DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[llY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SENTENCES FOR SEXUAL CRIMES. CHRISTCHURCH, Aog. 25. Justico Reed, at the Supremo Court, sentencing George Beaumont to live years’ hard on each of seven charges for indecent assault on girls, said the greatest protection should be given to young girl’s modesty. Beaumont had broken that modesty in several girls. It was impossible to say what r. m-Id-would follow unless they forgot it. Punishment was for two purposes. Gi.e was as a deterrent to offenders, Hie other was to warn others. George -fudge was sentenced to two years for indecent exposure at Ashburton. the Judge imposing the maximum in the hope of protection the public from the mania of sexual perveils. OPOSSUM SKINS. DUNEDIN, Aug. ID At the second opossum skin sale o>' the current season 15,71 b were oftcred. There was a decline of from Is 6d in 2s on July prices. INFANT'S BODY FOUND. CMRTSTCIirURCH, Aug. 2.5 Tlie body of a newly-born child in a somewhat decomposed condition was discovered in a belt of gor.se, abouf twenty feet wide, at Burnharn yesterday afternoon. The discovery was made bv two men who wore cutting the gorse. They noticed a white paper parcel, and on opening it found thal it contained the body of a child, which had apparently been placed in (Ingorse some weeks ago. The land where the discovery was made is part of the old Burnham Industrial School farm, and is about a quarter of a mile from the railway station. Constable Kearney brought the body to Christchurch last night.

CUSTOMS DUTIES. WELLINGTON. Aug. ‘25. Customs revenue for the quarter (‘tided June 50th. was £1,057,979 against C 1.208.585 for the corresponding quarter last year. The amounts collected at the principal ports were; Auckland £522,055 AVellingion £500,108 Lyttelton £202,000 Dunedin £188.701 Excise duties produced £109.895 for the quarter as against £102.819 in the June quarter of 1022. DIVORCE SUITS. AUC KLAND, Aug. 25. In three hours this morning some sidelights into unhappy marriages were gained at the Supreme Court, when thirty-two people petitioned either for a dissolution of their unsuccessful unions or to pave the way for such a dissolution. Since the last civil sessions. three months ago. over sixty petitions have been tiled at. court, and though some of them have already been disposed of, the bulk won* adjudicated upon bv Air .Justice Ilerdinan to-dav. These were all undefended petitions, and when the -facts were plain it did not take the. .Judge long to decide tipo i thorn. In a lew cases the hearing was adjourned Tor further evidence. The adage that: “It is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good” is a feature of these proceedings, for apart from the future happiness that is anticipated will result from the severing of the connubial knots, the legal frateinitv and llm Justice Department reap quite a little harvest. Counsels’ fees for ,-ases to be beard this session wi.l run into at least £IOOO. while I he court, expenses increase the sum paid by the dissolutionisls to about u'JtKK).

1! AX ICR LPT AT'C'TKiXEL R. AYFFFIXCTOX. Aug. 2-t A public examination of Leonard Viti Crilliths, a bankrupt auctioneer of Taihape, was hold before Mr Justice Chapman in the Supremo Court to-day. Bankrupt wa- subjected to a close examination regarding hi- Ini-mess transactions. Me stated that he had received money totalling t-'JiKI I rnlli an Indian named Uliana Chibi. lie [nuked 11 p:in the slim as a gift. His Honor: Do you know any uthei gent lon in i ■ so Hush as that f Ihmkrupl -aid that he carried on hi-hu-ines- on this sum ot immey, togot !,er with that of his ero!ii ors. STIi IKK AT X OAK A W AC. WLSTI’ORT, Aug. 21. The strike al the AVostport-Sinekton Coal Company's mine at Xgakawau, a.s result of which 'JotI men have keen idle for the pad ten days, ended today. The men ceased work' in August Li owing to alleged conditions in l tic mine, and claimed, in respect id several wet places, a four-hour day and a wage of Cl per day. To-day, as a result of negotiations conducted hy Mr IS. L. Hammond on behalf of the company, and Air AY. Ihilderstoiie on hehall ol the men. settlement was reached whereby tin men will resume work on Monday. The wages and hours remain the -anno but under the settlement arrived at the company is ie(|uircd to provide roofing material and oil coat , in respect of certain places in the mine.

PF.CTLTA'R ACCIDENT. AYFFLIXOTOX, Aug. 2d. During the Paparoa’s voyage from London, a .remarkable accident Retell Mi-- !•’. Swain. a registered nurse. late of least Hem. . White bonding over r. child lying on a berth, Mis- Swain looked up suddenly, and liy some mischance a porthole glass, encased in it brass hoop, fell on her head with some (Vi-ee. ft is stated that although tile accident happened .only a fortnight jx.ro, no hriii so we - visible on the injured lade's Lead. Yet '-ho has lost the sight cf both eyes. She him boon very distressed. The . ase is one for :• mot sis al specialist. LA r.XC’TT SDsKS. ALCKLAXT), Aug. 2(5 \ narrow escape from serious accident occurred in Auckland on Saturday night, when a small launch named l.enore was sunk and the occupants were thrown in the water.

.About 8 p.rn., when the l.enore, with Air ITayson, her owner, and also his wife and brother, on hoard, was passing the steamer Maramn, anchored in the stream, the steward on .the steamer hailed the launch and asked for a pa-sage ashore. Mr Tlavson no sooner ran the launch alongside the steamer, when about a dozen of the Mamma's c-rew jumped on hoard the launch, which capsized and sank, throwing all the . occupants into the water. A boat was lowered from the Mamma and the people in the water were rescued with some difficulty. Tlie launch has not been recovered vet.