DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

nr TELEGRAPH —TRESS ASSN'., COPYRIGHT. IDENTITY UNKXOWN. LONG BURIED REA lAIN'S. AUCKLAND, August 31. An open verdict was given hy Air F. K. Hunt, at the inquest etmeerning the skeleton of an unknown man. which was found on May lfi during excavation work under the Bank cf New Zealand in Queen Street. A laburer said that he was removing the earth trnm the loufndation piers under the basement nf the bank when he found the hones about two feet below the concrete floor. Air D. X. Murray stated that in his opinion, the hones were those of a male white person, about fil tv to sixty years of age, and they appeared to have been in the ground lor about sixty years. It was impossible to ascertain the cause of death because ol the time the hones bad been buried. Detective Afoiklejoh.it said that, despite exhaustive inquiries, he had been unable to establish the identity of the person, although he had searched the police records hack as far as ISSI and had interviewed residents of Auckland from 1854 to 1870. A man named Thomas Hamilton had disappeared about 1856 and no traco of him was ever found. SPLITTING A BANK NOTE. COUNSEL AND DETECT I AMU GISBORNE, August 30. An interesting sidelight on the splitting of ti banknote was given nt the .Magistrate's Court. Mr !!• B. Hill, counsel for the accused, had been crossexamining a witness as to how he could identify a split note, which ho had handled some days previously. 'lhe witness maintained that he could identity it hy its “general tip pea ranee,” hut Alt* Hill was not satisfied. Detective ALM.eod (t:i the witness): 1 suppose you have not been splitting any notes youiself 'i (Laughter). The Magistrate: I thought Air Ilill might have been experimenting. Air Ilill: As a matter of fact. Detective AM Lend ami I have both split one just, to see how it was done. (Laughter.) Detective AU Local: I might say it’s a very easy operate n. Subsequently the accused, Francis .Tames Hodges, a farm labourer, was sentenced to twelve months’ hard labour. AI A RJ/BOKOUGII PROSPECTS.

BLENHEIM, August 30. Sheep and cattle in this province have fared exceedingly well this winter, which has been exceptionally mild. The soil has been hard for agricultural work, however, and recent heavy tails of rain have been particularly welcome. At Marshlands 27 points tell and tit Pic-ton 80 points. A heavy wool clip is anticipated in the coining season. Dry shouting will commence about the first week in October. •Growth in the Awn to re district is well above normal, the grass having I icon practically unchecked till through the winter. Lucerne* is showing good prospects, although in some directions a further soaking would L* welcomed. Lambing is not yet general. Lilt it is anticipated that, if no Midden cold snaps intervene, the average percentage will lie fully maintained. THE RAILWAYS COMMISSION. WELLINGTON. August fil. Alomhors of the commission appointed to investigate the New Zealand railway management and equipment have almost completed a similar inquiry for the New South AValos Government and arc* exported to reach New Zealand in a few weeks.

Some indications have already been given that the Government, will make com ev.sioits in freights, and it is understood those will not ho delayed until the ecanmissiotf reports.

Cabinet is to decide to what extent financially tliere call ho readjustments in railway Heights and fares, and having given this decision it will lie for tin* administrative olluers under the .Minister’s authority to make.the readjust meats.