DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —PEIt PRESS ASSOCIATION,

VETERANS’ REUNION. WELLINGTON, October 21

The New Zealand Alonnted Rifle Association celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary to-day. It was formed on the troopship Orient in 1001, on the voyage from South Africa.

The first contingent went out 212 strong, and had no reinforcements, and there are IGO survivors to-day in all parts of tlie world.

The loving cup), used on reunion occasions, is an enamel “billy,” with three silver bands bearing tho dates of tho reunions. Tile billy was used by the men on the troopship Orient, which wits tho first transport to cuter New Zealand waters.

General Sir Alfred Robin, presided at the re-union and cable messages and letters of greeting were received from England, Alalta, Transvaal, Scotland itul Australia.

OPIUM ON MAHKNO. AUCKLAND, Oct. 22. Customs officials found secreted under the flooring of a wardrobe in a saloon cabin of the steamer Malicno, opium valued at £llO. Tho owner ol the drug lias not been traced.

COAL FROM THE SEA. DUNEDIN, Oct. 21. The heavy north-easterly weather, though tlie cause of dissatisfied murmurs in many parts, is welcomed as a blessing at Kaka Point, where it brings residents a commodity which is a drain upon tho purses of many fa milics. During the recent bad weather a large quantity of coal was washed up in the beach and residents lost no ;ime in transferring it to their homes. A reporter was informed that one man liad been busy for two days with it Iray carting away coal from tho lieaeh, uid another resident bad secured fifty ‘nil bags. The coal was mostly of good liiality, there being also a little liglite.

Various theories have been put forward as to tile origin of the coal, one is that it lias come down the Alol.vneaux river and another and a more probable one. that it comes from an outcrop of the Kaitangata mine. CIIITRCIT UNDERSTAFFED. DUNEDIN, Oct. 20. Referring to what be desribed as the serious position in which the Church was being placed through the lack of a sufficient number of clergy. Bishop Richards at the Synod to-day said: It is significant that when, at the beginning of the year, a scholarship of £8() a year was offered for a theological student at Selwqn College there was not. one application for it.

It may be suggested that in the circumstances it might be well to make conditions easy by lowering the educational slaulard required for ordination. but to my mind this would not be desirable. To send forth irtto 'ln; service of the Church a number of badly equipped, uneducated men would be to create a source of weakness for many years, and I cannot think that the remedy lies in this direction. At the present time there are men at the University going through a long and expensive course of training to go forth ns medical missionaries. 'I here is something of glory in an adventure of this kind which appeals to them, but it is less glorious to give a surrendered life to the building up of the Kingdom of God in our own country. RHODES SCHOLAR NOMINATIONS. WELLINGTON, (let. 21. It was anoimeed to-day that this year’s Rhodes Scholar would be selected on November 7tl>. from the following candidates:--E. |.\ Graven. ALA.. Canterbury University College. •T. A. Running. B.Sc.. Auckland Universilv College. .T. (). .T. Malfrov, LT..T5.. Yietnria University College. AY. .1. Scott. University of Otago.

HOTEL OCCUPANTS’ SCARE. CIIIITSTCHUIt-CJT, October 23. The occupants of a. number of rooms in the Terminus Hotel received a severe scare early this morning when they were awakened by columns oT smoke. Some made a hasty exit under the impression that the hotel was burning. The fire was in a small shop below, but did not spread, though tlie contents were destroyed.

YOUNG GIRL’S EORGERIES. AUCKLAND. Oct. 2D. At the Police Court a seventeen-year old girl was committed for sentence on fifteen charges of lorgery of withdrawal receipts oil the Newton branch of the Auckland Savings Rank, the toal sum involved being £lO 17s lid..

between Alay 13th. and September 2nd. 1!)24. The evidonco showed that the girl forged her uncle’s name. She confessed that she had not worked for live months, leading her parents to believe that she was in regular employment, the money obtained from the bank being represented as her wages. She paid her mother hoard, and the greater part of the time was spent at the pictures and the library.

TEACHERS’ .DISMISSAL. WELLINGTON, Get. 22. Some members of the Wellington Education Board to-day made objeetion to certain provisions in the Education Act Amendment Bill now before Parliament, with particular reference to tho provisions relating to the dismissal of teachers. It seemed to one member that the Department was given very arbitrary jiowers in this connection. The Board did not have any say in the matter. There was a danger of dismissals becoming a political question. It simply meant that they were getting away from democratic rule to autocrat rule. Another member looked upon tho provisions ns being yet another step towards the abolition of Boards. With regard to competitions held during term holidays, it was resolved that the Board is strongly of opinion that the entry of very young children, say up to ten years, at least, into public competitions should be discouraged. Apart from other reasons, this method of expending the holidays appears to defeat its main purpose of rest.

WATER EIDER S DISPUTE. DUNEDIN, October 22. The wntorsiders’ dispute was continued before the Arbitration Court, sitting in the Supreme Court to-day. The court was constituted by His Honour (ATr Justice Frazer), Messrs Scott and H. Hunter, the Union being represented Cy Air .1. Roberts a.n,d tlie. employers by Air AV. G. Smith. Evidence for both sides having been given and the representatives having addressed tho Court, his Honour said that the Court would get out its award as early as possible, and expressed appreciation at the way the easo had been presented. A great deal of trouble bad been gone to in order to provide the information supplied.