DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH— rRKSS ASSN., COrYBIOIII. S:\FK-ULO\YKRS AT WORK. WELLINGTON, October 9. Expert safe-blowers are operating in Wellington, a second exploit being recordcil at an early hour this morning, , made to dynamite a safe on the prowhen an unsuccessful attempt was mises of -Messrs K. Clarke and Co., poultry and egg dealers, Eginont Street. The intruders appear to have gained entrance by sealing a telegraph post which stands almost up against the' building, and to which some steps are attached, and then climbing along the roof until the top window was reached. . When a member of the staff entered the office shortly after eight o’clock this morning lie found the safe standing in the middle of the room, and 1 supported underneath by a heap of old \ coats, aprons and hooks, an obvious . precaution to prevent the sound of the detonation being heard. A shattered lock indicated where the charge had been placed, and a further search revealed the presence of a small piece * of fuse. To further deaden the noise the burglars placed a small deliveryhook over the keyhole of the safe. As luck had it, however, the safe resisted the onslaught, and with the exception of the lock sustained no material damage. It is expected that tlio condition of the lock will render somewhat difficult the task of opening the safe. Had the dynamite acted effectively the burglars would have had a fairly profitable haul, since the safe contained about LUO in cash. Their principal effort having failed, the marauders next turned their attention to a drawer which acts as a till and extracted from it about LI 1.-,s ill silver. Singularly enough they overlooked a quantity of threepenny pieces and coppers and £1 worth of postage stamps. The burglars were no mere novices at. the game, as was proved when an examination was made for finger priuts. The use of gloves had obliterated any traces. The surrounding circumstances of the sale blasting appear to connect the perpetrators with the men responsible for the job at the piomiscs of Messrs Carter and Guise, brass founders, of York Street, on Tuesday night. INCOME TAN RETURNS. AUCKLAND, Oct. I<L Victor Rrmvnson. a jeweller, was fined £1(19 at the Police Court today on each of two c harges of wilfully submitting false declarations in his icttirns for assessment of income tax. It was stated that the defendant had -< been evading payment of tax hv entering in his hooks entirely fictitious piuchases. The Department was defrauded of £2ll. FOUND DEAD. : DARGAVII.LE, October 11. A mail named James Andrews, married. between fifty and sixty, a far- ' mer at Redhill, was found in an outbuilding on the farm last night, a case , .:if .supposed snicie.!f>. Deceased, 'who • was a peculiar tempered man, was before the Court .several times during the - past twelve months in connection with 1 a family dispute over some property,' and had recently been ill gaol for contempt of Court, by failure to comply with an order to leave the property on which he was residing at the time of^w • his death. T(. is understood that since - he came out of gaol lie had purchased the land over which there had been ‘ so much dispute in the family. 1 GAOL FOR FRAUD. AI ( KT.AND. October 10. Arthur Elliott, and his wife, Jane "ore each sentenced to three mouths __ imprisonment lor fraudulently obtain- > - ing from the Charitable Aid Hoard ~ goo.ls ami money worth over Cloo. It • • transpired that tin- man had been cm-

ployed lor tin* past two years, earning an average of £1 ]()s per week, "'hill* his wile had represented that her husband was out of work. I here wore four children, poorly ‘‘Lid and it, was not known what the parents did with the 'money. The Board’s officer stated that the children would ho looked after while the parents were in gaol. BABAIAN STARRED. AI CKLAND, October 10. A barman named La it Short, was slabbed in the Aurora Hotel to-llight, dying in the hospital soon after admission. His assailant escaped, but it is underload the police have detained a •nan in connection with the affair. TRAVELLING FEES TAGGED. AY ELLINGTON, October 10. I In* Audit Office tagged the balance sheet of the Alakaraka County Council objecting to the payment of travelling allowances to councillors at the rate of £1 Is per meeting in lieu of travelling expenses. The Council was asked to adjust the matter within fourteen days to avoid the necessity for other proceedings. 'I he Council has decided to fight the case, which is described as the first of its kind in the Dominion. CONCILIATION COUNCIL. NELSON, October 10. The Conciliation Council lias concluded its sitting, four disputes being dealt with. In the motor mechanics and grocers assistants dispute all points wen* agreed to, except wages; ami in tin* hairdressers and Hotel amt restaurant employees disputes an agreement was readied on all issues. \\ hat i- claimed to he* a Dominion record was put up on the* last named, the proceedings lasting only five minutes. SUDDEN DEATH. j OBEY.MOrTH. October 11. Charles Parfitt, aged 38. chief Cell-k----in the office <if the State ATinc at Ihinnngn. died suddenly whi’.st counting money this morning at the office. He complained yesterday of a pain in* the heart. His brother is Alavor of Greyniotith. • '