DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSN’., COPYRIQHT. FIRE AT WESTPORT. WESTPORT, April 10. An eight-roomed cottage owned and occupied by Miss Munson, Peel St. was destroyed by fire at 2.30 this morning, and the adjoining building owned by .Miss Lempiert, Wellington, occupied by Mr W. C. Johnston, was damaged. The iiimat-cs of Munson's house, Miss Munson, her brother .). Munson and her brother-in-law and sister, Mr and Mrs Deerombe, escaped in their night attire. Insurances on .Munson’s house are believed to he £OSO, and on the furniture £100; on Lemplcrt's house £SOO, and on Johnston’s furniture, nil. Most of the latter’s furniture was removed from the house. HOTEL ROBBED. AUCKLAND April 15. A hold midnight on Saturday, a safe in the Patumaiioe Hotel bar was rifled by burglars, £-17 10s in money, and jewellery, valued at £35 being stolen. The door leading from the bar to the road was left ajar. OBITUARY. AUCKLAND. April 15. Donald Cameron Hamilton, chemist, admitted to the hospital yesterday morning, died this afternoon. He was a well-known cricketer and footballer in Southland, and played wing-forward for New Zealand against Sicvwright’s team. A WAIROA EIRE. W A IRQ A, April 15. A line eight-roomed residence in Clyde Road, occupied by .Mrs Broad and owned by 11 indmarsli’s estate, Napier, was completely destroyed early Unis morning, the occupants escaping in their night attire, saving practically nothing. The buildings were insured in the .Norwich Office, hut the amount is unknown. The contents were insured for £520.

NAVIGATION WARNING. WELLINGTON, April 1-1. The following navigation warning was broadcasted by the Thursday Island radio station on 14th April, at 10. If) p.in. :—“ 'Unchartered rock twelve feet high wiili shoals 1.0 souiliwostward reported in latitude 1U degrees, fortyone south longitude, one thirty-eight degrees fifty East.” LABOUR LEGISLATION. WELLINGTON. April 15. The question of the formation of a council for consideration of Labour legislation has been discussed and prposals are still under consideration (savs the annual report ol the New Zealand Labour Party executive). The function of the council would |,o:—(a) Tile preparation of legislation dealing with the industrial movement; (b) The examination ami consideration of legislation introduced by the- Government or private members; (c) lo convey to the- Parliamentary Labour Partv the united opinion ol the workers of the industrial movement of the Dominion: and (d) generally, to assist the party lo lurcher the interests of the working class.

FATAL DOSE. OK MORPHIA. AUCKLAND. April 15

At the inquest into the death ol Donald Hamilton, chemist, evidence was given that at Lite, hospital deceased said he had had a good deal ol woitv, and had taken several grains ol morphia to induce sleep. He was not in tiio habit of taking the drug. There M-a,, no imiiiat-ion of any .uicidal in tent.

The Coroner found that, death was due to morphia poisoning trom at: overdose of morphia, taken to induce sleep. GIRL WOUNDED. AUCKLAND. April 15. A young woman, aged 20 years, believed to be a waitress, was taken to the hospital to-night, suffering front severe wounds on tfio neck and throat. Her condition is serious. Pedestrians in the city 10-nighl slate (hat she was attacked by a man wiili a razor. Before she could he rescued, she was severely hurt. She was operated upon, but was so weak as to be unable to give any connected account ol the allair. Enter In flic evening a man aged nl,onl 25 .was detained on a charge of common assault. A TR A.MCA I? ROW. CHRISTCHURCH, April 15. The passengers on a Iramcar tra\idling from the city to Kpreydon shortly alter seven o’clock last evening experienced a lively journey owing to the conduct of two men, who attacked the conductor and motorninn. The two men took seats in the front cabin of Hie train, where two women had already found seals. The language of the men became offensive, amt t lie women left the cabin and complained to the conductor. This oliicer remonstrated with the men. telling thorn that they must behave themselves or leave the car. They at once became bellicose and attacked the conductor. The motormaii came at once to help his colleague, and a rough and tumble followed, in which the .glass• of windows and doors were shattered, the car taking on the appearance of having come through a cyclone. The tramwaymen were eventually left in possession, hut not betore they had been unpleasantly marked by the blows they had received.

ft is probable that more will be hoard of the affair, as one of the men was known to the officers concerned.

LABOUR AND THE MAORIS. WELLINGTON. April II

A delegation of Maoris waited on the Labour Conference to-day and made certain requests with regard to Native policy. A committee was set up to go into the matter, and the following recommendations later were presented and adopted: (!) That the first Labour Government appoint a Royal Commission to investigate Native land claims atising out of and subsequent to the Treaty of AVaitangi, the commission to have power to call for persons and papers and report its findings, together with a copy of the evidence, to Parliament. The Commission to comprise three representatives of the Native race and three Europeans, with a chairman appointed bv the Government. (2) The setting up of a. Native council. comprising twelve elected representatives. to advise on all matters relating to Native affairs. The council s duties shall be to submit for consideration of the Government such measures as appear desirable for generally promoting the welfare and advancement of the Native race: to assist in the preparation of drafts of laws and regeulations. or other legislative measures, which are deemed desirable; to submit for consideration by the General Assembly for the purpose of effecting any of the above-mentioned objects, provided that it shall lie competent for the Maori council, from time to time, to act inspecial eases in an administrative capacity, at the instance of tho Government or Parliament.

(3) That Maori members ol Parliament should be elected on the same dav as the general election " f European 11 ’.embers. Addresses were given on bohnll ol the delegation by Rangi Mawliclo I Palmerston Xurlh), Kepa Rooia (Oiaki). and Jolin Morgan AVliakatano). ' i -’ The delegation performed a baka before the conference.