DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[nv TKLKCltAl’lt—l*l:n PRESS ASSOCIATION.] OBITUARY. AY ELLINGTON, Xovemher Id. Cable advice received hy the Shaw, Savill and Alhion Company advises the death of Captain .1. B. .Jones, of the Athcnic, on Xovemher 8, six days after leaving Balhoa for Auckland. The vessel is due at Auckland on November 21. Deceased formerly was chief olficer cd' the lonic and afterwards commander of the Gallic, Medic and lonic, and on the retirement of Captain Crossland was appointed to the Athenie last Xovemher.

DO.MIXIOX .VXD K.MPIRK. WFI.MXGTOX. Xovemher 13. “I have seen what has been stall’d by the London “Times” in connection with the suggested appointment of Ambassadors by the Dominions.'’ said the Prime Minister. “I know that, to sonic Dominions, the present arrangements are not satisfactory. but in a matter of this nature, nothing can bo done until another Imperial Conference meets. It appears to me. however, that what is wanted is not the appointment of Ambassadors which seem to suggest an arrangement between countries foreign to each other, hut a practical strengthening of the partnership which already exists, which will make the people of the different countries within• the British Empire understand that their national interests are one and the same, and that their first duty is to help eae i other at every opportunity.

AAT.-LLINGTON. Xovemher 13. 'Referring to the statement- reported to have been made by Sir Auckland Gcddes, to the effect that “it often happened when the Dominions looked towards Britain, they found no sympathy, answer, or understanding,” the Prime Minister said: “f have had probably as much experience as any other representative of the Dominions. I can sav that my experience has been that the doors of Downing Street have never been closed in the faces of overseas representative's of the Empire, especially when' they were anything like unanimous in regard to what tin'' had to ask for. On the contrary. I have always found the represent a hives if Great Britan anxious to meet the Dominions in every possible way.”

VOLCANIC RESEARCH. DCXEDIX, November Id. The lion (I. -M. Thompson has addressed a letter to the -Minister of Internal Affairs (lion R. I l '. Bollard) urging the establishment in New Zealand ol a volcanic observatory, lie slates that in Hawaii an observatory was established in 101 I. which publishes reports monthly. In stressing the value of an in-tilit-tion of this kind, lie stales t licit from the accounts of the Tara worn eruption he is ecinviiiicd Dial I lie site and the approMinate lime of Die eruptions could have been predicted with the knowledge that we now possess. Lives could have been saved. either by people: leaving the district in the case' of those close to the site. or by the construction of suitable .shelter cellars in the case of those living at a greater elislaiiti'. Piec nations might have also been imlm-ii in tin- Inrm of Dio con -a run is.ll ,0 ma.l-- 1,-ailing Imitl Du- .laM.--.el areas to sal'elv.

A se-ve-re e-runtiou of White- I>la in I. which as far as we know at present was always a possibility, might send a tidal wave over the lower ground of the- Bay of I’lenty. Mere again the probabilities of slicli a elisaster e-ouM be better i'stiniateel after an observatory bail bee'll operating lor some time, anil the approximate pree-autions indicated.

Mr Thompson stales that the stuely of New Zealand voli-anoes and carlliepiaki'S would cost between! C lit It It I and L'.'iiioi) annually.

i.KCKKY CONVICTED

.WCK.I.AXD, Noveniber 13

At the Supreme Court, Edward Let-key. aged 2 o years, was fern ml guilty of assault, with intent to do grevious bodily harm, to Miss MinnieSalek. who was slabhe-el in Die' back, near Albert Park, on the evening of September 2d. lie was also follliel guiltv of inilei'cntly assaulting two girls ageel live and six years. and also for common assault on a girl age'll twelve. Sentence will be imptesed on Momlay.

A. AND P. SOCIETIES

Cl I RISTCTI FR( 11, November 13.

At a meeting ol representaitvos ol assoeialions lie'bl yesli'r-eve it was de'eideel to form a Federation of South Islaiul Agrie-iiltural anil Pastoral Assoeialioiis, though some present contended that a Royal Society coiilel earrv out everything the leeleratiou iueludoil in its objects.

I AR.M El! INMERED

CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 13

\Y. Gaby, ti farmer of Rangilal-a recoiveel injuries to his heael, face ami arms when a burning beam fell on him as lie was se?ar*Tiing his blazing house' lor valuable' papers. Gaby was elrag<md to safety by a neighbouring lar-

A .1 ERA' DISMISSED

rxrsFAi. dknofement.

AUCKLAND. Xoveillber 13

There was an iinexpi'i tcel ili nouenu-nt at the' Supreme Court in the trial <>• John Frederick Davis Telford, on a charge of rale. It was leaitieel that one of the jurymen was a biv.thor-in-law of the accuse.l. The trial c-olli-niencod yesterday niorning. Conns.'l for tlu> defence had rompleteel his address to the jury this morning ere anything untowarel had oeeiirroil. At this stag*'. Air Meredith (Crown Prosecutor) intimated that certain knuwleelgo .should come to the' oars of 11 is Honour, leioio was a retirement for consultation in chambers. On his return to the Bench Mr Justice llerelman saiel that, after e'oiisultation with ATr Justice Stringoi, it bail boon, decided the proper course was to discharge' the iury without any verdict being l'otliriieel. The trial woulel be postponed till next session. Ai-eiised was allowed bail of £-*CO. anil was onlereel to report daily to the police. The girl against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed is deaf ami dumb. Die defence being one of mistaken iedntity.