DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[UY TELEGRAPH —I'ER PRESS ASSOCIATION .’J NAVAL ARMAMENT. AUCKLAND, May 11. Mr Massey, referring to Dominion naval defence in an interview snql that within a year or two New Zealand’s expenditure in that direction would necessarily he a million a year. That would be the position, he said, even if the question of n fortified base in lieu of a New Zealand contribution towards the Singapore project, it would he necessary to obtain another cruiser for the Dominion division of the nav.v. The time must come when New Zealand would have three cruisers, hut it was not yet, hut there was no doubt Now Zealand must consider the development of its past in naval defence.

DINGHY IN A SQ.UALL. CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. A twelve foot dinghy, containing 5 children, the eldest a girl of 13. and tho youngest of two years, the family of Mr .1. Burns, Chief Signalman at Adderley Head, was blown out into Lyttelton Harbour (luring the heavy southerly '.quail this morning. The children were paddling near a jetty at Little l’ort Coiper when the squall cajight tho little craft. From the liarhour the eldest girl. Isabel, managed to row the boat into comparative shelter under Adderley Head, and she dropped the anchor. The anchor, however, commenced to drag and Isabel dived overboard, anil tried to swim to the shore in make the line last to a rink. She could not manage the landing, so she swam hack to the dinghy, and, with the greatest difficulty regained the boat. A heavy sea was Miming, and she was hanging oil to the gunwale for half an hour before a big sea swept her back into the boat. An alarm was given at Lyttelton, and the harbour tug wont t», the scene. At gieat risk the tug was manoeuvred to ■.here the dinghy was tossing about near the reeks and the dill, and the children wen l hauled aboard. In the course of the rescue operatinns, one of the tug’s crew was knocked overboard, but was quickly rescued. The tug’s crew marvelled that the little dinghy had lived in the sea that was running. The children appeared little the worse for their adventure.

X. Z. ALLIANCE. WELLINGTON. May 10. After the deputation to the Prime Minister, the New Zealand Alliance delegates, greeted the Revd. ,). Dawson with cheers and the singing of “He's a .lolly Good Fellow.” in recognition of the way lie had presented their case to Mr Massey. Mr Dawson will shortly visti Fiji and Samoa in the interests of the world League against alcoholism.