DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1924, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

BV TELEGRAPH —rRESS AS9N’., COrTRIQHT.

SKELETON KEYS. ASHBURTON, Sept. 1

An Ashburton juvenile was arrested by Constable AVhitem yesterday on a charge of having stolen a quantity of electrical gear from the store of. J. Andrews, electrician.

According to a police statement the lad has acknowledged his guilt. 'When adrested he. was found in possession ol three hunches of keys, a number of which were of the home-made variety, while others were of skeleton type. U is presumed that the lad entered the premises with the aid of the skeleton keys.

The material recovered filled a sugar sack and comprised many yards oi insulated electrical wire, numerous switches and light bulbs, decorative glas> light shades and an electrical motor. The motor alone, is valued tit about Cl. .In addition there were a number of candles.

It is stated that some of the materia! was given in other hoys, and having investigated the matter the police are satisfied that these Im.Vs bad nothing to do with the tliel't. ’I he n,atiner ill which tile juvenile came to he in possession of the skeleton keys is likely to prove interesting. The lad was hailed out this morning and will appear before the Magistrate <■» E ridtiy.

BURIED AT SEA. W E LI. I NOTON, Sept. 1

.Mrs Ann Mackintosh Crquliart, « third-class passenger hv the It.M.S. lonic from England, gave birth to a still-horn child when the vessel was

sixteen days out from Panama, and in spite i f expert medical attention, died the following day from collapse, and eclampsia. Hath were buried at sea in the evening, the lonic being hove-in for the purpose. The Uev ('■ llcpworth. who is hound to Australia as representative of the S.I’.C'.K., tonducted the funeral service. All activities on the ship ceased while the ccie-m-.iiiv took place.

ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON. Scot. 1

The Arbitration Cu»rt. Mr .lustice Enver (president). Messrs Scott and lliram Hunter, have returned hum New Plymouth and will leave by the mid-dav express to-modrow for Auckland. They will he there fuj- about « fortnight and then will go on to Palmerston North. Napier and Gisborne, returning to Wellington in November. There are about fifteen disputes and a dozen compensation eases lor hearing in Auckland.

LOSS OK THE It I I’i’l.K. WE1.1.1 NOTON. Sept. I. The Magisterial inquiry into the loss of the steamer Hippie will open on September 10.

WOMEN DRINKERS. HEN EDI N, Sent. I. In a iMiliec report to the quarterly meeting of the Licensing Committee, it was stated that the sergeants considered that drunkenness among women was on the increase, especially among comparatively young "omen. COMMITTED EOH SENTENCE. A EC'K LAND. Sent. 1. Cecil Hilbert John Thomson, a young limn, was mmmitU'd for sentence today oil a charge of the (hell, liom Mucky. Logan, Caldwell Ltd., of a • jiiuulilv of cutlery, dock-. watches, fuiicy goods, etc., of a total value of c-_’li:'i. Accused pleaded guilty. Sydney James Eoiey, i barged with re'-eivitig from Thotnpsoii the goods euutuerale:l. knowing that they weie dishonestly obtained, was also eotunolled to thi- Sujiri-iic.- Court lor sentence. EDI’CATPIN CDNEEHEXCE. WELLINGTON. Sept. I

is inn a ci mi < - I vie e edm a I ioiial lie parlance will lie held in Wellington, at which the Minister of Education (the lion C. .1. I’a it - "ill meet the chair-

men ~; Hi,- various Ivlmalimi Boards. I’.-ai’l secret a I ics. and architects. A similar nmfercnre was held l.i-t year. ~n ,| the Minister i- of the opinion llml (lie results fully in-liiicd the expense inn.rrc I.

Asked yesterday what the conference won 1 1 1 discus-, ihe -Minister said there were several important subjects to he discussed. Such eonleiTlii es, he cmi-sid-’iv.l. i-olil lilmted greatly to the cordial relations now existing between the Department and the Hoards.

•'The cost of building still is ox-(es-ively liigii. and gives me much anxiety, particularly in some of Hie bigger centres. The cost ol brick buildings is altogether too high, particularly in Auckland. Last year Hie architects were asked bv me at the conference to make ill rangeineiil s to reduce costs, and results of some value were obtained ip tim direction of making construction lighter in respect to the foundations of buildings. I came to the conclusion that in seme districts the construction was far too heavy and solid, and that a good sound building could be got without such heavy collst rm-ti'Jii.

"One result is tlml the pnrtahle wooden building lias been cheapened, ami has been largely used with excellent results. Recently the Taranaki Education Hoard built one ol those portable sections, which accommodates two large classes at a cost ol L'CitlD. There is nothing architecturally attractive abo.it these buildings, hut the lighting and ventilation are excellent. There are alfuir* other than buildin g matters "liicli the Minister wishes to discuss with the conference.

DEATH OE HENRY GERARD. WELLINGTON. .Sent. I

Kitting a.-, (Tirmier, Mr Rage, K.M., to-day opened an inquest tombing the death nf Henry Gerard, who died as the result of injuries sustained in a m,dor accident on the llutt Road oil August T.'t. ( hief-Deteetivo Kemp appeared for the notice and Mr I‘. IL Aiiynii represented Morris, driver ol the ear alleged to have been concerned. Chief-Detective Kemp intimated his intention of (idling evidence of identification only and applying for an adjournment. There were ten or eleven witnesse, altogether. I til the evidence of most of them would be brief. Evidence wa- given by George Gerard. residing at 10. Sherborne Street, Christ church, that deceased was his second sou. a single man. a printer by occupation. He had lived in Wellington for about ten years and been employed by Watkins, Ltd., printers, Taranaki Street. He was about liftytwo years ot age.

The Coroner: Were Hi- sight and hearing normal r Witness: Yes. He wore glasses at bis work.

Was he a mail v, Im drank at all? He was only a moderate drinker. He never drank during working hours?—Ho might have had a glass of whisky after hours occasionally. Ho took a Mask home on Saturday night, and this he shared with his landlady and a lodger.

At this stage the inquiry was adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on Monday next.