DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1924, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRArn— PRESS ASSN , COPYRIGHT. MOTOR VEHICLES ACT. TO BE ENFORCED IN JANUARY. WELLINGTON, Dec. I. ' Copies of the new Motor Vehicles Act, 11)2-1 are now being circulated to magistrates and responsible officials. The Act, which comes into force as from January Ist next, provides for severe penalties to he inflicted on ntoloiists who are found drunk in charge of motor vehicles, and also for reckless or negligent driving. Every person who recklessly or negligently drives any motor vehicle and causes bodily injury to or the death of any person, or who, while in a state of intoxication, is in charge of a motor vehicle, and by act or omission causes bodily injury to or the death of any person, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to a line not exceeding £SOO. The Act further provides for a maximum fine of £IOO, or to imprisonment for three months, oil any person who recklessly or negligently drives any motor vehicle, in a manner dangerous to the public, or who drives while in a state of intoxication. *■ When the Act comes into operation, in any accident involving injury to any person, the driver of the motor vehicle is required to render all practicable assistance; and if the accident lias not already Ik’cii reported to a constable, tho driver shall report it to the nearest police station. Failure to do this renders the driver liable to a fine of £2O. SENTENCE DEEERRED. GISBORNE, December 5. At the Supreme Court George Delven Ryford was found guilty of receiving stolon property, sentence being deferred. FIRES CAUSED HV LIGHTNING. CHRISTCHURCH, December 5. A heavy thunderstorm, with rivn, passed over the city this afternoon. The lightning was startlngly vivid.

One flash set the dry grass on Mt. Pleasant alight, hut the rain extinguished the flames. The Eire Brigade was called to the corner of Eendalton Road and Clyde Road, where a telegraph polo was oil fire, the result of having been struck hv lightning. MEAT COY’S PROFITS. WELLINGTON. Dee. 5. The Gear Meat Company’s profit for the voar was C 01.061. A dividend- is declared of Is Oil per share, less Gd interim dividend, absorbing £28.750. The aproprintiun for taxes is £15,000 aiul the amount carried forward £20.011. The Company lias in liaiul a quantity of -l-IJ per cent, tax free debentures, which will lie distributed in tho ratio of £1 for each share, by way of a special dividend. TF VC 11 ERR’ SALARY INCREASES. WELLINGTON. Dec. 5. In reply to the Association of Native Siliivilteai-hers as to their not bavin" participated in the recent increases of salary, lion Mr Parr says this idea is a mistake. They are to share with the rest. In reply to a claim that headteachers have as much right to increases as others. Mr Parr paints out that the recent extra vote was expressly to help the lower paid grades, and even yet, if the Department ha- a little to spare, it may la* able to consider headteachers.

HOUSING ACT. DUNEDIN. Dec*. 5. The first prosecution under the new housing legislation of last session came before tbe Police Court, when Andrew Edgar was fined 2!)s for letting a dwelling house within six months, affer obtaining possession from a tenant on Ihe ground that he reasonably required it for his own occupation. WEATHER FOR NOVEMBER. WELLINGTON, December 5. The Government Meterologist’s weather summary for tbe month of November stale:—The weather returns for November again show a* higher temperature than is usual for this month. The rainfall was above average ill Auckland. Taranaki, Nelson and Marl,'orou;*.h provinces, which was owing to the two extmpieal disturbances one at the beginning of the month and tho other culminating about the IStli. These did not account for any heavy rains in other parts of the Dominion, where the records show a rainfall below the average. Westerly disturbances also passed on the 2nd, tlie 10th and tho 27th. hut except for olio about the 10th, they were only of moderate intensity. The barometric pressure was somewhat unsteady, but mostly it was above normal. Many parts of tbe country report warm, sil l iiiv conditions. Phenomenal growtli were experienced, except in some parts wl icre tbe rainfall was deficient. HUMAN SKELETON FOUND. WANGANUI. Doeomlior 5. A human skeleton lias been found in Wangaebii River, Just below Managmaiihu. The remains are believed to he those of William Hvler Vowles, aged 111, a new arrival from Australia, who was seen to deliberately enter the stream when in high flood in July last year, lie was on the way from Wanganui to Maiigumaliu. where be was to take up road work.