DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1924, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TKLKCItArU —PEH rRES.T ASSOCIATION.]

OREA AGROUND. AT CA PE FAR WE Id/ NEDSOX, November 18. The Titoki which passed Cape Fare well this morning reports sighting the Opua aground five miles cast of Fare well light. Assistance was not accepted. Capt. Viekernian of the Titoki Is of the opinion that the Opua will float off with the rising tide. The lighthouse inis communicated with hut owing to the thick weather the stranded vessel could not lie won. THOUGHT TO HAVE FLOATED OFF. NELSON, November 18. Farewell Spit reports the weather is still hazy, but to a certain extent, a clear vision was obtained but there was no sign of the Opua. A vessel passed the Spit at 11.1’/' a.in. hound west and this is believed to be the Opua, which apparently floated oil* on the rising tide. DAG-SNATCHING. A\* ELLINGTON. Nov. 17. l!ng-.snnlching is being practised in Wellington again (says -the ‘•Rost”), hut not by men. Two young women tried their hands at the game in a local picture theatre la-l week, and it was not their fault that they were unsuccessful in making oil* with the “loot.” A Newton lady, with an infant in arms, went to see the pictures. AA lieu she left her seat two girls in their teens, sitting behind her. rose to walk out at the same time. As they passed her ill the aisle one of them humped into her and disarranged her hat without any “ling your pardon.” The other snatched the woman’s hand-bag off lior arm as she raised it to set her hat right, and the dun made riff post haste for the exit.

Although taken * aback by the incident momentarily, the woman did not lose her presence of mind, hut promptly deposited the infant on the Moor and headed oil* the thievse wlm. unfortunately fur themselves, had rushed to a door which was locked. When challenged to hand over the hag. in which was a sum of money and some jewels, the girl who had snatched it at unco complied. The woman then noticed that the other girl had a valuable hair entity in her lmml. and sin- at once recognised il as her own. On demand it was returned, and, satisfied at having her possessions restored to her. the woman allowed the two to depart in peace. FIRE MENACE. AUCKLAND. Nov. 17. “Let a lire get anything like a firm hold inside almost any of the biggest buildings in Auckland, and the Rrignile has very little chance of heating it.” This was the remark made li.v Act-ing-Superintendent G. AY. Avernall this mnrniiig when discussing the lire in Albert Street on Saturday night. When asked the reason for his remark. Ill” Acting-*Sup'*riiilciidcnt said that it was remarkable, ill a progressive city like Auckland, how lew really (ire-proof buildings there were, and how little attention owners paid lo protocling their line properties from the ravages of a lire. “Do you know that there are not twenty linns with valuable buildings and large slinks, often inflammable, who have installed in I heir buildings any of tin- varioii- automatic lire alarms? Tlieie are some lireprool buildings, bill |lic\ .an lie counted on Hie lingers of your bands, and against Ibis there are places which are veritable death-traps. The four concrete walls are solid enough, bill once inside tin 1 buildings you will llml a mass ol cheap wooden partitions, which not only help along a lire, hill are a severe handicap to firemen, who. if their work is to he effective, in list lie aide to gel at a lire. The City Council has a set ccf by-laws governing any buildings which are to bo creeled in tin* city, lint, these by-laws dec not go far enough, and sufficient importance is mil given to the possibility of fire."

DEFENCE CONFERENCE. AYELLINGTON, Nov. 17

Tin* annual eonfereiice of General Headquarters Flail*. Command Stall's, and stall* officers in charge ol regimental districts will he opened al General Headquarters* to-morrow morning, and will extern! over two davs. A number of important matters all'eeting training and administration will he dealt with. Major-General (k AA*. Melville (General Officer Commanding the Forces) will preside. ORDER FOR RAJI.S. NICE FREE ADYERTISKMENT. AYELLINGTON, Nov. 10. Tt appears that there is some mistake about the announcement made in England and cabled out that the Now Zealand Government lias ordered £IOO - 000 worth of steel rails al Harrow. No such order, which represents ten times the .amount of the latest order last year, has been placed by New Zealand and if it is correct the announcement must refer ito someone else as the I fun. .T. G. Coates (Minister of Railways) says that somebody is giving the Dominion a nice free advertisement.

A'A I.UABI.E STAMPS STOI.KX. Christchurch. Nov. u>. Despite stringent- precautions it sheet valuable stamps whs stolon from tlio l’liiliitelic Exhibition yesterday. Tlie police are investigating. As t.ljo total value of the stamps on ex hihition is £.AO.OOd. liieinhers of the committee have heen detailed to guard the building all night. S..S. HAMA’S PI7KHIT. WEU.IXGTON, Xovoiiiher IS. The steamer Hama struck when cuing out of Ixaingnroa at the Chatham Islands on Monday. She began lea kins; had'v under the hoiler. j A message received hv the Chatham Islands Shipping Coy stated:—“Keeping her afloat with diflieiilty. Anticipate compel to heaeh her at Ghana today. Weather very had. Northerly gale.” Hevond this message received hy the Chatham, rslaiid l’ishing Company today. no further news was available late to-night. The Hama was formerly the gunhoat “Torch.” * betting fixe. \YEI.I.IXCTOX. November I s At the Police Court to-day, Jo.in Edward Wicklille was lined Cod. or a month’s imprisonment, for hatting with an infant lad aged, fifteen 'ear!' eleven months. Defendant :s a sildler by trade and commenced taking hcts’o'ulv a little time ago.

HEPTJES TO CHITICISM. PAT.’MEHSTOX X.. Xovemher 18. In answering press complaints idative to the conduct of the recent Royal Show, Afr .1. A- Xasli. M.P., dent of the Afnnawntu A. and . Association), at n meeting, to-dav. said that although some of the criticism levelled at the Association regarding

the delay in the reception of results hy the Press and the arrival of stock was admitted, modi difficulty was experienced in securing stock in time for judging on account of slips on the railway line in Hawke’s Bay. and the late arrival of some of the judges. The Railway Department had dune everything possible, hut the arrangements were much upset. AB- .1. Al. Johnston (Treasurer of the Association) declared that some of the criticism from Christchurch " ,IS inspired hy jealousy, and ho refused to -withdraw this statement. He declared the criticism, as far as the stewards were concerned, was unfounded. A resolution that the stewards confer and report on improvements for the future was earned. JOUHXA I.ISTS’ D 1 S.PUT E. COURT TO DECIDE.

CHRISTCHURCH, Xovemher 18. Tn the journalists’ dispute, regarding the question of wages, the employees submitted the following reduced scale of salaries for reporters:-Seni-or £S 10s; general £7; junior (first year £4 10s; (second year) £•> 10s; cadet (first year).' £2; second year £3; third year £0 lAs. The employers’ assessors retired to consider the proposals, hut. oil returning stated that they could not- agree to them, preferring to leave the matter to the Court, Xo agreement, was reached, and th dispute was referred to the Court

CHARGED WITH ROBBERY. DABGAYHJ/E, November IS Two Afaoris were arrested last night and charged with alleged assault and robin?rv on George Denison, who alleged that the Afaoris assaulted lmn and robbed him of money, and also of a watch and chain.