DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PBEBB ABBN , COPYRIGHT. NOEL LYONS. LEFT FOP. SYDNEY. WELLINGTON, July 17. After being a fortnight in gaol, Noel Lyons, who was sentenced to nine months for refusing to leave New Zealand as directed under the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Act, was a passenger to Sydney by the Moeraki today, apparently having been released on giving an undertaking not to return.

BODY FOUND. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 17. The major portion of a human skeleton was found floating near the base of Paritutu this morning. It is believed to be the remains of James -Seanlon, who fell from the Sugarloaf on June 18th. Identification is difficult hut there is not much doubt.

COUNTY BYE-LAW. DANNEVIRKE, July 17

In a prosecution under tbo heavy traffic by-law, counsel for defendant contended that the recent regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act overrode the county live-laws. .Magistrate Stout said lie had carefully looked into the point, lie did not think the live-laws unreasonable or repugnant. If he were to hold otherwise, it might mean that thousands of pounds of damage would be done to County roads, and who was going to pay for it) lie must uphold I lie livelaws. It would lie a very serious thing to upset a bye-law at this season of the year. Seenritv for appeal was fixed at “20.

DROWNED DEE PUNT. TAUMARUNUI, Julv 17

Philip Samuel, nineteen, of Nihoniho, was drowned yesterday in Ohura River. Deceased and a mate were crossing the river in a punt aided hv a rope pegged from hank to hank. Deceased was pulling the boat across and when quite close to the hank fell into the river and disappeared. No trace of the body was found till late veslordav afternoon.

A EIRE. ROTORUA, Julv 17

Fire gutted Kensington tea rooms u Fenson Street at 2.1.) a.m. The ilructurc was little damaged, hut the itock, furniture, soda fountain and .•quipment is a total loss. the. shop s in the centre of a highly inllainmible block. The Brigade mastered lie lire within ten minutes.

SERIOUS INJURY. AUCKLAND, July 17. George Clarke, a carrier,- sustained serious injury through the collision of i motor hurv he was driving, with a the roadside. lie is believed Ln be injured internally. An operation is probable.

AN UNUSUAL APPEAL. WELLINGTON, July 17. The Appeal Court is engaged bearing ail appeal against a new trial in the divorce case of Daniel Tranter, of Christchurch, against Lucy Tranter and James Lamb, of Sydney, hotelkeeper. The jury awarded Cl.nOi) damages against Lamb and counsel for ll:e co-respondent moved for a new trial on the ground the damages were excessive. This was granted. and franter appealed. The point of the ease is that it is established in law that damages are purely compensatory and not punitive. Mr E. I). Sargent and Mr M. Cousins are for the appelant, and A. K. Brow n for the respondent. Counsel said this was the first case for a great many years ill the British Empire where an application was moved for a new trial merely on the grouiiu of excessive damages. This is the first time the jury’s estimate of damages was iuterefered with. ’J ho last ease renorted was in 1798.

POWER OF LOCAL BODY. HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ROADS. PALMERSTON X.. July 17. “Has a local body power to close roads, apail from main highways, to heavy traffic?” was the question asked of tin' Chairman of No. 9 District Highway Council (Mr J. Hannah) at the annual meeting at Palmerston North. This contentious point ol where local bodies stand is a matter that since the advent of the mam highways regulations lias aroused an animated, but rather fruitless discussion. The Chairman remarked that he could not give a reply. Even the lawyers were tangled up over it. A member (Mr Drew) said certain, roads in Maiiawntu County apart irom the Main Highway, had been closed to henvv traffic, because they were being “simply cut to pieces. ’ Now lorry owners said the County Council had no authority to close such roads. It wa-> essential that, local bodies ascertain where they stood ill the matter.

After a further discussion, the Chair man said it really was a County mat ter, and they must, leave it at thin.

THE. I INCH OF WINTER. CHRISTCHURCH, July 17

The Trades Hall officials state that 210 unemployed have registered here, and the number is increasing hourly. Tlit're is serious distress existing. \ message ha»s lieen sent to tlie 1 iinie Minister.

more arrivals. AUCKLAND. July 17

The Rimutaka arrived this morning with 285 immigrants:—Auckland “>• Gisborne J, Napier 11, New Plymouth I I, Wanganui 6, Wellington 78, South Island 71, The arrivals include forty skilled farm labourers. 49 public schools hoys, and one family of thirteen increased to fourteen by a birth on the voyage. CRUELTY TO A HORSE. BLENHEIM. July 17. John Peter Evans, a local carrier, was sentenced to one months' imprisonment for failing to provide proper and sufficient food anil shelter tor a horse. Two constables who ordered the beast to be shot, stated in evidence that it was the most brutal ease that had come under their notice.

FIREMAN’S COSTLY JOY-RIDE. .GREYMOCTfi. July 17. Fourteen days imprisonment and an order to pay £t->0 compensation to the owner was the sentence passed this morning at the Magistrate’s Court, on Charles Albert May, a fireman, on the s.s. Knimai. who took a taxi last evening from outside the Opera House without authority, ending the joy-ride on the wharf, damaging the railway lover points and the car. the damage King estimated at A JO. ’1 he accused pleaded guilty. AUCKLAND ’BUS AVAR. AUCKLAND, July 17. The bus and tram controversy at Auckland is not over yet. The Auckland City Council recently excluded motor buses from Queen Street absolutely and its bye-law was attacked m the Supreme Court, when Justice Reed held the bye-law was good in part, but | too drastic and should be amended. The City Council’s proposed amendment still excluded buses on Friday nights (busy shopping night) and also holidays. ’Xmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and such times as the Council should front time to time determine by resolution if the traffic warranted. The bus proprietors yesterday went

before Air Justice Reed again for an interpretation and the Judge held that the buses must be allowed to run after half past six every evening; also till day on holidays. ILc further held that the only occasion when the Council could exclude the buses by resolution was when such exclusion was general and included municipal trauvea rs. It is understood that the buses will begin to run in the evenings of the week.