DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

DY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRICHT. CAR LEAVES RAIL. DUNEDIN, July 17. Yesterday afternoon a Maori Hill electric ear, fully laden, left the rails and ploughed through the roadway for fifty yards, just escaping overturning. It is surmised that the motorman lost control through the trolley-pole being removed from the wire. The suggestion was made that the pole was removed by a party of students travelling on the car yesterday, which was Capping Day, but police inquiries apparently elicit little to substantiate such a serious charge.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. WELLINGTON, July 17 The fiist annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand i-s being held to-day. Forty members from all parts of the Dominion are present. Mr W. L’erry (president) is in the chair. The Govern. or-Genera] and Mr Massey were elected life members. Tne president said that suppoit was promised, and tlie general outlook was most satisfactory. 'I he Council of Agriculture on the previous day had agreed to hand over their functions and assets to the society. The various breed societies had donated to the Royal Society cups to the value of £320, and cash to the extent of £foß. Mr J. A. Nash, M.l’., urged the necessity for increasing the membership of the society. If they had 3000 financial members, he said, the society would he able to do great Work in increasing the value of the various district shows in both islands. Tho election of officers ic.sulted: President, Mr W. Perry; vice-presi-dens, Messrs J. A. Nash (Manawatu) and R. N. Morten (Christchurch); auditor, Mr S. Lambert. It was resolved that the position of Director-General of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand ho created and that he may be appointed by the council annually.

TIMBER COMMISSION’S REPORT. AGAINST LOCAL BODIES. WELLINGTON. July 18. The Timber Royalties Commission’s report was laid on the table of the House to-day. The report stales it is quite clear that it was never intended that any portion of tho moneys accruing from the sale of State forests was to he paid to local bodies. Any Unifier lauds may he transferred to the State Forests.

It states that the previous sales on a royalty basis must have been very small, and confined to the Soutlila.i district. It cannot place any prospective loss to the local bodies from the timber formerly held by the Law.Department. The Commission cannot recommend that the •‘halves’’ system lit* extended to cover the State Forest lands. It recommends that State limiter sales royalty should not he taken for the upkeep of roads, and that the present system of handing over to local boilics a portion of the tiinltor revenues should he abolished by legislation, ami that future State aid for roads, etc., shall come from the Consolidated Fund.

BURGLARIES fX WELLINGTON

A MURDEROUS ASSAULT

WELLINGTON. July 19. The activities of poisons with burglarious intentions have been the subject of complaint from the householders in various parts of the city and the suburbs. Lately several premises have been entered and articles removed. One evening this week Mr Brookes custodian of the Victoria. University College, returned home, and noticed an unusual noise in an upstairs room. Brookes went up to investigate ami on reaching the landing a. man sprang at him out of the shadows. The intruder knocked him down and serious!* assaulted hint. He then cleared out.

leaving the unfortunate custodian ying on tlie lloor. Mr Brookes' face was considerably bruised bv the man’s list work.

At one stage of the struggle IJrookos appeared to he getting the ttppor hand hut the assailant was the more active and stronger. When Brookes’ wile leturned home ;t little later she found her husband in a. tottering condition. Mr Brookes declared that his assailant tried to murder him. He. then collapsed. Medical aid was summoned and Mr Brookes was found to lie sullering from~T7rui-.es and a laceration on the hack of the bead. It is unlikely that Mr Brookes will he able to re-iinie his duties for sever ll weeks.

The man gained admission hv break ing a pane in the kitchen window thus enabling him to release the latch. No booty was obtained. Parties of College students later engaged in a fruitless search for the miscreant.

MINKR.S’ DISPI'TK SKTTLKD. IXYKRCARGIKL, July 10 After a further conference between he Obai miners and the owners it was mnmincod that a settlement was ■cached, subject to ratification hv tho tliuers’ ITiion, which meets on Sunlav. The terms are undisclosed, but f accepted, the men will resume on ifonilav. Coal stocks are at a low ebb.