DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGSAPH PER TRESS AEISOCIATION-1

BANKRUPTCIES. NAPIER, Dec. 25.

Bankruptcies in the Hawke's Bay district during the year just closing number twenty-three, compared with twenty-seven in 1924, fifty-three in 1923 and seventy-threo in 1922, thus showing a greatly-improved position. Five of this year's failures were the result of creditors’ petitions. The total includes five labourers, one Maori, one hotelkeeper, three building trades, two motor trade and three land and commission agents. A satisfactory feature of the position is the complete absence' of farmers among those who were unable to make ends meet.

OFFICES GUTTED. AUCKLAND, Dec. 25

Fire occurred on Thursday night in the city, when the Auckland Stock Exchange meeting room in the Government Life Insurance building, together with adjoining offices occupied by the Firth Pumice Company and Tl. G. Gillespie, accountant. were gutted. Three offices on the ground floor beneath were damaged by water. The damage is not extensive. BUSINESS BLOCK DESTROYED. WHAKATAXE, December 21. A fire, at Ala tat a early this morning, dost roved the wooden business block in the main street, the property and stock being valued at about £6,500. The losses are: Mrs Does, store and dwelling. insurances ,C 1.500, hotel and storeroom insurance £850; Mayo’s fancy goods store, insurance unknown; Miss Siar.gero, confectionery shop, insured, hut amount unavailable. The bucket brigade did good work and sa\cd the hotel building which was only fifteen feet from the burned storeroom. The hotel block is owned hy AY. Alontgonv . rv a 11.1 1 ,ccs store hy Burt Pros.

A LAUNCH’S CRUISE. AUCKLAND. December 21. Th,. Auckland launch Ruamano will

out on an ambitious cruise on Sr mrday morning, when she will leave for Russell, on route to the North Cape and Dunedin, via the AYest Coast. The Ruamano, owned hy AH* A. Court, is the latest of Auckland’s large cruising launches. Her appointments and equipment are admirably suited to an extended voyage, and her uuusualK large tank capacity removes any anxiety as to fuel supply. She will visit most of the principal ports of the Dominion. Included in her special equipment is a Deear dinghy, of ample proportions. yet so light that it con he launched and hauled aboard without tl. ■ slightest difficulty. COLOSSAL ART UNION. DUNEDIN, December 24. About £32,000 was obtained by the Colossal Art Union. The secretary. Mr Divers, staled to-day that tile Otago Rugby League would probably clear between £15,000 and £1.6,000 and the New Zealand Football Association about £2OO. According In an agreement between lhc League and Soccer authorities the Soccer authorities were lo take a certain proportion of the profits accruing from the sales by the Wellington agent only, which were about £9OOO. A property has been purchased hy the league of about twenty-eight acres in South. Dunedin.

LAND OFFICE CHANGES. WELLINGTON. December 2-1

Several changes in the Lands Department were announced to-day. Afr W. Stewart, Chief Draughtsman, has been appointed Commissioner ol Lands at Christchurch. Mr AV. 1). Arndt. Chief Draughtsman at New Plymouth, has been appointed eonimissioner lor that district. Mr K. 11. Farnie. Chief Draughtsman at Gisborne, has been appointed Commissioner at Gisborne, and Mr A. F. AVaters. Chief Draughtsman at Nelson, lias been appointed Commissioner. KXPRESS CRASH. INVERCARGILL, December 21. The relief express train from Dunedin last night crashed into a motor delivery van at One Tree Point crossing, .(tunes Wyeth, butcher, driver ol lhe viin, wtis thrown on the side of the railway. Ho was removed to hospital with a broken leg, scalp wound and dislocated shoulder. He is progressing favourably.

.MASTER OF TANKER FINED. AV ELLINGTON. Dee. ‘23. Captain Ringer van der Hagan, master of the oil tanker Agwipond, was charged bclore Afr E. Page. S.AL. with having the plimsoll mark submerged. Air Prondervillo, for the ATarinc Depnrtinnt, said that there had been several prosecutions on similar charges, and steps were being taken lo have the maximum penalty increased to £IOOO. The mark this time was ljin. under water. Tn March the same defendant was fined £25 for having the mark submerged 1-llin. The defendant attributed bis offence to a difference in the specific gravity of the oil from that carried on previous trips, when the mark had been clear. He had done hi.s best not to break the law. A fine of £25 was imposed.

-XMAS EVE AT WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON. December 25. Though thousands thronged lhe streets oti Christmas Eve, and tiam and motor traffic was greatly impeded, the clay passed without serious accident. The city seemed to hold more visitors than usual. This is accounted for by the faet that a large number were on route to Dunedin’s big Exhibition. On Thursday no fewer than three large passenger steamers left Wellington for Lyttelton, crowded with passengers, while a good number left for Pieton, Nelson n.nd Hie West Coast. Despite this drain, thousands continued to pour into AYellington city. All seaside resorts were crowded with people. Beautiful weather prevailed —a clear blue sky with a northerly tempering the sun’s rays. To-day the weather is clotulv. KNOCKED DOWN BY CAR. AUCKLAND, December 25. A young seamen, F. C. T,eall l art. was knocked down by a motor-car at Birkenhead and gravely injured. His condition now is serious. LADY PIPERS STRANDED. AUCKLAND, December 25. Much practical sympathy is being extended by Aucklanders of all classes to the members of the Australian Ladies’ Pipe Band, who will have to remain stranded in Auckland lor a month owing to an unfortunate oversight in regard to completion of passports. When their dilemma became known, they received many messages offering assistance and they hope sbort]v to be able to organise entertainments which will relieve pressing financial necessities. Local band organisations are interesting themselves in the misfortune of their sister band, and some combined effort will shortly be made to help matters. The band estimates the monetary loss in failing to connect with the Aorangi at £650.