DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

(by telegraph—PEll tress association

AN IAfPRESS!V.E CEREMONY. AUCKLAND, January 15. A christening ceremony doubly unique, in that it was held on the sen beach and was the first within living memory of the district, took place at Y\ hriroorino last Sunday. AYharcorino in a sparsely settled distri. t on the West Coast, near Awakino, “for the first time within memory of the. inhabitants,” writes AD' Af. C'. Barak, “an Anglican clergyman, the Rev. 11. Coleman, was visiting the dis-

trict on holiday. It was, therefore suggested by some of the residents that .Mr Coleman should hold a service Y hen he was approached Air Coleman kindly agreed to hold a baptismal ser-

vice, as there were several children in the district who had never been baptised. “Then arose the question as to where the service could he held. Mr Coleman suggested that- as a large gathering of people would he present it would he advisable to hold the service on the beach at the mouth of the W'aikawan River. The service had been fixed for -■JO j).in.. and by that hour a large congregation had assembled from all parts of the district, some coining from Awakino. a distance of over twenty miles. It was a beautiful and impressive service, and seven children received the sacrament of baptism. To the fifty people who wore present the ceremony called to memory, the description of the first baptismal service as recorded in the New Testament.”

STATE ADVANCES. AYELLTXGTOX, January IG. The State Advances Department .luring the twenty-one months from Alarch •'list., 102 J. to December JIM.. 1021. authorised loans aggregating £11.17-1,-507 to 12.72 J applicants. Of this amount. £0,025.808 has been paid out to 10.281 applicants for all purposes.

F.O. BANK FORGERY. WELLINGTON, January 15. In the .Magistrate’s Court to-day, L'sinard Clarence Olsen, alias George Clarence Forbes, a labourer, 21 years of age. was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on a charge of forging a pest official withdrawal receipt for £SO. WANGANUI'S FROG RES,S. AYAXGAXUr. January 10. The revenue for the port of YY.mgamii for the past year was £415-1 in excess of the previous year, which was a record. During the year six large overseas •steamers berthed at Castlociilf AYliarf. As a result of recent harbour improvements vessels up to 10,000 tons can now safely he berthed at the wharf.

A carnival concluded for the purpose of raising funds for improving the Agricultural Association’s new grounds has proved very successful, and by means of a stock drive, bazaars and various entertainments .05000 was netted.

KNOCKED DOWN BY' MOTOR. AUCKLAND, January IG. Severe injuries were sustained by Airs AY’att, of Fapatoeloe. through being knocked down hv a motor Inis on Alninikau Road to-night. She died half an hour after admission to the hospital.