DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

I BY TELEGII 4PII —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] 1 1 WAR FUNDS. ' WELLINGTON, August 13. 1 In furtherance ot the policy which ' has been maintained since shortly alter ' the conclusion of the war lour patri- ■' otic societies were closed by the trails- [ for of funds to provincial centres, '■ three were closed h.v the disbursement I of fluids, and two funds, living Return- jed Soldiers' \ lull building funds, were 1 brought within the provisions ot the 1 Act. It is hoped to make further pro- 1 gross in carrying out the policy of 1 amalgamation ol the smaller funds < with the provincial centres, which will 1 eventually enable a uniform basis for J administration of relict and assistance to We lorinulated. Excluding funds held by tho National War Funds Council the sum of L ] .238, Kill, as shown by the latest 1 returns, is held by eighty-tour sooic- • - tics operating unucr the provisions ot the Act. The amount is distributed as follows :—Thirty-three incorporated societies “917.177, eleven Red Cross organisations £l-I.7SH, three blind soldiers or veterans’ homos lands £39.603. sixteen administering societies £*>.4*2, ; five memorial funds £5,292, two Navy * League funds £2,Lit. total c1.235,1b0. The National War Funds Council controls £11:1,055. fluids with the High Commissioner to be trausterred to the National War Funds Council £8,615. funds held by the I reasiiry £.51.i.L. | Although the funds held by the various incorporated societies anil Red Cross organisations arc a relatively large sum, it should be noted that a large proportion ol the assets are represented bv loans lo soldier--, disabled soldiers' bonics (Red Cross), farm pro- ' peril iFbecpoiviicr-' Fund) and other fixed assets. Through soldiers breaking down in health, having bad luck or through their reduced ability it will be easily understood that a proportion 1 of the loans will eventually require to lie written off. WELLINGTON’S RECORD SHOW. WELLINGTON. August 17. The Winter Show closed with a record attendance. About eighty thousand paid for admission during the season and the total number of visitors, including licet sailors and others, is es- 1 timated at 100.000. The takings tiro 1 double those of last year, whilst every section shows a profit. FINED £5. v CHRISTCHURCH. August 17. Charles Frederick Wall, a young man ‘ was lined £5 this morning for attemptjug to release an American sailor, who 1 had been apprehended by a patrol. J MOTORING FATALTTY. 1 t WIFE AND TWO BOYS DROWNED. < PALMERSTON NORTH. Aug. 17. Charles Herbert Withers, a wellknown plumber of Palmerston North, was motoring homo alter a visit to t! licet at Wellington at 9.30 last eve ing with Ins wile and two hoys, aged 1.1 and 7 years, when he failed lo observe a sharp bend in the road at the approach on to the bridge at Rangiotu township across the Oroiia river. I lie car crashed through the protecting fence for 20ft. and plunged into deep • water. Withers miraculously reached the hank, but the others were trapped in the curtained vehicle and were undoubtedly drowned. The police and searchers have located the car. hut at a late hour had not tic.-o able to bring it to the bank. A MOTOR FATALITY. PALMERSTON X.. Aug. 17. A motoring tatality occurred at Rangiotu. it being one of tlm worst in the history of the district. W itliors was returning to Palmerston North after visiting the licet at Wellington and mistook the road. The ear tilling; ed through a fence and crashed into A.rotia river. Nearing the bridge across the Otoua river at Rangiotu. ibe road takes a turn towards the rail wax in-idge to the left. The lights of \Vithoc’s car showed the siijjerstrm iure of the railway bridge, ami the driver apparently was deceived nod turned to the left instead of keeping ahead to cross the road bridge. Between the -.wo bridges is a picket touee guarding the approach to the river bank. It was tbis fence the car crashed through, plunging to the river lied. As the tin left the hank Withers still remained at the wheel, his wife and two boys being in the rear seats. Withers groped around under the water tor bis wife and boys unsuccessfully, and then coming to the surface fougot bis way to the bank of the river thirty feet below the scene of tho fatality. Willing helpers were soon on the scene, and assisted the distressed husband. Efforts were at once made lo rescue, but were unsuccessful, the depth of water being ’ 12 to 14 feet. The cat tins eventually * secured and fastened to the bank, bu. . could not be raised. This morning the 5 car was rained from tho water but the bodies of the victims were not inside. It is presumed they bad been washed out or else fought their way out when the car fell into tTie river, and have been washed downstream. A search is in progress. i A RESIGNATION. - WELLINGTON, August 17. Mr IT. E. Combs is resigning the permanent secretaryship of the Post f and Telegraph Officers Association, - after nine years’ service. Efforts to net him to reconsider the matter were

J unavailing but it is understood the resignation does not take effect for some t ime. NEW CHURCH OPENED. FEILDIXG. August 17. Archbishop Redwood yesterday blessed and opened the new Roman 'Catholic Church-(.St. Brigids) in Fcilding, a I beautiful edifice of gothic design, that | cost over eight thousand. BETTER UNDERSTANDING’. AUCKLAND, August 17. The American sailors and Auckland citizens have been getting together more during the past two days. Undoubtedly the sporting atmosphere at .'Ellerslie and various football jpmlcs contributed to this increase of .goodfellowship. Another favouring factor has been 11 so bright weather. Most people found it impossible to be 4 ‘hail fellow, well met” in the wot days that followed the Fleet’s arrival but Under the spring sun iL lias been quite another matter mid acquaintance was at once made. Roth visitors and hosts have found each other surprisingly : good fellows and they cannot understand bow they have been so long in i finding a fricndlv looting. With relations so happily® adjusted the second week of the Fleet’s visit should be more auspicious than the first. WOOL WORKS FIRE. GISBORNE, August 17. A fire destroyed wool scouring works at Matawhern including a large plant and 160 bales of wool. The works were owned by F. Hall and occupied bv E. •). Jones.