DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TIJLECBAriI—PItESS ABBN., COPYRIGHT.

BOOKIE FINED £2O.

AUCKLAND, April 0

A fine of £2O was imposed on a carter named Claude Oswald MeCully at the Police Court, on a charge of having placed himself in the street for the purpose of betting. Counsel said that on a- rainy day accused got a small Isiok among his mates, really for their amusement. He was not a bookmaker and the hotting was only in a small way among other carters. Accused was allowed fourteen days to pay.

AN INCENDIARIST. ROTORUA, April 9. An attempt was made last night to burn the Pal ace Hotel. The cook, on entering his room, found it ablaze. The walls and floor were sprinkled with kerosene. The lire was extinguished before any serious damage was done, ft is supposed that the inceudiarist threw the kerosene, and applied a light through a window which was open.

THE SCHOOLMASTER’S CASE. IV AIKIN 0 TRAGEDY. WELLINGTON, April 7. In November last a man named Higgins entered the State School at Waikino, near AYaihi, fatally shot two ch'ldren, and wounded several others. He also shot and severely wounded the headmaster, Mr R. Reid, who has ever since been under medical treatment and has been unable to resume duty.

The Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) brought the financial position involved in Mr Reid's ease before Cabinet, and it has been decided that as Mr Reid's full recovery from his wounds is not yet assured, he will in the meantime he paid his full salary—--9445 a year—ar- 1 that all medical and hospital expenses, cost of nursing aml massage, and expenses incurred in travelling for treatment, shall also he paid I a the Education Department. Should Mr Reid he retired on superannuation. as medically unfit, the Minister has been authorised to place before Parliament a proposal lor a special permanent pension in addition to his s-iiperaniiiiatioii allowance. If this proposal is assented to by Parliament, it will mean that Mr Reid will continue in receipt of his present salary. Th ■ Government hope-; these provisions may he deemed a definite recognition of Mr Reid’s braverv. and splendid devotion to duty under the most trying circumstances.

SALE OF SEAL SKINS. DUNEDIN. April 4. A novelty in the way of auctions in Dunedin will take place next week, when a quantity of soul-skins wiil he offered lor sale. These represent the first lot of skins obtained at the Campbell Islands, the lessees of which secured Government sanction to kill seals. The skills were brought here some six months ago, and in the meantime have trn veiled to Hugh" id and back again. A comparison between the skin in its natural stale and when dressed provides a striking instance of the furrier’s art. These sitins were dressed by a world-famous firm in London, a ho pronounced them to he of as high quality and fineness and even size as anv that have passed through their hands.

In the process of dressing the pelt, is pared down to the necessary thinness, liv which moans also the coarse hair comes out, leaving the line tar beneath. This is of beautiful, silky quality, and is dyed jet black. Ihe skins are to he sold in lots, each lot sufficient to make a scal-skiu coat. PR ES PYT BRIAN DECISION. CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. A! the Christchurch Presbytery today n. motion that the Presbytery iiotaite tile neces ary -ten* to amend the Book of Order to admit women as Elders of the Church, was lost, only the mover and seconder voting lor it.

APPRENTICES QCKSTIOX. • WELLINGTON. April 9. Various aspects of the Aftp rent ices Act of last session were discussed in an informal manner by representatives of employers and employees at the Arbitration Court to-day. As a basis for discussion the Court bad issued a skeleton draft of an order which it proposed to make, governing the conditions of apprenticeship.

In a memorandum attached to the draft. Mr Justice Fraser stated that after hearing the views of the l aities, the Court would issue a standard form, of order which would be tliegbasis for general orders to lie made under tlie Act. The geneial orders would naturally vary to some extent from tlio ■standard form, toil the Court thought it would lie of assistance to masters and apprentices and to those entrusted with the administration of the Act il some, standard was taken as a basis. Tlie discussion is proceeding.

A GOLD FIND. BLENDFLU, April 9. Advice was received this afternoon by Mr J. 11. Dudderidge, a shareholder in. the Mahakipava Goldfields, Ltd., that the Company, which lias been sinking a shall on the property of Mrs Stratford, has struck a reef, and that a good lead is Trelieved to be opening up. The Company lias only been m existence for a few months, and it is working on land v.-hidi has been in possession of Mrs Stratford and the Gregg family for half a century or more. T„ "the ’nineties there was a great deal of gold taken out of .Mahakipava. it being estimated that no less than eleven tons of gold was secured m a few weeks. All this was more or less obtained on the'.surfed’ of the valley, and the new Company has been sinking a shaft in an endeavour to locate a deen lead in the valley. It is understood that the direetois. who reside at Christchurch, lmve been summoned immediately to a meeting to lie liebl on the scene ol operations.

tote permit. CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. Mr A. S. Rattray (Secretary ol three local trotting clubs) has received a telegram from the department of Internal Affairs, stating that the Government had agreed to grant a totalisator permit for a .special trotting meeting to be held at Addington on Saturday, May 3, m connection with the visit of the Imperial Tooling Squadron. . ■ , To Kuiti Racing Club to-day vmd the Minister of Internal Affairs as follows: "In view of the fact that the number of totalisator days is h.mttd hv legislation, my Club emphatically protests against the proposal to grant such permits to the Metropolitan chibs during the visit of the Hoot, whilst the nermits available are quite insufficient to provide for legitimate claims of the country clubs who have been applying for additional days or niaiiv vears. —Signed, Howartb, President of To Kuiti Racing Club. I \P.OI-R DEPARTMENTS STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, April 10 The Labour Department reports that applications for employment are not numerous ant] it is anticipated that

unemployment this winter will he nothing like the scale of recent years, though, naturally, there will he more seeking work than at the present moment. Jsut now in many trades there is a scarcity of labour and it is difficult to get work done in a reasonable time.

Tlie dispute at Greymouth was in the No. -I Liverpool Colliery. The Minister of Alines has received advice that the local inspector investigated the matter and decided against the Union. The two miners concerned, on the request of the Union, will bo reinstated. OBITUARY. TLMARU, April 10 Obituary—John Scott Rutherford, of the Opnwa Estate, Albury, aged 79 years. Deceased arrived in the dominion in 1860 and had been resident in South Canterbury since 1870. He took an active part in local affairs and occupied many prominent positions .MOTORISTS AND PETROL TAX. THEIR DOUBTS DISPELLED. DUNEDIN, .April 10. Replying to a deputation at the train on route to "Wellington the lit. Hon, AY. F. Massey stated that motorists could put right out of their minds any idea that a petrol tax might he imposed.

COUNTY COUNCIL’S UNIQUE POSITION. OPERATIONS COMMENCE UNDER - BOARD. AVOODViLLE, April 10. The AA'oodville County Council is in the unique position ot being the first Council to commence operations under the Alain Highway’s Board. The work of tar sealing the main road from the Borough boundary to Ngawapurua bridge was commenced yesterday and general satisfaction was expressed at the Council meeting to-day.