DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1923, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SOUTH BRITISH INSURANCE CO. A l CKLAXD, Oc toiler 15, The South British liistmlanoe Co.'s aiimuil report shows the premium ini omo to lmve .been £800.387, and expenses £294,178. bosses totalled £401.1)40, leaving a surplus of £80.270. Interest and'rents amounted to £95,311, which, with the balance brought forward of £lll.Bll. make a total available for distribution of £287.392. The directors recommend the transfer to the reserve fund of leaseholds. £425. and the payment of a dividend of lid per -Inire. making a total of Is Od for the year, absorbing £90.208, leaving £130.712 in eariy forward. The lepon states that early in the year tin- company purchased a majority of shares in the Kastern t'nired Assuraiice < orporaiion. Straits .'settlement, payment being made partly in cash and partly by lII.CIO shares credited with Ids per share and issued at a premium of 21s (id. This premium, amounting to £111.10.'!, has been added to the reserve fund. SHOOTING FATA I.TTY. AUCKLAND. October 15. William Lewis Wilkin, a tramway molorman, while shooting tit Drury yesterday. was wounded in' the arm through the discharge of a gun while he was lifting it out of a motor-car. An operation wa.s performed, hut Wilkin gradually stink and died. The inquest was adjourned.

NUMEROUS AITLTCAXTS. WELLINGTON, October 15. A commissioner, assistant commissioner, secretary, accoumtant and two information officers are required hv the Government for the New Zealand stiff of t!n> British Empire Exhibition. Advertisements several weeks ago produced hundreds of replies, at least as many hundreds as there are positions to fill. Inquiries show that the appointments may be announced within a week or so. The task of sorting the applicants has been formidable. HASTINGS JUBILEE. HASTINGS, October 15. Hastings carnival week, "to mark the jubilee of Hastings, opened this morning with an historical procession. The streets were decorated and crowded with sightseers, of whom there was a large influx. The luncheon given to the veterans and early settlers was largely attended. The Hawke's Bay show takes place, on Wednesday and Thursday, and the jubilations will continue all the week.

NEGLECTING A CHILD. DANX EVI Ii.KE, October 13. An unusual case was heard before the Magistrate, Mr Dyer, at Ormond t tile, when two natives were charged with wilfully neglecting a child four veals of age. Defendants laid adopted the infant in December, 1921, they being relatives of its parents, but. in May la<t they abandoned it, and loft the district. The child was then in a bad way. It tins hungry, badly nourished, covered with sores and clad only in a frock and nn old nm. The IMagislinte said (bat the case was a \ cry had one. Accused were each fined £lO or two iionth-’ iiu prison men t with hard lnLiiu.

AUCKLAND GAS O AIIAXV. AUCKLAND. October 15. Tic Auckland (bis Company ha- decided m increase its capital to £1.500.1 coo. by creating half a million addij tii"".il shares of £1 each, j Half of titc 'wiulwr i> to be Isstte-.l ! . ’ ,', : • Xiivileae O applying for one-iotn cii of his preatiu holding. The chaii'iiuni intimated ilial there would lie calk nf 2> ct cry six in.mills. WILD CF.KME. AUCKLAND. (trtnher I !. An effort is being nimle to andiinarise wild gees,, mi the various reaches of Kaipara baibour. whore wild swan have heroine plentiful anti condition' for the natural breeding of sin-h type-' of birds are con-idel'eil idea.l. When the subject was uniliT consideration bv the Auckland At elinmti-n----lie.n Society .Mr G. A. Whitney stated that a pne-tiee laid grown up in KaiJtara harbour. of running down wild due], and gee-e by means id' soveral power boats acting in conceit. anil then shooting the birds. It, was decided to enquire from ire .Marine Department as to the cxi'teiuo lit regulations prohibiting fishing bents fro in carrying ficnrnis. and aLo la as! the Depart un-ut to suggest means o! protecting wild geese on salt wafet estuaiies and open lakes where attend L were being made to acclimali-o tinbirds. IMMIGRATION WANTED. WELLINGTON. Oct. Id. A Special Committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce reported to-day an overseas settlement. Mr Leigh Hunt (chairman) remarked that, it was greatly I egieUabtc that the Imperial Delegation had left lip. Dominion under the impression that New Zealand did not want immigration. The report, alter reviewing tin events of the last year, stated that while the other Dominions had acted in a far-seeing, progressive spirit, instilling in cumprehensive schemes in absorb i Britain's surplu, people, New Zealand had hardly been sufficiently interested i lo raise a. listening ear. Fur the first I half of ]923 the British immigration to New Zealand actually decreased by 1 33811. The commiliiy therefore reenm- 1 mended that an efficient organisation ‘ throughout the Dominion was imperative, and summuri-ed the necessary steps as follows ;—“Our own people should he shown the country's capacity to profitably absorb im-rcasei! population, thus building up a solid public opinion necessary for the movement’s success. Town ids this end a I'enimLsiou should he appointed to take ovi- * donee from all classes. Second. the housing question should he fully considered and a programme formed. Third, the land laws should he overhauled. especially the, tax on large blocks of second-class laud that may be taken up by companies, or societies. Fourth. Citizen-' Committees should be tunned to arrange for the efficient absorption of immigrants. Sixth. British ■‘upital will be needed, and should lie introduced. a< investments, rather than Mato loans further increasing indebted-