DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1925, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELECRArn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOTELS AND .MOTORISTS. A CONCESSION SCHEME. AUCKLAND, Feb. 12. The hotel concession scheme for motorists belonging to the associations affiliated to the North Island ‘Motor Unions is now complete, and in operation. A printed list supplied to all members shows that 184 hotels have accepted the scheme, and have offered concessions of varying amounts. Half the number are situated in the North Island, and half in the South Island. Additional hotels arc being constantly added to the list, and several more situated in Auckland province were approved by the council of Hie Auckland Automobile Association last evening. One member, who had tested the

scheme, complained that at one hotel which had accepted the plan he discovered that only the driver of the car was allowed the concession, and that all the other occupants of his car wore obliged to iiav full rates. It was pointed out that at present the scheme was just starting, hut that later it might be possible to exercise a wider choice of selection. Tn England a considerable amount of inspection was given to hotels before they were admitted to the scheme.

TOUR OF DOMINION. AUCKLAND. February IC. Lord Somerleyton P.C., K.C.Y.0., and Lady Somerleyton, of Somerleyton Hall, Lowestoft, Englajid, reached Auckland by the Makura, after a .short stay in Australia. Before taking his seat in the House of Lords Lord Somerleyton was a member of the House of Commons dor fourteen years, representing in Liberal Unionist interests, North Suffolk and Halifax.

Lord Somerleyton served with distinction in the South African War. He was chairman of the Liberal Unionist Council under Air Chamberlain until the amalgamation of the Liberal Lnionists and Conservatives. He was formerly chairman of .1. Crowrtey ami Sons, Ltd., Halifax, and was honorary secretary of King Edward’s Hospital Fund. With Lady Somerleyton, lie will leave the Dominion next April, returning to Britain via the Panama Canal. Lord and Lady Belper, of Nottinghamshire. also arrived by the Makura from Australia.

While in New Zealand Lord Helper will do some deep sea and trout fishing and will later visit the South Island for ileor-stalking. Lord and Lady Belper will leavo Auckland h.v the Aorangi on May 12. PER SEC L'T lON AL LEG El). AUCKLAND, February IG.

The persecution of a young English hoy, a recent arrival in New Zealand, bv two other hoys aged sixteen and fourteen, had a sequel in the Juvenile Court when a charge ol assault was heard Lefore -Mr Boynton S.M. Complainant, a slightly built lad, stated that he was a passenger on the ferry steamer Albatross from Auckland to Chelsea on January 2(5. The boat had just left Northcote when defend-

ant!and about eight, other boys, jeered at him and called him such names as “Homie.” The elder defendant then tied a piece ol string around complainant’s neck, and the younger one seized him hv the legs ai d upset him. As a result his face

was bruised and was still sore. Defendants tom! urarily discontinued their attack owing to inlerlcreuco by a member of the vessel’s crew, hut they followed him when he disembarked. The younger boy. tawing oif his coat, demanded that lie should light, and when complainant refused he was

thrown into a blackberry hush. In a statement to the police, the elder lad admitted calling complainant a ‘•Homin’’ and Lying a string around his neck. He confessed that complainant had not had a “fair go.” but dciiied 1 .'inmitting the •' ault. Ills companion admitted bis guilt. It was disgraceful that a. boy from the Old Country should be submitted to sueh shameful treatment, stated Mr Boynton. The boys, even if colonials, should remember that their lathers, or grand fathers, were once “Homies . New Zealanders ought to he very proud to lie able to say that tlieii people eame from the Old Country. The elder boy was lined £2. half of the line to lie paid to complainant, and the other defendant was admonished and discharged.

ANCHOR COY’S PURCHASE. NELSON, Fell. IV

The Anchor Coy has purchased from Keeso Bros., Christchurch, the cargo steamers Oropuki and Opua Lo run in the general trade of the Company, which will now also include the trade in which they were formerly engaged. BOV FATA I,BY BURNED. NELSON, Fob. IV. A burning catastrophe attended with fatal results occurred at Newton Flat, '.Murchison, at 1! o’clock this morning. A vvhare occupied by two lads, Charles and Arthur Curtis, aged twelve and IS respectively, caught lire, ihe lads got badly burnt, and were conveyed to the Murchison hospital. The younger lad who received the worst burns (lied after his admission to the institution, while the condition of the elder lad is serious, hut hopes are entertained f*n his recovery. HOST! LE DEMONSTRATION. WELLINGTON, February 17. A hostile demonstration on the part of a number of waterside workers gave promise of a disturbance on the Wellington wharves to-day. hut, by tactful intervention polecmein persuaded the men to disperse without any serious trouble occurring. The scene of the incident was the wharf alongside which the Opawn is berthed. Trouble has been evidenced in the v. oi-king of the ships during the past day or so. When a call for labour to-day was

made, there was no response from the watersiders. The ship’s crew worked the cargo from the holds. The Harbour Board’s casual men removed it from the wharf to the sheds. While they were so engaged a crowd of the watersiders assembled. .It is alleged they tried to hold up the work. The operations, however, continued. After a lot of booing and hooting from the demonstrators, they were induced to disperse by the police who had handled the situation with great tact. After the crowd had been dispersed, the dsieovery was made that a forward mooring rope on the Opawn had been practically severed. The police immediately instituted inquiries. The officnils of the Waterside Work- 1 ers’ Union declare that they knownothing about the demonstration on the wharf. They state the Opawa lias not even been declared “ black.”