DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,J YACHTING. WELLINGTON, Jan. 18. Contenders l'or the Sanders Cup, with the exception of Canterbury’s representative the Linnet, are all here now. The Murihiku (SoutAjjpnd), and the Rona (the defender, Auckland) arrived yesterday. Their crews aro following today and to-morrow. The * Konini (Hawke’s Bay) and the June (Otago) were out for a spin yesterday, doing very well in a fresh southerly. The Konini is. apparntly, shaping the better of the two. The Wellington representative, the Reggy has just finished her overhaul, and will have a trial run this week-end. fc. INCOME TAX RETURNS. BLENHEIM. Jan. IS. -% This is a particularly had ease of neglect to fulfil the obligations imposed hv the Land and Income Tax Act, stated the Crown Prosecutor .Mr C. H. Mills at the Magistrate's Court day, referring to two charges against Frederick Hampton Flower, of Kaikouru, storekeeper, of failing to furnish income tax returns for the years ended March 31st. 1922, and March 31st. 1923.

Mills said apparntly the defendant had never furnished any returns whatever in 1922 and 1923. The income tax inspetor. visited Flower at lvaikoura and investigated his affairs. As a result it was found that the sum of £563 18s was dno in respect to tax for the years ended March 31st. 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1910. 1917. 1918; 1919. 1920 and 1921. After considerable trouble Flower paid about £‘2oo of this amount and in October 1922 the matter was placed ill the hands of the Crown Law Office for recovery of the sum of £375 12s 7d. representing arrears d'or the years ended March 31st. 1914. 1915. 1916. 1917, 1918. 1919 and 1920. The Crown Law (Wee wrote several letters to Mr Flower, demanding payment, hut without result.- , Eventually a writ was issued and judg- • incut obtained lor the £357 12s 7d, hut Mr Flower still remained deaf to all communications from the Crown Law Office, until a writ of sale was issued. Finally in September 11th, last, the amount recovered on September 19th., the Crown Law Office wrote Mr Flower by direction of tlie Commissioner of Taxes, advising him that unless he furnished returns for the year ending March 31st. 1923, information would fie laid, and a .substantial penalty pressed for. The communication was treated in the same manner as all others, no reply whatever being received. ami the present proceedings were taken.

Mr Maunsell S.M., after hearing evidence fiy Edwin James Howland, Inspector of Income Tax Department, said he had observed from correspondence that the Department regarded the case as one of the worst cases of neglect on record. The defendant had put the Department to endless trouble and expense in past years, and he had had ample warning that he should furnish the returns, hut had ignored their warnings. He wDuld impose such n penalty as would impress upon the defendant the necessity for furnishing promptly in future. Defendant was fined £2O on each count with * costs totalling £lO 10s 2d. a totalX £59 10s 2d. on top of which he still has to furnish the returns required and pay tbo tax on them.

HIGHWAYS HOARD, WELLINGTON, Jan. 18. The Alain Highways Board has. decided that the Dominion will he divid ed among members of the Hoard, with si view to personally answering any inquiries or clearing up doubts. Mr W.vnyard, residing at Auckland,.stall if ‘desired, bv Highway Councils meet them and go into any difficulties they have, explaining any points that may seem obscure He will, if necessary,, look into the quesFion of which roans should he declared main roads under the Act, in the event of there being any disagreement. Mr .Tull will perform a like service D,r the greater portion of the North f haul. Mr Bruce doing the main portion of the East Coast of the South Island, and the Government representativos Messrs Furkerfc, Murray Godfrey, the remaining portions. Cf.AIM. AOATNST BOROUGH. OAMARU, Jan. 18. It is stated that a claim of £2099 lias been lodged against the Borough Council on behalf of the widow of Hutelieon, killed last week by a fall of earth in a cutting in Medway Street. A COSTLY JOKE. MARTON. Jan. 18. - The magistrate, Mr Watson, sentenced to-day a commercial traveller, vim picked up a small parcel on tho station platform, and retained it for a joke with fellow travellers, to fourteen dnvs’ hard labour, without the option of a fine. This sentence has caused strong comment locally, and iopresontatioiis arc being made to tlio Minister of Justice. KILLED BY SHOCK. CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. 18. At the adjourned inquest into the death of Lewis Bradford Giles (engineer at the Kaiapoi Woollen Company’s Ridley Mills. Woolston). who was found dead at> t a.ill. last Saturday on the engine room floor, having been summoned the previous night to attend some defect, a verdict was return that death was due to heart failure. due to an electric shock. Tt was revealed in evidence that the insulation of a portable lamp that deceased was using was faulty, and tins guard had become alive. • MAGISTRATE GRANTS FURTHER REMAND. DUNEDIN, Jan. 18. Four men implicated in the ring-ing-in ease were before the Court this morning. William Williamson was,, charged with defrauding the SoutlilaiTTV Kaeiug Club of £153. by substituting Willie Lincoln for I/iok Out. James Golding. William Percy Capes and Charles If. Capes, were charged with conspiring with Williamson to defraud the Club. - - . .

Tiu? Police stated that enquiry were still being made, and asked fol -? further remand for a week. , This was opposed by cbnnsfjj* " 10 stated that Williamson had been m gaol for some time, and brought :c----fore tile Court several times, while the Capes Brothers bail a business ,n Cliristelmreli with no one in charge. The Magistrate refused to ham pel the police, granting the renw», an< 1,,il Williamson and Capes £‘2W each „d one surety of £2OO. the men to report daily.

MR MVSSKY. WEI -UNOTON. .Tanimry E . Latest advice to band is that the steamer Makura. in which the Prune Minister is travelling i-s exfeeteil <> arrive at Auckland on the night o Thursday, January 2t. A oi Cabinet Ministers, including 1 Jr Prime Minister fSir Francis Bell). .1 Maui Potnare. Minister <>f Health, and Hon. H. F. Bollard, Internal Affairs, will leave Wellington for Auckland in order to welcome Air Massev. if the Makura arrives to tune the Prime Minister will arirve in Wellington early in'the afternoon of Saturday, January 26,