DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[bv' TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A CREDITABLE RECORD. AUCKLAND, February 20. 'Pile excellent record of returned soldiers in New Zealand as regards the repayments of advances by the Repatriation Department was mentioned yesterday by the Prime Minister. Jt was explained by Mr. Massey that at December 31, 1922, the total amount of repatriation loans was £2,330,000. The amount repaid at'December 31. Iwas no loss Ilian £1.381,457. or over 71 per cent of the. total Mini a I-

vimced. “I think," said the Prime Minister, “that this i-. very sntisfnetc.iy and speaks volumes for the high principles of the men who borrowed tii- money from the Government for the purpose of obtaining their tools ol unde, establishing small businesses, and furnishing their homes. It is a creditable round.''

RACE DAY INCIDENT. VISITOR AND VAIX EIXSS CHEQUE. WANGANUI, February 20. Rowland Wentworth Baddely, of Aut bland, aged twenty-two, was olui'gecl on four informations with false pretences by means of valueless cheques, which included one for £l2O in favour of the Kgmom Racing Club on February 7. In addition ill roe Auckland charges were read out. but withdrawn iiy the police. Edwin Percy Cox. acting seeietnix f-! the Eguiont Racing Club, said tlml mi the evening | rior to tbe recent race-

meeting accused came to his office, stating lie a visitor from Auckland'. He preseiiled his business card and requested a complimentary ticket lor the races. This was given. Accused next nay on the course asked for a commission hook, Mating lie usually u.-etl one. Ac the time, witness believed accused to be a person of the same name v. Imm •V knew to be financially sound. Witin s.s gave him a cuminis-imi book, with a limit of £SO. in exchange for .his cheque, baler in the clay, accused called on witness and asked if lie could substitute a cheque for £IOO. On February Bth. accused came to the town (Alice and ask for bis statement. Witire.«„ told him lie had not yet received it from flic totalisator people. Accused stated lie did not. think £IOO Would cover his account, lie then requested a return of the £IOO thci'iue. and siibsiii uted this wifli an open cheque on an Auckland bank. On receiving i In* totalisator statement witness found that accused's account would be £ 120. Accused's cheque was li'hcl ill for that amount, plus it.- exchange. AY it ness later leccivcd a Idler Doi’i accused at Auckland, requesting witness to scud him a statement of hiaccount before presenting tile cheque. Witness sent a telegram advising that l Hi* lei ter had arrived too late. and that the cheque had been presented Pi' same day by witness ulm banked at Havera. The cheque bad not been met. In answer to Air Cohen witness srid 0 did not oei'ur to him to refer to other Auckland visitir.s present as la accused's .-landing. When accu-ed. ink! witness that the £SO cheque would not carry him through did it not occur to witness to made- some inquiries h Wit lies- said that £SO v.a- not a A'-' used pleaded guilty jo all oluuge-ai-d was commuted to the S ( i),reii e I ' art here 10-morrov. for sentence DR. R EDWODD’S ./['BILLF A ELLINGTON. February 27. the ceiebration ~f .Aichbbhop K -d----»d's jubilee was continued to-day. ’Hu's afternoon tlioie was the (Ini d' ell's reception at the Town Hall I he schools ol the city suburbs and fbiprevince were represented. An addn ■ •"as preseuied by ihe schools of the arcl.-dioiese. Dr. Redwood, in returning thanks took occasion to , i ress the impoHdwe of religious education. He described Godless education as the enemy el New Zealand. He highly praised t *c great work which laid been done among the child'eu by ihe priests, nuns, am! brothers.

’. CROSSING (. Obj.ISfON. Cii EI.STC'i I I RC'l.l . 1-Vb. 27. A (aider named ilielmrd Collins, resuing ar. Sydenham, was sen mslv injured at Waltham railv-av crossing. !*,. was taking his drav over the crossing wimn an engine was shunting .some 1 1- neks. A truck laden with timber, struck his dray with it was knocked over. Colim- was buried under the timber and the true!;, and when extricated lie had his arm lacerated, and his loot injured, and other injuries, lie was taken to the hospital in a serious cutti I it ion.

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. WELLINGTON. Feh. 25

Ail is quiet for the moment in r«> gard to the threatened trouble v.it! the railway men. Now that the Minister hit:; returned to Wellingt on. it i expected that negotiations will he resumed.

ft is stated by some iailwa’-mon that the negotiations will he on the basis of an increase of pay. conditionally upon reverting to the IS hour week. This might lie a solution of the present difficulties in the way of increases.

SHEEP STEALING. NAPIER. Fell. 27

Robert McGregor, farm manager, was found guilty at the Supreme Court to-day, after two days’ hearing, on a charge ol slealinf 17.*> sheep, valued at £172 His, the property of Waiter Charles Ensure, fanner, of Afangatutu. The evidence showed that Ensure owned 73,00(7 acres nr Mangntutu. and rail about 70.C00 sheep. Accused was part owner of a farm cn Rukefitiri Road (Little Rush) and also managed a property of 18,000 acres at Hawkestone, situated between Ensore’s property and that in which accused was interested. The prosecution suggested that il was across Hnwkostone that the aroused drove the sheep from Ensore's place to his own. Ensure put 250 sheep in a certain paddock, and noticing that the number seemed to decrease put in a further 95. He later found that 150 had disappeared and some of these he saw on the accused's property, on making a visit there. A detective visited Hawkestone and ordered a muster, and among the sheep were 175 two-tooth ewes belonging to Ensure, with an added oar mark. Accused was remanded for sentence.

AVCKLAX D 1 XQE'I RV. AUCKLAND, Feb. 27. An enquiry has been held into the deaths from puerperal septicaemia at several Auckland hospitals. Dr Makgill. Advisory Medical Officer to the Health Department, gave evidence that in view of the extent of the district, it was physically impossible for the District Medical Officer or the staff to adequately supervise the private hospitals, and it was .still less possible to keep in touch with the work of the private hospitals and to give co-ordinated supervision as at the jPubliie Hospitals. The Department was the first to feel the pruning knife, and in his 23 years’ service, he could not -remember when it had not been struggling to overtake the work for which its staff was inadequate. The inquiry was adjourned.