DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PKIt press association. KNOCKED DOWN BY TAXI. AUCKLAND, May 11. A woman about forty, not vet identified, died in the hospital, to which she was admitted unconscious as a result of being knocked down by a taxi at 11 p.m. yesterday. ABORTION CHARGE. DUNEDIN, May 12. At the second hearing of the charge against William Michael Wilkinson, of supplying a noxious thing with intent to proeure abortion, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was acquitted.

A DAIRY FARMER.*- PROTEST FIELDING. Mav 9.

At the annual meeting of the Dairy Farmers’ Union to-day, the chairman Mr R. Coblie, said that d dry farmers were apt to think that matters like foreign exchange were out of their province, but he would show how this affected every farmer in the Dominion. Up to February, 1922, demand drafts on London stood at par. In that month the* rate was os, and il went to IDs in April, to los in .May to 25s in Bepteinber, and to 80s in November. In March 1921, it went to IDs per dI Ml They were told exchange rates were based on the lluetuatiug trade balances. but a close survey of the trade position d.uriug 1922 did not warrant exchange tluetualioiis from par to .80s in ten. mouths. The speaker suggested that it was due to manipulations hy banking authorities. The dairy farmer who produced I'llH) worth of huttcr-lat paid to the banks C2I) in exchange. Ol this amount Cl(i at least was an unjustified charge, for which lie received nothing in shape* of credit or monetary facilities. The* Dominion exported goods valued at £50,000,00 this year and exchange cost close cm-one* million sterling. Half of this was an unfair charge on the producers. A partial solution of the* exchange problem was offered to the* Empire Economic Conference bv Mr F. .1. Darling’s Empire Currency Bill scheme, but tile heavy baud of the financier seemed to have damped tin* enthusiasm of overseas Bremiers for the scheme.

KILLED BY TRAMCAR. AUCKLAND May 12. I.cnncm Raul Ratri. aged four, ran in front of a tramc-ar in Khylier Bass, and was struck. lieing killed instantly the* skull was fractured.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE RESOLUTU.NS. DUN I'.Di.Y. Mav 12.

\ meeting of the im.ii.igeilleiit I*olll- - of lla* Otago loamli of the Educational Institute resoliitioned: (I) This lirniii-li lias on iiiiideiiee in tie* present scale, because th" salaries are attached to a position wit to a teacher. :2) Tip. brawl) emphatically pro-again-l the dc n .■■secl maximum o senior assistants uini.'i the new scale*, inasmuch as this is really the third cut in salaries attaching to these position-; (8) This branch stroiiglv protests against tin* revocation of clnuse 28. old regulations, which has*"l the grading of a distric t high school on hot li secondary and primary dopartmenst. The amended regulations provide for grading a district high -school oil tin* primary department alone. | bus lowering the salaries of assistants in that, department.

CIIAMRIOXSIIIR sculling race. RACE ON JUNE 7th. DARGAYII I F.. Mu) .18. The Australasian championship' race is definitely fixed for June 7th. oicr a course of three and a quarter miles cm the Northern \Yaiioa River. The take of £SOO was subscribed locally. The present entrants arc \Y. McDevtll. George Ceriiti (Australia). \V. Mason (Whaiignroi) Darcv llacßield (Auckland). Inquiries have been made by prominent Australian -cullers, and it is expected at least -even competitors "ill start. MeUcvitl. ( eruti and Mason, are already training on the river. Ilndticld is exported this week.

A .) EDGE'S COMMENTS. WEDDINGTON, May 13. Mr D. ('. Alazengarb, counsel for Dominie O'Connor, charged at the Supreme Court with indecent exposure. In an mldi'cs- to the jury, spoke very strongly in connection with certain leaturcx of the ease for the C rown, lie accused the Crown of endeavouring lo prejudice and poison the minds of the jury. The Crown Prosecutor disposed of tlie matter by rental king that where a ease was a weak one lie expected the weak side lo blacken the other.

.Mr Justice Chapman said:— 41 I have sat on the Bench for twenty years, and I have never heard a ease in which

sin h imputations were made against a ease ill the Crown.’’ He had listened tit the evidence of the police, and they appeared lo have acted with scrupulous fairness. The ir eases were conducted with fairness and with a view to sheeting the crime Imme to the proper person. The jury returned a verdict ol not guilty. A jury had disagreed at the first hearing.

II I'M AN SKEI.ETON FOI'NIL AI'CKDAND. May 13. The workmen excavating on the Bank of Ne" Zealand property in Queen St., found a human skeleton upright alongside one of tin* pillars. The person was evidently buried while the original building was in progress ol erection, about the sixties.

SECONDARY SCHOOD TEACHERS CONFLUENCE. WELLINGTON. Alav 13. The annual Conference of Secondary Schools Association, opened to-day. A. C. Gifford presiding. The Wellington Branch icmit. that the official position of the liist assistant 'a* recognised, and every such official first assistant tlfi't is not in receipt of tin* top salary shall he given that siilary, was carried.

Regarding the grading and reclassification of teachers a motion was earned unanimously expressing eonfidenee in an agreement with the present system of grading, classification and appointment of teachers and strongly disapproving of reverting to previous conditions.

NO A HERE’S POSITION HOPELESS. GRF.YAIOCTH Alay 13. The Ngahere is in a hopeless position with a* slight list to port. There is a very small prospect of any salvage. Attempts will he made to salvage the mails and crew’s effects when the sea moderates. A preliminary Inquiry is being held this afternoon.