DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

(by telegraph—nut press association.

“SMOOGIXG’ THE COOK.”

WELLINGTON, April 2G.

“If a person goes on licensed premises after hours to ‘sinoogc the took’ lie is not committing a broach of the Act,” according to Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.. when hearing a ease in which Harold Brown, a well-known merchant. was asked to explain why he "as on the premises of the Carlton Hotel after hours, and in charge of a motor-car while intoxicated.

The eviden'c of the police was that Brown at early morn was not in a fit s.ate to drive bis car. He bad been on licensed premises. Medical evidence was that Brown was suffering from rheumatics and was unable to use his arms properly. .Stating that be did not wish the identity of a certain individual t> be disclosed. Mr M’Grath. for defendant, said, “.As a man of the world, your Worship, you know there are times when a man does not want the names of his companions to he disclosed, nor does lie wish to let people know where lie has'heen.” Mr Hunt: Yes. T know from experience. Mr M'Grath: Von have a mate here. The police stated that Brown was intoxicated and did not make a coherent statement. A porter said tin' defendant had been in one of the rooms. Defendant denied that- he had drink at the hotel. The Magistrate dismissed the first charge, holding that the excuse was a valid one. For the second offence defendant was fined £lO. KILLED BY CAR.

PALMERSTON N., April 28. Clive Tweedale. aged 22 years, was accidentally knocked down by a taxicar last night and succumbed to bis injuries in the hospital. OPENING CEREMONIES. PALMERSTON X.. Aoril 28. The Minister of Public Works yesterday opened the new sub-station of the Manawatu-Orua Power Board at Bminytliorpa, in the prose nee ol a large gathering. The Minister of Edm at ion opened a new school at I’lintiytliurpo. A TEST CASE. AUCKLAND. April 28. A test action lo determini' the responsibility ol" shipping companies with respect to damage (am-cd to shipments of galvanise i iron wire imported from the Atlantic Coast of the United States was before Justice lkrilman in the Admiralty Court. Under the jurisdiction of the Supremo Court. John Burns and Company Limited, claimed JN524 5s 2d from the steamer Westland, ol Wellington. as the value of the (leterioralion of 202 tons of wire brought from New York in Mardi IDlii. The Westland was chartered by the. New Zealand Shipping Cov. Ii was explained at the outset of the proceeding that two other local firms were equally interested in the (pie-lion with John Burns ami Coy. and I hat I lie cn:-o was brought on liehall ol all throe, the Court was asked lo determino the legal question of liability, leaving toe amount of damage, it such war*.' proved. to lie assessed by arrangement between the part k s'. The defence filed admitted that the shipment bad suffered damage, but suggested its de-

terioration was due to exposure t>water before shipment, though the damage thus (nosed was not apparent at the time. The Shipping Coy. also contended the damage had been cans-

ed by leakage from tho drums of ea: tic. soda (powder) which had been sto oil in the same hold with the wile.

LARGE SUM LYING IDLE

WELLINGTON. April 21

The lion. !•:. Newman. M.b.C.. wrote to the executive ot Llit* New Zealand Fanners’ 1 nion yesterday, sayilie he understands there is at present in the New Zealand Treasury, and likely to he overlooked, a sum ot about £26,609 standing; to the credit of the nndistriliuted surplus of the \\ uol Profits Fund, •which is the property of tin se New Zealand sheep-farmers whose wool was sold to the Imperial (luvernment between 101 G and 1920. This money is part of the sum of .L1.,619.009 received from the Imperial authorities in payment of the half share of profits made on the resale of wool up to Mareli 31st. 1919. The amount represents about Is for every £lO9 worth of wool, or (say) 3d on every bale sold to the Imperial authorities chi ring the. period mentioned. The sum which would ho received by individual sheenfanners would l«o trivial. Mr Newman considers, and largely would lie swallowed up in clerical work. etc. The fund was founded by the gifts of their share of surplus wool profits from 2630 sheop-larmers, so that a considerable portion of the sum of £26,000 belonged to the fund. Mr Newman felt that the idiocp-farmcrs of New Zealand would he pleased if the whole of the money was handed to the trustees of the funds fur the assistance of the widows and orphans of British acumen.

'Poe union executive decided to support Mr Newman’s suggestion.

P.ORF.D BY A 8U1.1,. CISBOUN K, April 23. dames Knight, aged Id, at Bushmere, was seriouslv gored by a hull, its horn penetrating' his chest. The lad also sustained a gash in the thigh, besides internal injuries. He was removed to the hospital in a critical condition. DRUNKKX ROW. CHRIST: flUnCil. April -23. As a sequel to the disturbance caused hv discharged firemen on the through express from Invercargill yesterday, two seafarers were convicted and lined this morning for drunkenness and breaking a carriage windows. Two others were fined for drunkenness. The police said over forty men had been concerned in the row. JUDOK’S SUPKR ANX UAT LON TAXABLE. WKI.IdNOTON. April 23. The Full Court decision in hdwards versus Commissioner of taxes has been delivered. Justices Reed. Adams and Sim held that the superannuation allowed to a judge is taxable as a pension. Sir Robert- Stout dissented, contending the pension should not he eon sidered as income and .should not > taxed.