DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] SEAAIEN’S DISBUTE. AUCKLAND, Oct. 17. An application hy the New Zealand Federated Seamen’s Union was heard by the Conciliation Council for improving the wages and conditions of employment in the Kaipara service. An agreement was reached on the minor points and it is expected that an agree--nient will he reached on the other issues lie fore the Arbitration Court sits. GAMING BILL. WELLINGTON, October ID. Air 11. IF Sellers, secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference, has been iit AVeliugton during the past ten days in order to give evidence he-, fore the Barliamentary Committee in connexion with the Gaming Act Amendment Bill. The president of the conference (Sir George Clidord) was unable to attend. Air Sellers left for the south hy tonight’s steamer. „ DAYLIGHT SAYING. NIUE ISLAND LEADS THE WAY. •AUCKLAND, October lfi. Niue Island, hy unanimous vote of its Island Council, has adopted daylight saving. This announcement was made hy the Secretary of the Cook Islands Department, Air J. D. Gray, who arrived in Auckland to-day from Niue in the steamer Rama.

.Mr Gray met the Island Council at Aloii and, before discussing with him various matters which it desired to he brought under the notice of the Alinisler, the couueil passed an ordin.uito which provided for the clock being put forward cue hour on October 1 and put hack again .March 31. Daylight saving is now being observed in.,Nme and the island has thus achieved the distinction of being the first portion of New Zealand territory to introduce

this reform. As a matter of fact, the islatideis have always followed the daylight savin" rule by rising with the sun, hut now they will not have to waste an hour each morning waiting for the adminstration offices and stores to

open. , Air Gray found that officials and traders are distinctly in favour of tlio innovation. The Government offices are now open at 8 o’clock instead of at 9 o’clock, and the stores at . o clock instead of 8.

VETERAN COAIAIITS SUICIDE. CHRISTCHURCH, October 17. William (boat, a veteran of fho Crimean War. aged 89 years, was found hanging in a shed at the rear of his house. Cheat was horn m West Rattling, Cambridgeshire. 111 1853, and he served in the Crimean War with the Third Battalion of the Koval Artillery, and was wounded m the shoulder at lnkerman. lie emigrated to New Zealand, and arrived here in the shi,, “Canterbury, m 1 S(>-*>. lie was a carpenter hy ti.uic, ]„il retired some years ago. U the inquest, Cheat’s sou said his father had never had a day’s illness j„ hi< life, and until recently hac never complained. A lew days ago he said he was worried, and was sullen g from pains in the hack. A verdict • » returned of suicide hy hanging while in unsound state of health.

V DEMENTED MAORI. ' - WIIANGAKKI. Oct. l-». The wild behaviour of a stalwart Maori who had gone demon toil earn ed considerable consternation on 1 . u »■»> Road on Saturday, so much so that the alarmed inhabitants telephoned . Un notice assistance. Constable lowoi was dispatched, but when the maniac caught site of the man m blue hc made a wild rush for the river. hen ensued a severe struggle, and it took three men to gel the handculls on the A|-i-iri The latter was In ought into Whangarci. and. after examination by doctors, was committed to the metal hospital, for which place he left hv to-day’s, tram, m a straigiit jacket’ and under police escort. IBs departure was viewed with relief » the local stair, to whom his custody was :i cause of considerable anxiety. H transpires this particular Alarm has been an inmate of the asylum on more than one occasion.

•JTIOmBITIONISTS BROTFST. WELLINGTON, October IS.

The Executive of tho New Zealand l,i< ensin'g Reform Association passed resolutions to he forwarded to Art' Massey (the Premier) protesting against the delay in passing the Licensing Bill, on the ground that it was definitely promised for this year and that the proposals for reform have been liefore .special committees for three years; also that next year there would he no time between for an executive campaign before the general e’.eeUon. N.Z. BROADCASTERS. WELLINGTON, October 18. Brn'Jcastei's want to resume at once, but the Hon. J. G. Coates (Postmas-ter-General) says agreements must bo entered into first and the logukitions would then he gazetted. A WOMAN’S PLIGHT. DFN'EDIX. October IS. On Thursday afternoon a woman employed in an hotel was taken suddenly ill and removed to the hospital. Subsequently, hi view of suspicious circumstances. a search was made ol her room and tho dead body of a newly born child was found in a drawer. The woman's condition tf is not thought to be critical.