DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

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A FIRE. BLENHEIM, Feb. 3 A lire broke out at the residence of C. 11. Mills, Crown Prosecutor, last night and did considerable damage. Two rooms were gutted and another room, passage way and bathroom more or less damaged. The brigade were promptly on toe scene and effected a good save. Mills and family bad been at the Sounds since Monday last ami the origin is a complete mystery. The building was insured in the New Zealand, and furniture in the North Briiish, the amounts being unavailable.

BARMAN in COURT. DUNEDIN, February !

Alexander M’Kotteriek, a barman, v.a'.-; charged at the Police- Court to-day .... i c h being a bookmaker's agent . Tie v,as found oil the Vincent Jucicex (. lob - racecourse on January o. Mr May. for defendant, pleaded not guilty. Detective Sneddon gave evidence that

fie spoke to defendant on the course, who admitted being a bookinakei s agent and taking doubles. Defendant .-ah! lie would leave ns requested, but later was seen in the vicinity of the totali.su tor.

Chief-Detective Lewis deposed that deloiidnut interviewed him and said he Would “square it up" if the ease wan i.ot brought forward.

Sergeant Murray stated that he warned defendant on December 3 about bool,making, as complaints bad been feceived. Dcieiidant sLined be wa-

iiciithei a bookmaker, nor a bookmaker s agent, and had never taken bets on commission.

When Detective Torrance approached him at the Vincent Jockey Club’s meeting lie accused him of taking bets. He explained that all he had done was to taki the money from his bar customers and put in on for them with the bookmakers.

On the application of Mi Hay the ease was adjourned for a week so that the evidence of the proprietor of the L-ctel in which defendant was working at the time Sergeant Miirrav, saw him could be taken and also tlie* testimony of the man M’Donahl.

AUCKLAND LAWSUIT. AUCKLAND. February I. ‘‘Tito fundamental basis ot the plaintiff’s ease lias failed as against the mortgagee, Campbell, because the plaintiff bits failed to satisfy me tlnd ll:.r mortgagee’s power of sale was exercised other than in good la.illt, and that being so the case against the puichasers of the' property also fail'.” said Mr Justice Stringer, in giving judgment for the defendants in the Supreme Court in a dispute over Die sale of a Oliurn properly, alleged to cont ii>. fifty-live in ill ion ton- ol coal and worth £IOO.OOO. The plaintiff was the Official Assigih • in the hankrtipl estate of Lawrence Johnstone. The delendnnts were the second mortgagee of the | roper!y Rodt ick D. Campbell, and the put chaser- of the property. Charles G. Macimloe and Edward S. M. Wright.

RABBIT REST IN ASH BURTON ASHBURTON, Fell. 2

"Burn the plantation- and plant no others." was ilie .somewhat disgusted advice of the Chairman of lie Ashburton County Council which owns fourteen thousand acres of forest. The outburst was due to brer rabbit, of which neighbouring selLleis, I .irked by tbe Ibm. Mr Xotswurlhy and the Depa rt mental I uspectors, complained. Mr .Yoswurthy. writing, .-aid that two pionls seemed necessary. Fir.-My. the. cutting out of the fallen trees, and burning the brushwood and roots: secondly. wire netting the badly infested forests and poisoning. Inspector Mackenzie, said, that apparently. for every rabbit the Conned killed, ten were bred in its place. He recommemld feeding the rabbils for a few days on wholesome oats and carrots, and tlicu continuing with iho same fare smeared with strychnine in a freshly turned furrow, finally Iniruing the paunches of the poisoned rabbits to avoid destroying sheep dugs, which could safely eai the rest of 111" carcases. The skins had a limited value which was not worth considering. Tie knew two men who poisoned a thousand rabbits in one night bv this method, which never failed. The Chairman, Mr W. T. bill, said that it: would ro-t hundreds of poufids to remove the slumps. They had tried to give away some plantations, but nobody would accept them. The Forestry Department said plant, the Agricultural Department said clean up. but lie said burn up. When all the councillors were dead there bill would he rabbits. It was finally decided to advertise for two poisoners. DREDGE SINKS. DUNEDIN, Fohinury 2. The Cromwell Company’s dredge, formerly the Rise and Shine, sank last night in the Chitlin river. Some years ago iho discarded material from the dredge fell into the river from the hank and last night the dredge picked up a heavy bar and this material staved in the pontoon. The dredge sank rapidly. J 1 is reported that little salvage is possible.