DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[tlY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

STAMP DUTIES ACT CASE. WEDDINGTON, Alarch 13

A decision concerning local bodies and stamp duties was given by the Chief Justice to-day. 'l'lie case was between the Wellington City Council and the Commissioner of Stamp Duties, and was taken under Sections 8' and 89 of the .Stamp Duties Act. 1928. The Commissioner decided that memorandum of transfer under the Band Transfer Act was liable to duty under Sec. 108 of the Stamp Duties Act. The City Council contended that no duty was payable, as a memorandum, of transfer was exempt by virtue of provisions of Section si of tlie Stamp Du•ties Act. The section exempts “an instrument of deduction ol highway” from conveyance duty. Sir ID Stout found against the City.

C()X0 RE G A TlO NA L 1* XIO X. TT.W Ali F, March ID The Congregational Union Coulerence concluded to-day. It was reported that £2.782 was available as a foundation lor a new training college scheme, for which it is proposed to raise D'oOIM this year. Rev. .). Gardner Miller (Napier) was unpointed editor ol the Cotigregational .Magazine. I.OAX ROBBS. INVERCARGILL, March 18. Very little interest was displayed hv the ratepayers of Invercargill in three proposals placed helore them to-day b,v ilie Town ( imiicd lor authority to borrow the sum of l'l 10.000 lor a gravitation water supply scheme. U 10.009 for completing” gas reticulation and L'Bsoo additional required for the erection of tepid baths. The first proposal was carried hy a majoritv ol .‘l-)9 votes, while the other two were turned down, .hv a small majority in each case. Only 2051 electors voted, out. ol a total roll number of 5820.

ODDEEBBOWS’ BODGE CONFER. ANTE.

WHANG.*.!! El, AB-tn-li IK

The Grand Bodge ol the 1.0.0.1. has set up a special finance (omm.ittee. the largest Committee ever appointed hy the order in the Dominion, and this body has spent many hours discussing a proposal to extend too sick benefit to a pound a week for fiflylwo weeks and ten shillings per week thereafter, this benefit In dale Bom the enrolment of the member. The Committee will report to-morrow.

The Grand Dodge passed a resolution expressing deep appreciation ol the lifelong services of Past GrandBrother William Reid i Dunedin), Consulting Grand Secretary. Brother 11. G. Adams; Grand Representative to Australia, was elected Grand Recording Secretary, and Brother Sydney I'.ecles, Grand Guardian. Brother Percy Evans. Grand Chaplain took his seat at (he Co life re iii'!> to-day.

A 111! IV AD AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. March Mb Auckland members ol the All Blacks on arrival tit. Auckland station weie met bv several thousands. As they left the platform they were ‘ vluiireil bv friends and cheered enthusiastically. .Mr Frost (President of the N.Z.IMYi informally welcomed the players home and cheers for the team were rivalled by three given when mention was made of the recovery ol Badeley. A civic reception will be given at the Town Hall later in the day. HOMEWARD ROC ND. CHRISTCHURCH, March 19. The South Island All Blacks arrived bv the Waliine and were enthusiastically welcomed at Eyttelton and Christchurch. White and Richardson left for Dunedin hy the first express and Steele departed for Greynioutii. The Canterbury men. including Stewart (Timaru) will he riveptiuned this evening. A SOI.K CD CCS ACTIVITIES. W EDIMNGTON. .March IS. In the Appeal Court, an application was made hy Auckland Daw Society to sii ike oil. or temporarily suspend, Frederick John Mount, solicitor. .IBs olfence had origin in the case ol Keogh, charged with the murder of his child. A New Zealand “Truth” reporter made a. .slip in the report ol the case hy slating accused had been in the hands of the i oliee before. .Mount drew attention to the slip, which v.as cr:oueously repeated, and demanded reparation to the extent of £K)'.>, threatening to attack' the publisher lor contempt oi Court if the amount was not laid. Ihe paper I üblishod an apology and also undertook. without prejinli. e, to see whether its Sydney principals would make an ex gratia payment to Airs Keogh, and family, at the name lime denying that Keogh, wlu.se defen.e was insanity, was prejuilii ed by the icport, and warning the solicitor that E Was improper to attempt to compound for a criminal olfence. Atonal admitted in correspondence it was improper to compound for contempt ol vou.t, but threatened to serve piorceilings i. the amount demanded was not paid. be required the inonev for the costs ol the trial. All the correspondence was then handed over to the Daw -Society. Mount tiled affidavits denying his conduit was improper, and also affidavits

as to good character. Air You liaast appeared for the T.:nv Society and Air E. J. Prendegast for Mount. After hearing ‘otiose!, the Court said Mount’s letter v.as impf..per. and if lie had considered the Lu ts well beforehand he would not have written it. I Tiller the tin uinstam ts. however, it would he sufficient to coder him to pay costs only of the 1 resent ,-rot «-etlings.

A MAN KILLED’. PAHIATUA. Alareii 19. A middle aged man mimed St act was killed at Waione yi decent h.» 1 ■ ' sizing of a metal dray. He was a new arrival in the district, and <•<■!> ‘"mmettced work in the morning.

SOI.ICITORS STRUCK OFF. WEI.I.INCTON. March 19. the aoplication of the Auckland Law Society. Lawrence .lames Prendergast. recently sentenced to three years hard for theft and also charged with other offences, was struck od the roll of solicitors, by the Appeal Court. On the aoplication of the Wanganui Socictv George william M.eC mi I " as also struck off for misconduct m respect of sums amounting '•-> ELStXL

FN-SOLICITOR IN TROUBLE. WANOANUf. March 19

Georee AfcCarul, an ex-solicitor, was before the Court this morning charged with having received CAT on March 10 tq-i-l OH terms requiring him to pa. 5.;,;; for stamp duty registration lees of a certain transfer and that h ifraudentlv omit to pay such stamp dutv, and other registration loos or any part thereof. The police asked to a remand for n week, which was granted on bail of self in £'-00 and two of £250.

DR PETTIT CROSS-EXAMINED. AUCKLAND. Alarcli 19. Tn the Dundas AlacKenie case Doctor Pettit, cross-examined, said that a patient had cancer of the rectum and in view of the terrible nature ot an operation he would he advised against it and he would advise the Abiams treatment. There would not be a hope of ultimate recovery, hut the trea - ment would alleviate the pain tor a time, If the disease was in a very

early stage, he would advise an operation and not the Abram#’ treatment, but he would advise that the operation ho followed hy Abrams’ treatment. Ho did not affirm that Abrams’ treatment could cure in some cases ol cancer. The symptoms subsided and the patient. to all appearances, became well. He did not claim to diagnose by the machine alone. The fact that successful tests had been previously carried out had been probably known lor year.'? which had not deterred the profession generally from declaring the method a fraud.

IBs Honour: But that was not the attitude taken hy the IDA!..A. or Air Thomas Ilorder.

Witness began to read extracts from publications. The Judge said he would interpret tho report for himself. A AII*HDE.R CHARGE. RESULT OF AfOTOR SMASH. STRATFORD. Alarch 19. John Thomas -Martin, a midiMeaged dairy farmer of Pembroke road, married, with a large family, was attested on a charge of murder of a young man named Thomas Hendrick, aged 19. who was found lying on the roadside within the Borough at 7 p.m. yesterday and succumbed before arriving at the hospital. A smashed push bicycle wan beside the victim, who was terribly injured. and signs were discovered that the body had been dragged about sixty feet, apparently hy a motor vehicle, which had disappeared. Alter exhaustive enquiries Martin was arrested at midnight at his home. This morning the capital charge was made and accused was remanded in custody for a week. Bail was not r.sked for. A GUARD KIBI.F.I). DBTHAAI. .March 19. Best evening a tragedy occurred at a shallow cutting on the new Opitnake railway line, which was opened last week. Frank Foreman, aged 50. a guard oil the workers' train, was killed and four workers injured. The train was returning with the workers to the base at Kapuni when a cow jumped on to the line without warning. The guard as was usual, was standing up in : open truck with the workmen seated, lie gave a warning signal, hut the cow Was only a lew feet oil and the train could not have been pulled up. The first six trucks were derailed and Foreman was thrown under them. Tie tv.w pinned under the wheels and when dr out succumbed to injuries. 'I he other workmen were thrown out, hut their Injuries were not severe.