DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TKLEORAPH —rEK riIESS ASSOCIATION.] A VIOLENT WHIRI.AYIND. AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. A whirlwind of unusual violence passed over Howick yesterday morning. A house belonging to .Miss Gill was damaged, the verandah being lifted bodily, posts and all. some twenty yards from the building. Glass in the front door and one window were broken and ten sheets of iron stripped from the root. Five of the sheets have not been found yet, others being located two hundred yards away. .Miss Gill was absent, at tho ’time. BEST SERVICE SHOT. WELLINGTON. Feb. 13. At Trentluim. Major-General Sir Edward Chayior, G.0.C.. presented to Stall-Scrgentil A. .1. Monro (Mattgnmti). the King’s medal, .1.023, for the host service shot in New Zealand. The ceremony took place on the range when General Chaytor, in the presence of Colonels Melville and Why te, pinned the medal on Sergeant Moore’s tunic and congratulated him on his extremely fine performance.

FALSE DECLARATION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. At- the Magistrate's Court to-day a seaman. Harry Ernest Cooke, was charged with making u false declaration as to his late ship for the purpose of obtaining a permit to join another ship. Seuior-Sergt. Lauder said the accused had been on the Muhin, from which he deserted. He went before a .lustier of the l'eaee and swore that his last ship was tin- Port Stephens. He was granted a permit and signed on the Waliine, but was arrested on the present charge. Accused was already serving a term of imprisonment- lor desertion.

His Worship remanded tin accused for sentence. breach of promise. DUNEDIN, Feb. 15. At tla- Supreme Court to-day, boloro his Honour. Mr Justice Sim and a jury of twelve. Ivy Elizabeth Sims sued Alan Henderson. MTallum for £<>t>l as damages for breach of promise t" marry. Plaintiff slated that- she had. at Christmas. 1922 agreed to marry the defendant, at his request, baler he broke olf the engagement. and. through worry and loss of sleep, pbiititilf became ill. and attempted suicide. Defendant claimed that he had never agreed to marry plaintiff, though she had persistently asked hint to do so. On occasions he had asked her to put- the matter olf. because she threatened to commit .suicide. The jury, after forty minutes' retirement. found in favour of the plaintiff and £250 damages were awarded SINGAPORE BASE. DUNEDIN, Feb. 15. Referring to the stoppage ni expenditure at the Singapore base. Mr Massey. sp:akiug at- the civic reception, said la- hoped the work would he allowed to proceed. The weight, of opinion worth having favoured going on. He recalled that Lord Jellieoe in a report mi the naval defence .if the Kinport had emphasised the desirability of this mea.-iire. and th.nl Lord Realty was a staunch supporter of it- He was prepared to take these opinions against- the rest of the Empire, if iw>-

Mr Massey added that the inatier was going to he referred to (lie do minions emieerued by the British Ministry. Those were- Australia and New Zealand. So far as the Dominion was concerned it had shown its practical approval by voting C!<)!/.!» 11) towards the initial cost last session. lie did not know if that v as all Unit would he asked for.

Speaking of the naval review he had witnessed. Mr Massey declared that the Navy was inst as necessary and just -is aide to defend Hie Empire as ever before. The Prime Minister olfcred a solution to the problem of maintaining the peace of the world hv an agreement between Great 'Britain and America, so that international disputes could he referred to a court of English-speaking peoples.

PLUNKET SOCIETY. DUNEDIN. Eeh. 15

Tile I’lnnkct Society approached the Prime Minister lor financial assistance in maintenance of the Kantanc Harris Hospital. Dunedin, and the hospitals at Christchurch and Wanganui. Air Sidev explained that last year a request was made for £'4ooll for till' Karitane Hospital at Christchurch, and £IOOO for Wanganui. The sum ol 03,300 was granted. The society was now asking for the balance ol £llß‘2 to ho apportioned. £SOO to Dunedin and £55(1 each to Christchurch and Wanganui. the balance for travelling expenses. 'Mr .Massey said the Government would not have as much revenue this year ns in past years. Ail lie could promise was Hint if there was any sum which had been voted and not obtained he would see what could he done.