DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] ASHB I'RTOX HOTELS. ASHBURTON, March 12. A large party of tourists, returning from Mount Cook, and staying in the ‘‘dry” district of Ashburton, were interviewed respecting commercial travellers’ complaints against no-license hotels. Each one interviewed expressed great satisfaction with the Ashburton hotels, stating that the comfort, conduct and general supervision quite equalled those of “wet” towns of larger size. FOG SIGNALS. A rCKI.AM). March 12. Argument in favour of the suitability of a direction-finding instrument in ( uujiuiction with a wireless telegraph fog signal for the Three Kings and Cape Alaria Van Dk-man were advanced by the Hon G. .1. Anderson, Minister of Marine, to-duv.

Mr Anderson said he bad received the results of the last direction-finding experiments carried out by the Government steamer Tutaiiekai at Cape -Alaria. They supported the results of previous experiments at the Three Kings .and proved that the directionfinding instrument, combined with the wireless telegram fog signal, was one of the most valuable aids to navigation in log or weather of low visability that was in existence at the present time. The results proved that whereas with tlio ordinary type of log signal a mariner could never be sure when nearing a log signal whether lie was going to hear it ten miles off. one mile off. or not at all. owing to the capricious way in which the sound was conveyed through the atmosphere, he could always rely upon hearing a wireless fog signal, fn addition he could got- a definite line on it at the first observation. and thereafter his approximate position by two or more bearings, and by the lead. “I have spoken to quite a number of captains of large oversea vessels.” added the Minister, “and each one has been quite satisfied as to their utility."

THEATRE FOR XKW RLYMOITH NEW ELYMOriTI, March 11.

Yew I’lvmoitlh lias been without an adequate theatre since the Theatre Royal was destroyed by lire in 1!R0. lull to-day the directors of the New 1 1 1yi 11 o 11 11 1 Opera House Company, l-td. accepted the tender of M-.--sr.- I. -Julian and Son, Auckland and New l‘lymouth, for a modern opera house. Ihe building with equipment and land, will cm nearly £lb-,OII'I.

MAGNETIC 1 N'FLUENT KS. AI’CK I.AXD. March 12. The work of Mr 11. Freeborn Jolm--l.ni, of the Carnegie Institute, who lots ai lived at Auckland on bis way to tin magnetic obec. vatory at Wnlhcroo, Wc.-t Australia, is to make investigations into tire origin awl detection of magnetic inilaeuces. .Magnetic storms have often (-rented a serious (list.nili-r.m-i of telegraphs and telephones, and Mi .1 oiln.ston’s mission is to study the currents in the sutlaee ol the earth, r.i'ii try to ascertain what causes them. “Perhaps from our investigations we may be able to warn users of these inventions of the approach of these currents. and preen lit ions may be devised to offset i heir disturbing influences.” lie Mated. ‘ J shall also . study the • let trie conditions of the atmosphere l-.'M id hit It tun■ lx, u : • f\d in > i:!v yoik. 1 la- condition Imm u as Ucs" is cue of the difficultie:- of radio w. oik. and it may lie possible to find t!ic cause for it, and something to ■■ 1 ii.iii;tc it. Our work is really an al'cmpl to solve problems attendant "ii ( arlli current.--, electricity oi the air. and the magnetic cons*it ution of the

ea i t It." fir .lolinston added tittu ih<* Caine diitiili* had a sialion ai Ikgu. and -hares \* i l l l t !tc X--w Zealand Governn.el,! the expense of maintainin'.', the

station al Apia. iu a p.-m-ing reference to the pro- ! o*rd list roiuiiu ica I ob-a-rcaforv a, AuclJatid, Mr John.-lnn mentioned that li’cre were very lew in the .Souther Hemisphere, the hot being at (lie ( irt ci' Good Hope. Dr. .Fair bad (ompieied tin- survey of New Zealand in Htljti. v bill- Ikirtbi'r observations- were load' last year, an,l the Carnegie fiisii•i:;c (Iu! not intend to make any iku-

MIRACFI.Ors ESC Al ' E. A Ft" K I.A N J). March 12. I hiving along Quay M-ert ea-t from Omen staect iu an Overl'iml molor-

ar at about I'-.HO o’clock this morning, .hunt’s Cniincil, taxi-driver, who was ■ii his wav to moot the Tournngn boai.

suddenly I-, came aware tin t a good-' my, in wa- ; shunting backwards at ross (,’uay street on to Queen's what I’, lie was then about three yards I rout the train, damming on bis In tikes. Conn'll made an attempt to reverse gears, but bi-lure be could do so. the car

eollided willi the train, and his liglit--1■: i::| mudguard lie nine liililly caught in a truck. The motor was dragged :.l' ng a distance of idaini lliirlecu \cnls to the v. half gales. There, with a crash am! splintering of Mood, the i .11 was hackled round between the big iron gates and the train. AY lion the engine stopped, the ear had practically I cop telescoped, and nothing hut a mass of wreckage, a heap of tangled iron, twisted wires, and splintered wood remained. The whole of the hack portion was forced upwards and forwards,

avid pushed right to the front of the ear The mudguards were tlatteued against the sides, the wheels buckled and one broken off at the axle, and tin. Hoot smashed beyond repair, the only part which appears to have escaped being the engine. Connell had a miraculous escape from serious ini:■ .a . I!" sat in his ear right up to the time when the railway engine stopped, and he escaped v.irhcut hurt ASSISTANT TK AC TIERS PROTEST. AVKr.nXOTOX. March 13. The following resolution was unanimously pa-sed by the Xew Zealand Public Schools Assistant Masters’ Association ...r.d has been forwarded to the Minister of Education: ‘That the Xew Zealand Public Schools Assistant Masters’ Association strongly deprecates the action of the Minister of Education in making any alteration in the teachers’ salaries by Order-in-Couneil. instead "f by a majority vote of the Members of Parliament assembled, unless where a salary scheme lie..s been adopted by the annual conference of Xew Zealand E.T. Failing procedure as above, this Association feels that it has no oilier alternative except that of organising politically the teachers and their friends from the Xortli Cape to the Bluff, and if feels confident that this can be done.”

FIRE AT COSTT.EY HOME. ATTKT.AXB. March 13. A fire which resulted in the destruction of a building used for the accommodation of nurses at- Costley Home, Epsom, occurred at t! o'clock this morning. Two nurses, sleeping oil the

ground floor, noticed an unusual brightness outside, and on going out to ascertain the cause, they saw flames breaking through the side of the building. Rustling upstairs, the nurses alarmed the occupants of the top floor, who escaped by descending a rope ladder. One nurse jumped from a window on to an eleaguus ledge, sustaining a few scratches, but nothing serious. The cause of the fire is unknown. The building is insured for £IB,OOO in the State Office. SOLDIER SETTLERS. GISBORNE, March 13 A demand was recently rnado by the Land Board that the Ardkeon soldier settlers pay up to 23 per cent of their overdue accounts, or the Board threatened to consider forfeiture of the leases. The men consider they are harshly treated, and a deputation waited on the Land Board. The Commissioner said the total arrears of the Ardkeon settlors amounted to £IO,OOO. Mr Beaufoy, AYniron, solicitor, who appeared for the men, said there had been numerous applications. The Ardkecn sections had been cut down to those who had almost £IOOO to start. The Government purchased stock at .‘Ms a head, which were sold to the set tiers at the same price, and later the settlors could not sell at 10s. The men were experienced. They said that it was impossible to take more than £1 per acre off tho land. The Commissioner said that many settlors had taken no notice of tho I ton rd ’ s not ift cations. After discussion, lie said that tho settlers must pay six months’ rent hy April 10. Otherwise the Board recommended the Afinister to forfeit the land. The Board stated that it took into consideration the fact that any revaluation made would only date to July 1. 1021. The majority of tho Ardkeon settlors paid to December 30, 1020. so even if the property were i(’valued, still the half year’s rent was due.