DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TEI.KOnAPII—TRESS ASSN., COPYRIdIT. A FIRM. I’A 111 ATT'A, September 19. A lire this morning gutted Merries gagage. Five ears, live motor cycles and ten bicycles were destroyed. The A. and R. oliice was gutted and a quantity of material burned. The building was owned by Mrs Kmily Crewe and is believed to be insured for L’IOOO. Three ears were insured also the Association’s material. FISHING LAUNCH ABLAZE. CIIRIKTC lIURCH, Kept. 21. The passengers by the ferry steamer .Maori, from Lyttelton last night had an exciting experience, when the vessel stopped at Lyttelton Heads, and lowered a limit to go to the rescue of a liig fishing launch which was ablaze from olid to olid, The occupants had, however, escaped in a small dingy, anil lauded at Little Port Cooper, so that the services of the Maori’s boat were not required. The launch was the Wairau, which had been lishing oil’ the Heads. Charles Durham, a well-known Lyttelton ynehtiuan, and hiiiiiehnuiii, was in charge with one companion.

MAIN HIGHWAYS. WELLINGTON, September 20. At the Main Highways Hoard meeting it was stated that the local authorities propose to lake advantage ol the benefits accruing to them under wv .Main Highways Act, which is evident from the number of proposals for new works, forwarded for the Board's approval. As the Main Highways INtinmtcx are passed, the Board hopes to he able to give local authorities immediate approval to pnx eed with construction works, towards which a highways subsidy will he granted. There were several requests lor the declaration of additional highways, as well as for declaring certain sections of main highways as Government roads These have been agreed to in a few eases, where the evidence in favour of doing so was particularly strong. The. | : ,onrd again considered numerous applications from borough councils lor assistance towards the maintenance of streets, which are continuations of highways. It approved ol assistance being granted to a number of smaller boroughs, but was unable to do so in the eases of larger borough?. The Board decided, some lime ago. for the promotion of ollieieiicy. to set an examination lor men engaged in supervising road entisiruction, and surfacing works. The scone ol the cxaniination was decided upon. Ihe Board is having a syllabus drawn up, which will be di-triiibleil throughout New /.calami.

OLD MAN ROBISKD. RALMF.RSTOX X.. Kent. 21. An audacious theft was perpetrated one evening this week. An elderly man had his pockets picked, and a wajlet containing over one hundred sterling was stolen. According to the victim’s story, he had withdrawn l_’l_llls Id from the Rost Office Savings Bank last Tuesday evening. He do «tded to go for a walk. While in the pi ahi jstroot lit* \v:is passing tun men, one of whom allegedly nut. his arm round the victim’s neck, and at the same time gripped the mail by the chin. The old man was too taken back to do or say anything. His assailant then released him. He later discovered that the wallet was missing. The police are investigating. SUICIDK THROUGH I 1.1.-ll KALTIT. GISBORNK. September 21. A plumber, named Charles l-Mwant Hiding, aged 52, a married man. was foniufdead in his workshop. Deceased did not return home last uighv, and a search was made this morning. which resulted in Ids l.mlv being f"""' 1 upturned lank, ami a m'ing urnMiming gas directed ml" I'm (aukFor some time past, deceased mill'-ic; from ill health. INQI'KST ON RON KB. C-UNKDIX. Kept. 22. The inquest concerning tlm death ol Ronald Mct'allum, aged 27. i" "» le.ir boxing.tourney at Riilnicrstun. was opened and adjourned. Doctor Thomas stated that the i.eceased, after falling against the ropes, struck the hack of his head on l m llijor, fracturing the base ot Ins skull. The Ilnur was padded. In answer to the coroner, witness stated Ins op - ion was that if there had been mm padding at tlm side ol the ''ing. ' fracture of the skull would not haw occurred, lie thought that cusloouing round the ring was required. espe< u I. for amateur boxing.

r MiOl R PARTY'S It !•',-( 11.1-THIN. WELLINGTON. Sept. 22. \t a meeting last evening. I resided over by Mr It. T. Brindle. President of the- Labour Party, the lollowing resolution was carried: “Ibis meeting of citizens < f Wellington sends Ii nternal greetings to similar meeting.* now being held throughout the world to exrrc-s our ahh.orrence of war and militari-m and joins with the... in declaring it t > he the duty of all peoples and all governments to stuve lor universal disarmament and calls upon the New Zealand Government to pursue a policy of international co-operation suppert.' strengthen and enhiige the Eea•Mie of Nations, urge a settlement ol international disputes hv arbitration and to support the couvoentin ol an international eciufereme to achieve these I'm i ost*s. M wakatu enquiry. CHISTCHERCH. Sept. 22. At the Inquiry this morning into the stranding of the steamer Wakatu, near Kaikoma. i n Sept. 5. Albert Biggot:. A.IE. said he wn‘/ at the wheel from I a.m. to (! a.m. It was a dark morning and mi-t.v. He received no instructions to alter his course. IMvid Rollins in. captain, said that he was in eommaiul when the vessel stiuck. The e was a thick mist. When he last saw the Cape Campbell light the vessel would lie four cr five miles away. He did not then take a. compass bearing. He did not think it was necessary when he could see the light. ire thought, he was six miles iff land when the vessel struck. The Captain said the only reason he could give for the vessel getting out of her course was that she had been cairied ashore by a strong easterly. ROADMAN'S SPINE INJURED.

AY.MROA. September 22. A roadman. AVillia.ni Norman, <>i Ohinc.paka. was repairing a suspcnsioi bridge leading across the river to he cottage, when the wile gave way am the man fell on l.is head into the rive: hed. sustaining severe spinal injuries He now lies partly paralysed in t-.’.i local hospital.

AIAORI ESCAPES

WELLINGTON, September 20. V middle-aged Maori, Reuben John, escaped from the Hospital where lie was undergoing treatment. At the time of his admission John, who is a driver by occupation,'was serving a year’s reformative detention for theft. The police are now searching for him.

LEG BROKEN. WELLINGTON. September 22. .Mrs Annie AlcGregor, who was riding pillion on a motor cycle at Tamiluki Street, sustained a compound fracture of the leg as the result of a collision with a motor-car.

MR MASSEY’S TRIBUTE. A GREAT JURIST. - •WELLINGTON', Sept. 22. Mr Massey, in lefcring to the late Judge Salniond said his death would b? greatly regeietted and lie would he keenly missed by New Zealanders. Since he represented the Dominion at the Washington Conference and distinguished himself there, his lei low citizens have been appreciative cf his work and proud of his ability. Mr Massey referred particularly to the Judge’s work in the field of constitutional law and his various publications, which have taken their place as standard works wherever the English language is spoken. He had heard Sir John Salniond spoken ol as the a S g-eat Jurist, both in England ami America, and he had left behind it id which it would he well for each and everyone ot US' to emulate.

AMATEUR WIRELESS. NEW ZEALANDERS’ XCC'OMRLISITM ENTS. WELLINGTON*. Sept. 22. In New Zealand wireless, an amateur. Mi J. Bell, of Waihemn. made a record last night by establishing eomiiiiiuieatioii with Santa Rntilo and Long Beach, in California. Mr Bell has been trying for mouths to link up with C’ali-l'iM-iiin, hut never suer ceded till this mansion when lie got into touch with two dill'orcul persons, K. A. A.tmore at Santa Rasila, K. L. Reidnmn, at Long Beach. The ioiivci-satcm between them was lecorded h.v .Mr Shrimpton. the Chief Telegraph Engineer of New Zealand. Air Bell congratulated Mr Atmorc on winning the gold l.mnnorang olfered ta the first Americm to establish ((ini.e -timi with X.Z., and Reidnmn congratulated Air Bell as the first New Zealand amateur to “get over.” Afr Bell’s output of power was 120 watts, yxi t!i a wave length of 120 metres. The Americans used. 150 moires. At the same time. Air J. Hrhell. who ICT for England in the Rorl Curtis three weeks ago. succeeded in commili)i< uting with Mr O’Meara at Gisborne, about 50!)0 miles away. The latter also got into touch with an amateur at Ramins Aires. Air Shrimpton says tlm I two or three Australians aba Died to reach America last night, hut did not succeed. •‘New Zealand.” Mr Shrimpton added, “has now broken tin* world’s record and I 'consider mir amateurs have done more for long distance wireless than amateurs in any o'.lu-r |al l ol the world.” ~

KOUN'D DKAI). FOXTOX, Sentcmher 22. A well-known citizen, A. 11. I leaseman, was found dead in his tailoring premises yesterday morning. Not bavin,,- reiurued the night previous a search was made and the door lonnd locked. Upon entering, it was discovered the room was tilled with gas and deceused in a siiiing position near an ironing gas mt. with a cloth ovei his head. Deceased was a married man. with a grown-up laiuily.

MAORI WAR VETERAN’S DEATH. CHRISTCIIITK 11. Sept. 22. Obituary.— Howard Strong, aged SI, I'ormeiTy iibrnrinn al Christchurch I n Maori War Veteran.

CAR A ('(TDK NTs. INYKRCAKGILb. Sett. 22. An ll year old ho.v. the son ol A. AY. Cole, was ran over by a motor (nr on Saturday af.termoon on the Xmth Read ami seriously injured, lie w;is removed to the hospital where he is still iilit rn».s«-i«nts. On Sunday afternoon a car driven by .lame' Kent.m. traveller far Kemptlinnm and Rics>-er. ■ unsized at l mh-’-woo.l through the bursting of a lyre. )|cii t 1 o i -was piiiimd inidcr the car. and bv 10-al -. Ilentmi j. in i!i- ho ; ini' -iill-.-C.iig ''rom a broken rib. injure I shoulder ami elds. On Saturday a cir containing five pa-- ngers ci.psiz' if at Waiwcra tlnomdi burst and fell down a thirty foul I mil;. A. C. Rerrin. a repmi ter, sustained a. broken shoulder blade, U'vnv mis and bruises. The . thers escaped with minor injuries. The car was hadlx damaged.