DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELKGIIAI'II—Pit ESS AOBN , COrYEIGIII. .MOTORIST Alt RESTED. AUCKLAND, Dee. 19. After the inquest into the death of a tramway motorman, William C'nmp-b'-ll who was knocked down by a motor car. after be bail alighted from bis tram to operate a clock indicator. George Denton, a builder, was charged with manslaughter. A remand was granted, bail «*f £SO being forthcoming. I hi Coroner, in his verdict at the inquest, found that the car had been driven in a negligent manner. Canterbury weather. CHRISTCHURCH. Dee. 22. Follow log perfect weather on Saturday and Sunday the week in Christchurch lia-> opened very hot, with clear weather and the prospects of sunny holidays. Canterbury appears to have escaped the foul weather of last week or so. although there wore occasional showers. ARBITRATION COURT. WELLINGTON, December 22. The Arbitration Court lias filed an award in the dispute between the Now Zealand Masters and (1 Iliccr.s of coastal shipping companies. The only matter left t" the Court was the hours of duty. The claim was for an hour’s clause similar to that in force in U.S.S. Coy. The Court did not grant this, holding that the conditions of employment were necessarily different from those obtaining on large steamers and higher wages were given as a compensation. The “time off” clause was. However, amended to allow lour hours off duty allowed each week to be included in the computation of hours of duty. The hours of duty clause sets out that except- ns otherwise provided, every officer shall lie liable for duty at any time at sea or in port, as may be required. All time worked in excess of ten hours per day in vessels in which two mates are employed, or sixty hours for a week where one mate is employed to lie paid overtime at three shillings per hour. KILLED ON RAILWAY. DUNEDIN. Dec. 22. The body of Thomas Dawson Tate, aged 91. who lived in a hut near the filing I’nint railway station, was found badly mutilated near the line. The evidence at the inquest, which adjourned, showed that deceased was very deaf, and was apparently struck by the siiutli-bniiod train. CROSSING ACCIDENT. LEVIN. Dec. 'll.

The south-bound New I’lymoiilh express, rnlining late on Saturday afternoon, collided at a level crossing at the entrance to Levin railway yard, with a motor delivery van owned by ('. 11. .Marlin, a grocer*. I lie driver ot tinvan. It. Anderson, was earned about 2ii feet and thrown otf the line oil tile opposite side, where two hoys were standing on the lootpatb. waiting for the tram to pass, tine, Willred .Martin was struck on tbe bead by the van sustaining a Iraclilicd skull and severe wounds. He was taken to Palmerston Hospital to-day. 'I lie oilier, a Chronicle runner, Gordon .Milioy. was rendered unconscious, but is now recovering. The driver escaped iinliiiit. The van was badlv knocked about. PRISONERS TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON. December 22.

A touching tribute limit a most unexpected quarter has reached Mrs C. lb .Matthews, widow of tin 1 late I 11dor .Secretary of Justice stud Controller of J lisuns. An address of .sympathy signed by lilty-four inmates of Waikato I’rison was sent through the chief warder. The signatories offer their .sincere and heartlelt sympatic, to Alls -Matthews in the death .it her husband, to whom they reier as our revel end chief. “We have indeed lost a true friend in every sense of the word.” The address proceeds: "lie had our best interests at heart, and he did and was doing his best to help his weaker fellow men. We hope, indeed we know, his liie work will not he ~:st.” ELECTORAL .wT. WELLING'TUN- Dec. 22. It has I ("01 1 1 ' idod that the Postal D--p.ii I iik-iil . to 1 .1 "| ci al ion will, tin Electoral llonai't meat, will commence in tnc lit— 1 ■<- (■: the New \ear distributing explanatory -pamphlets to householders in connection with their registration under the Legislature Amendment Act passed last session. These pamphlets convey the iiilorinatioii to electors ns to the qualifications required under the Act and also their obligations in regard to registration and notilyiug a change of address. Nile pamphlets also deal with irregularities and disqualification#. MUSTE’R-ERX AWARD. BLENHEIM. December 22. Th'e Arbitration Court in the Marlborough Musterers and Drovers dispute lias issued an award as follows, to take effect from Deccniber 29th. this year and continue in lone till November 21th., 1920. Musterers not less than C l 2s (id per week and not less than 17s per day and n. further 17s for any ■Sunday they are required to work at mustering. Packers not less than £2 7s (id |>cr week nr 15 s Oil' per day. Musterers ami puckers require to do snow raking £1 5s while engaged on such work. Youths .learning mustering in addition to hoard and lodging, first year Cl Ids. per week, second year £2 per week. Musterers required to travel more than ten miles to a station, to be paid one days’ pay as a travelling allowance and drobers one guinea a day ami all necessary expenses. I lie await! is not to apply to any worker employed regularly as a farm or station hand who assists in mustering or packing. A number of stock and station agents

are included ill the list ot parties to the award but are bound by the award ,-uly when (ontracting as principals. A SUICIDE. GORE. Dec. 22. Robert Oswald Hamilton, a labourer of Matnurn, a single man. suicided yesterday by taking poison. Deceased was still’- 'ing from disease, and was in a denressed stale ol mind. V CAR SOMERSAULTS. WAIROA. Dee. 22. A motor accident occurred yesterday afternoon on the Moltake Dili, when a car. containing Mr and Mrs Stewait. Mr and Mrs Paterson, and their tamiljes of .Mottthorn, somersaulted down the hill with the occupants who were badlv bruised and knocked al-out. Several were removed to the A) a iron Hospital where they are now doing well. The ear was badly damaged. KONINI ASHORE. WELLINGTON. Dec. 22. The acting secretary of the General Post Office has received advice that the

s s Konini went ashore at Ocean Beach near Bluff at 1.30 a.m. to-day It is stated the vessel is held hard and fust, and will probably become a total wreck. All hands landed safely. A tu«r is standing by. further particular*. INVERCARGILL. Dec. 22. The Union Coy’s Konini of 1 U>o tons (Captain Vint) on a passage from Adelaide to Dunedin, with a wheat cargo nm ashore about two miles from the entrance to Bluff harbour. The roast is rocky and the vessel is considered

a total loss. Tlu- crew e twenty-three were all saved. The night was very thick and drizzling rain was falling between mid-night and two, when the mishap occurred, which probably accounts for the steamer being “ nsideiablv out of her course. ‘ MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. GISBORNE, December 2t. During shunting operations at Makuaka n cream waggon collided with . motor-ear in erasing the roadway the car being smashed to pieces and ts driver, Talbot, with Ins wife and fanv ilv had a miraculous escape.

A MINING DECISION. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 22. The Supreme Court this morning gave judgment for defendant in the case of Francis lledpatli, coal inerehani/, versus Mann. George and Company, a claim for C 3950, the balance of purchase money due under an assignation by Rydpatli of. a license held by him to prospect an area adjoining Blackball Coal C’oy’s property. West Coast. The Minister for Mines withheld bis consent to the assignment and the Company held that it was entitled to repudiate the contract. The Judge observed that the proposition by plaintiff that the Minister had power to dispense with a porturinanre of the conditions of a license and to grant protection against lortfciture lor future breaches, was somewhat startling. TROUBLE SETTLED. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 22. The trouble at Lytclton concerning the signing on of two trimmers for tbe Wnikonuiti lias been settled and the vessel sailed at 11.2.1 a.m.