DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TFXEORAI’B —PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LADY ANJ) HER PASSPORT. WELLINGTON, December 0. An incident connected with a lady passenger to America, and her passport, afforded some amusement, to passengers oil the Makurn, and friends on the wharf who had come to see them off. A young married woman, who lives at Portland. Oregon, had been on a visit to relations here, and shortly after going aboard the vessel, she discovered she bad forgotten her passport papers. These were hurriedly brought in from Island Ray, and they arrived as the ship was about to move out from the wharf.

While tho lady was waving farewell to her friends, she dropped her passport, and identification photograph overboard into the harbour. The documents came out ol the envelope, and one lot remained stationary, while some other papers drifted under the wharf. One parcel of papers was recovered by thc Harbour Board steam launch Htiia. which, however, could not wait to pickup tho rest, as she was required to follow the Makurn to bring the harbourmaster off the liner. The rest of the papers were secured by the time the Makui'a was well down the harbour, and were sent out by an oil launch. As the chances of the launch catching the .Makurn seemed remote, tho Government wireless station on the Tinakori Hills was communicated with, and a message was sent out to the ( aptaiii of the Makurn. asking him to unit for the launch. This was done, and the missing papers were placed safely aboard the .Makurn. NEW JUSTICES. WELLINGTON, December 11. The appointment of the following lustices of the Peace are gazettted : W. 11. Chinn, Tetaho; James Fleming, Lower Kokntnhi ; James O’Brien, Groymouth; W. E. Reynolds, Greymouth.

E ART HQ CAKE DAMAGE. WELLINGTON, Dec. 111. This morning’s earthquake was responsible for the destruction of a- Celtic Lrc-s monument, erected over forty vein's ago, in the Mount Street Cemetery to mark the resting place of Father J. P. O'Reilly, the first Catholic priest in Wellington. The cross -tood about ten feet liieh. It now lies completely smashed up.

A BIG PLEASURE BOAT. AUCKLAND. Dec. 10. An interesting arrival at Auckland to-day wn.s the four-masted auxiliary schooner. Kaimiloa, owned by Mr Kellum, of Honolulu. Tt is the largest pleasure craft that lias visited the Dominion for many years. Mr Kollum spends his time in travelling on her pud intends to spend about nine montlts in New Zealand, being particularly keen to bare some sivord-tisb-ing. The vessel carries an exlen-ive staff and equipment. AUCKLAND TRAM REVENUE. AUCKLAND. Dee. It). 'The accounts of the Auckland City Traill ways tor the la.-t financial year, list | h l, idled. >!mw the re veil re at £001.212. and tho operating charges uid maintenance £!70.508. leaving a cross profit of £lgl.7(M. which is only £GOO less than tho j»rovion> your, hut • "'iiig to tills competition is £IO,OOO : oss than estimated at the beginning of the* year. Capital and other charges .thsorlied £119.702. leaving a net .surplus of £1.912, against £11,585 in the previous year. miners taken ill. OAMARU, Dec. 10. Two miners named Mr Donald and Hollow were admilt'od to the hospital this morning from Kurow, suffering from v.hat is believed to be pOmiaine poi- oi. i ug. CONFLICT OF OPINION. WELLINGTON, Dee. 11. A eonlliet of opinion over the local war memorial is still going on. One project highly favoured was a carillon of hells which, however, was strongly opposed by others. 'Then a separate movement was started to procure a carillon and the promoters offered it to the committee as an adjunct to the memorial. Even this has been refused, the Committee bolding that the funds were collected on the distinct understanding that they were to be expended on a striclv symbolical memorial. CITY MANAGER. WELLINGTON, Dec. 11. The appointment of a city manager is a subject which has lieen much di..cussed lately, as both the Town Clerk and Engineer have resigned and several other officers are due to retire shortly. It was thought this was an excellent opportunity for a change. Mr Norwood the newly elected Mayor, expressed liimsell opposed to the idea in the ground that it had never been a success anywhere. At a crowded meeting of the Civic League, however, a resolution was carried strongly urging such an apoin Liu cut. GAOL FOR ASSAULT. DUNEDIN. Dee. 11. Thomas Lawson, boatswain on the steamer Mahana was sentenced to 1! days gaol for assaulting the second officer.

HOSPITAL BOARDS’ EXECUTU E. WELLINGTON, Dec. 9. The Dominion Executive Committee of the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand met to-day. The Undersecretary of Immigration attended. Dealing with the cases that had been brought up by the Association on nominated immigrants who had conic upon the relief list of Hospital Boards, lie explained the full circumstances ol ilnaction taken by his Denartment. Members of the executive expressed their satisfaction with the efforts ot the Departments to relieve the Boards of the burden of these cases. It was further decided to offer their congratulations to the Government upon the relatively few instances of recent occurrence where failure to make good had

eventuated. „ . The Controller-General ot 1 risons notified that Cabinet had approved ol the payment for maintenance treatment of prisoner-patients m hospitals at the ordinary rate of £3 3s per week as from April Ist next. For some time past, only 30s per week had Is-o.i paid. The 'Government's decision will ho particularly appreciated by the Boards concerned. . Consideration was given to a number of other matters, including Hospital Board borrowing, wife deserters. ■Hid the enforcement of maintenance orders, which will form the subjects of furtHer representations, or of i | to the forthcoming conference of Die

Association in Dunedin next February. Arrangements for this conference ueie also put in hand. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. WELLINGTON, I>ec. H. Sir George Elliot presided at the meeting of the Bank of New /ea am.. There was a good attendance of shareholders. All the Directors were present The business consisted solely of listening to the Chairman’s speech. YOUNG WOMAN’S DEATH. CHRISTCHURCH. December 11.

At the inquest on Rita Louise Roach, aged 28. who died in the hospital, the doctors stated that death was probably the result of an illegal operation. The coroner adjourned the inquiry in order to ascertain whether the deceased had made a statement to the nurse in the ward before she died. AUCKLAND DEATHS. AUCKLAND, December 11. Helga Hanson, a contractor, has died in the hospital from injuries by the overturning of a trnctor at Drury. Edward Long, injured ip a quarry accident at Mt. &]?», has died in the hospital,

POOLTA DISPUTE SETTLED. GREYMOUTH, December 11. The Poolta dispute has been settled, the men agreeing to sail with the “ loyalist ” donkeyinan on board. Two firemen who objected have been replaced. ANONYMOUS LETTERS. A COURT CASE. AUCKLAND. December 11. A budget of anonymous letters formed the subject of a lengthy discussion in the Magistrate’s Court when a claim for £2OO damage was made by George Bates, chemist, against Richard Thomas and his wife, Dorilie Ilwerson Thomas.

ft was alleged that Mrs Thomas had forwarded a. letter to a young woman professing to warn her against associating with Bates. The letter, produced, contained insinuations regarding plaintiff’s conduct at his shop ill Newton. The young woman who received tho letter gave evidence that she knew Mrs Thomas and discussed the plaintiff with her. Witness assumed Mrs Thomas was the writer of this letter and the others.

Cou'nsel Tor the defence produced an anonymous letter received by the defendant. Thomas, in the same handwriting as the others in the ease. .'.Her comparing Airs Thomas’s writing in the? Court with the anonymous letter, the Magistrate. Mr AlcKcoti, said lie might require further assistance from, a handwriting expert. Judgment was reserved. GOVERNOR-GENERAL. WEST COAST ITINERARY. WELINGTON. December 11. The Governor-General and Lady Alice lergiisson will pay official visits to Rcclton by train from Grey mouth oil December 17th, Greyniouth and Punakaiki on the 18th, Hokitika by train from Greyniouth on the 19th, and Westport on the 21st and 22nd Dec.

AN AUCKLAND COURT CASE. AUCKLAND. Doc. 9. A" action to recover £l4ll damages for alleged fraudulent misrepresentation in a land exchange transaction was heard in the Supreme Court before Sir Robert Stout. Plaintiff was Cyril Dudley Lester, motor mechanic, anil defendant Richard Keene, settlor, of Wellington. Plaintiff tiled ail alternative claim for £I4OO damages for alleged breach of warranty. Air Johnston, for plaintiff, said that oil Alay 15. 1923, the parties entered into an agreement for a property exchange. Plaintiff was to hand over a property of eleven acres at llellyer’s Creek, a Birkdale launch and £l5O in cash, in exchange for a second mortgage for £1 ICO secured on a properly near Mercer. The first mortgage* was for £(>o9. ?Some months alter the agreement was reached plaintiff's faiher, who had conducted all the negotiations on his son's behalf, discovered that the Mercer property which was shown to him was not Hu? one on which the mortgage « as secured.

Air Colliding, for defendant. said Hint. Keene could not deny that the wrong property was shown to plaintiff’s father, but Keene did not visit the property with Lester until .Dine 9. after the documents of exchange had been signed. His Honor asked what was the good of showing Lester tin? property atter the transacti >n bail been completed. Tlie tiling was absurd. Letters from ilet'em hi ii t tt? plaintiir essoined Dial tlie right properly had lieen inspected. Alter an adjournment it was announced that a set t lenient hail been readied agreeing to judgment fur plaintiff. The amount was not disclosed.