palmerston North. Under examination the defendant said that recently lie dissolved partnership with one limes and Company, which comprised himself and his wife, £ and limes £450. Witness had not paid up his shares and limes got his interest from money witness owed him. At present witness and his wife were employed by the company at a salary t) f nine ponds per week between them. The amount, due to plaintiff was lot

drapery etc. The Magistrate said ho < ouldn t make an order as debtor's business wa.most unsatisfactory and should he investigated by the assignee. 8( EI.I.IXG. BLENHEIM. Aug. 15. In reference to the match and negotiations between l’addoii and Hannan for the world’s sculling championship. Hannan qualifies the statement h, saying I hat if Felton heats him lie w ill drop the project of aiming at Dm world’s title and defend the New /<'» |.,,..j Title. He is anxious to measure up with Iladfield.

CROSSING FATALIT Y

CHRISTCHURCH. August 15. Charles Arthur Wells, aged 02. a retired farmer, died as the result of injuries received in a collision between lij s oar and the W aikari train at Il.ncwood Bead crossing, near Papauui Railwav Station. The accident happened at 5.30 p.m. Miss Winifred Byrch, who was tiding in the car, escaped with a few bruises. There was one train standing at I’upunui Station and one coming Irom Christchurch. Evidently Wells did not in,lice the outward hound train, the engine of which struck the ear amidships and threw ii against a telegraph SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION. DUNEDIN, Aug. I I \ | ; | inert i tig ol the Otago Institute to-nigln it was announced that an ex I'cditinn of scientists had been arranged to vi-it the ( hatbam Islands. These islands are largely an unknown area

lrom a scientific point of view, and tinpane will include expert- ill anthiopt-\-, hiologv. geology, botany, entomology and physics, and an officer ol the Geological Department. 1 lie longitude of ihe ( hat hams has never yet been worked mu and many reefs m the vicinity are wrongly charted. or a:c not elmrted ai all. It is anticipated that the cxnedition, in which the Can lerbu.ry In-iitiitc i- partieipuiing. will pvodihe results of con-idcra' !•■ -ohm tiiic value. ()'.' ES'I lON OF PORT CiI.VRDES. WELLINGTON. August 15. In relei'eiiee to the recent st'itcnnqit.s in England regarding port ehnrge- in New /calami, and their hearing on overseas freights. Mr Jes-ep (vice-Chair-mau of Hie Sew /calami Meat Beard) sialeti to-day tliat the idea of concentrating the New Zealand meat trade at the lour ports is absnnl. and ttlteilf imiiraeileable. Deterioration r.iul a i uiscqtteiir loss in value was caused by the numerous handlings of meat. Titlee losses could Lit outweigh any possible reduction,, in I'r igi.t. Indeed, ll.'e me :l w'mil I dcpi'c inie more in v.ilee tlinit tie- entire overseas fieigiil. Mr ,j esseji said that shipping is e. neeiitratcd at a, few polls in Au-ttalin, lo the everla ling detriment of the Australian producers, and. instead ci j Mteh (•oncenlrat.itm making the freight! i less. the. reserve is the ease. A roi-eiit i comparison. ol tne charges fo,- a .sieamer of 11, .511 <gre.ss tonnage shows that Die aceiage |:a:t charges lor a 72-hour.--lay at i.ny on -ni ,m. (he main Aits- 1 trnlian ports was £132. while in New Zealand, ihe -iniilai- cost is £2OB. Tt i ms further -i Ui'il by Mr .les-.. p that i the average time no upied on the An iralian coasts wts quite as great as ui New Zealand. The average innnhei « i ports visited li.v the overseas steaiil- | ei's in New Zealaiul i- six. and the average charges for a vessel of the i a fine mentioned tonnage for a 72-hour-stay are as follows: Wellington, | £300; Dunedin £515; Lyttelton £477. ! "it is a striking commentary," ro--1 marked Mr Jes-iep. ‘'on the eli'eels of concentration. Hint the port charges .0 each of the principal ports should, in ovei,vea.-c ho higher Hum the average port clung,. I'o,- New Zealand. It inor the uimiljcr of ports v.e liaye in New Zeidand. but the iimoitiu of produce we ship that really counts, production will not he ini reused by endeavouring to concentrate the shipments it the lour main ports. In faei. it is ut i er|y impracticable." AUCKLAND SCHOOLS. WELLINGTON. August 15. The condition of .school and teachers’ ie-iden:es in the Auckland ■ (Ii tii't was revealed in a letter from the Auckland Education Board to the Education Department, a. copy of which was furnished to the Wellington Education Hoard, and considered to-day.

The letter emphasised the task or accommodation for teachers in rur.i areas. In one ease a toucher with three children was living in a di-iced shelter shed. In many rural areas it was quite impossible for settlers to timl ta eoninimlation fe.r even single teacher. .Vo house could he found for married teachers. The need for residences in rural areas was imperative.

ltegariling the lack of school accommodation, the department had determined that the minimum floor space per pupil in average attendance should U> 12 square feet. .Since 1010. in Auckland, the average attendance had grown from td.OUft to nearly ofi.uOO. The a. rommodaiion had not keen extended to meet this iin t'ca-o. The cooperation of the Wellington board was requested in nu agitation for a loan of £1,0000,000 for the purposes mentioned.

.Members expressed sympathy with the Auckland hoard hut decided that the present, moment was not opportune to raise a £1.01*0.000 loan for tile purpose specified. MINER. INJURED. MILI.FRTOX, Aug. lo Martin Tomie. a miner, was .-eriously injttreil by a fall or coal this aiternoon in the "old dip” section of the Miilerton mine. He was removed to the Westport Hospital this evening. The nature of his injuries are at present unknown.