DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ALLEGED SHORT-PAID DEATH DUTY. DUNEDIN, Feb. 21. A ease in which the executors of the will of the late Daniel Hayes, the well-known draper, Dunedin, were sued hv the Cotnissioner of Stamps for .CB.-111 for alleged short, paid death duty, was before the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Justice Sim presiding. Evidence was given on both sides and the defendant's case not being finished tit a late hour, an adjournment was made till to-morrow.

Tlie real point involved Is as to the value of the shares, etc., ami the hearing the slump of 1021 had upon tlie stocks. The defence contends thatthe method of valuation was incorrect. inasmuch as market value was not taken as the basis; also that the depreciation ot goods iu stock iu the -lump year had not been completely taken into consideration.

MARTIN CONVICTED.

ON FOUR CHARGES

CHRISTCHURCH, Feh. 22. In ll l c Martin ease, alter hearing

counsel and llis Honour, the jury retired, Two hours later, the jury returned with a verdict of “guilty” oil imir counts »i theft of the funds of the linkers’ Union, the amount involved being L'flffiT 17s 2d : and “not guilt v” on Ihe other counts. Sentence was deferred till Monday. f'lis Honour thanked the jury for their attendance during the long trial, and exempted them from further jury service for two years.

PROTEST AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Feb. 22. The principle of .Municipal expenditure upon social objects, while the relief work is paid for at reduced rates, was (liscus-ed at tt meeting of tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council. Tile subject was raised iu respect In the recent visit of the officers and crew of the Japanese warships, who were granted free transport over the Ciiv tramway system between certain hours.

The Council passed the Inllnwiug resolution. which is to be lot-warded to the City Council: "That this Council protests against the action of the City Council in spending public money on the entertaining of any visitors, whoever ihey may lie, whilst, for financial reasons, it pays its employees on relief work jess Ilian tho minimum trade union wage.” PUBLIC WORKS WAGES. DTTNKPTX, Feh. 22. Representatives of the Public Works Section of the New Zealand Workers’ Association will wait on the Minister of Public Works iu Wellington, early in March, to arrange a revision of the

present agreement ami rates of wage

GIRL’S FATAL FALL. WELLINGTON. Feh. 22

An open verdict was returned at the Corner’s inquest on Olive Scott, aged 2.T. whose I indy, with the nook broken, was found at the foot of the otitis at I .vail Bay.

Evidence was given that deceased was not in the best ot health, and hml been ordered lo lain* ehlovotlylie lor her complaint. The police evidence was that at the top of the cl,lf. where some articles belonging to tlie deceased were found, an empty ehlovodyiie bottle was discovered. The medical evidence was that there a:is nil trace el' ehlorndyno in tie '.jto’T.-aeh of the tbceased.. TJ;e Coroner '.ntl that at (it'd '! Settler! '.kit the nretimslanees wore r.n.smcon.-.. It. looked to hint that deceased might have attempted suicide, but. the medical evidence disproved that, fit tho creumstanees he could only return an open verdict. RIFLE SHOOTING. WELLINGTON, Fell. 22. The Executive reports that, preparations for the Nalio.mil Rifle Association meeting arc well jorward. Tt- has been decided to add two hundred sterling to the prize lists already announced. The price of ammunition to competitors is also reduced fifty per cent., which with free railway warrants, appreciably lessens the expenses of the meeting to riflemen.

The Kiwi Rille Club, of Dunedin, lias presented a special gold medal ami Wellington Racing Club live guineas for the highest tyro aggregate. Special medals have been awarded in the sendee and belt series, and furthei encouragement is given to cadets in the

shape of reduced entrance fees. Cadets have lately been shooting well in various centres and it is expected a good number will lie anxious to jr\ their skill in open company. The imeeUng opens <n Tuesday U'tli. March. The King’s match will be fired on the. following Saturday afternoon.

STEAM Ell RETURNS. WELLINGTON. Feb- 23,

The French steamer (’atomic, which left Lyttelton for Dunkirk on February 14th.. will arrive back m Wellington ibis morning for repairs to her engines. The master ol the ( alonne reports hv wireless that last. Monray night when the ship was live hundred miles out. the eccentric sheave of her low pressure cylinder, broke. U is anticipated the vessel will be aide to resume her voyage early m Hie week.

NEW AEROPLANES

CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 23.

Shortly, three new S.E. 5 A. aeroplanes will arrive front England fot Wili am aerodrome. I bey have a cruising speed of 90 miles an hour, and will he used for training

HARBOUR TRAGEDY.

WELLINGTON. February 22. The inquest on Alary B. AUArthui. who with another young woman, lost her life as the result of a collision between a launch and the harbour ferry Cobar, was resumed to-day. Witnesses stated that the only light on the deck of the launch was a hum-c-mo lamp. , \ F. Merviclunvli, cross-examinee., said' that no steered the launch when leaving the boat harbour. This was the first time he had been oil that launch. He collided with the bowsprit of the steamer. He did not know that tbc launch steered the wrong way. Mrs Dav said that there was no liquoi on the launch, or at her house, v.lieie the party had met. ]-' Williams, owner of the, launch, who'was at the wheel, stated the night was calm, and visibility fairly good. After the collision, the Cobar continued ahead, and then turned and returned over where the collision occurred. Somone called to her to go astern, hut sff.c did not. - Cross-examined, he said that he lw.c beer at sea, and had a master’s and engineer’s certificates for boats of six tells. . p Ralph Noble Dodsworth, captain ot the Cobar, said the night was very dark, hut very clear. The first thing lie noticed was a woman’s scream. Ho thought- it' VAS on?, of Wg passengers

tie saw the launch lit up by the Cobar’s lights. It appeared corning across atrl went on. Then lie heard a scream from the water and immediately ordered full speed astern. At that moment the Cohar’s course. A few seconds later tlie collision occurred. The- engines had stopped before tho launch could foil] his propeller. He never heard anyone call to him to launch a boat. Passengers aboard volunteered to man tt boat, hut he did not answer as ho was tc.ld the launch was all right. Nothing was said about rules.

In the launch fatality, at the eonelusion of the evidence, the Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased, Mary Burden McCarthy, died from injuries to Iter head, accidentally received through falling from the launch “.Mavis” into the harbour, as the ros’.Jr of a collision with the “Cobar”.

MOTORIST CHARGED. WITH MANSLAUGHTER. AUCKLAND, February 22. .titer the inquest into the dealTt of ('unstable Robert Todd, the driver of the ear. James Andrew Fox, was arrested by Senior-Sergeant Rattle, mi a charge that on the 14th. day of November last, he did cause the death of Todd, thereby committing manslaughter. Accused was brought before Mr Hunt B.Mi this afternoon. tvTien counsel for iireii.seil applied for a remand until toini i row. This was granted, accused belt a allowed his liberty iu the. meantime.