DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH PEn PRESS ASSOCIATION.] S.S. SURREY’S CARGO. AUCKLAND, January 20. The local office of the New Zealand Shipping Company lias received advice that a general average of five per cent lias been struck on the cargo of the steamer Surrey, which arrives at Auckland from London to-morrow night. The Surrey, which is owned by I the Federal Steam Navigation Company, was concerned in a collision in the River Thames on November 25tli. DISPUTE ON SHIP. AUCKLAND, January 20. The Northern Company’s steamer Matnngi did not sail to-night for Tauranga, owing to the seamen and firemen refusing to take her to sea until a sailor they objected to had been dismissed. This the company refused to do. The vessel’s departure has. been postponed until to-morrow morning. The sailor who it is desired should he dismissed lias been in the Northern Company for a -long time, the last three years on the Matnngi. He is reported to he one of the most efficient members of the. crew. It is understood the men state he was a volunteer seaman in the Northern CoiniKiny during the coastal seamen’s strike three years ago.

AUCIvLAND TRAGEDY. AUCKLAND, January 20. A married man, J. W. Schofield, was drowned in the harbour while fishing from a dinghy moored to a launch. ■The sea was choppy and the dinghy capsized. A man aboard the launch jumped to the rescue, hut became exhausted in the rough water, being forced to regain the launch. Schofield grasped a rope thrown from the launch, hut then let it go and sank. The body has not been recovered. Deceased was a meat canner, employed by the Auckland Aieat Company. A SERIOUS CRIME. WAIROA, January 20. This al'trenooii Frank McDonald was charged with indecently assaulting a litllc girl, six years old. He was committed for sentence at the Supreme Court at Wellington.

CHEAPER SCHOOL BOOKS. DUNEDIN. January 20. The Dunedin School Committee’s Association waited on Sir J. Parr, with the request that the .Master Printers’ Association should take in hand the preparation, printing and distribution :T school hooks at cheaper rates. Sir fames Parr said that he would wel•omo any practical proposal and ho i.sited the deputation to submit their uiggestions in writing.

TUATARA LIZARDS. WELLINGTON. January 20.

Air Cook, assistant light keeper at the Brothers, reports that Tuatara lizards are gradually increasing in numbers. Some have boon seen ranging to two feet in length, hut a search for their eggs has always proved futile. Their principal enemies are hawks, which come from Ihe mainland and hover over the burrows watching for lizards.

MISSING MAN FOUND. AUCKLAND, January 20

Advice has been received that the missing accountant. Edgar David Hamilton AlcEwon. who left his will’ and children on the morning on January 11, and subsequently wrote to his employers and also to his wife stating that lie “ would he found among the dead men,” is safe and well on hoard the scow Kainia at Tolaga Bay. LICENSING ACT. OHAKUXK, Jan. 21. Charles Smith, a labourer of Rnotihi, was charged at the Magistrate's Courl with keeping liquor for sale in a prescribed native area. The information was dismissed and he was immediately arrested on the same charge to he hoard at next sitting. Two other charges of a similar nature are pending against Smith. AR AWA ’S DIM rG R A NTS. AUCKLAND. January 21. Twelve public school-hoys, 30 hoys for Flock House, whoso ages are from 14 to 18, 40 domestics, mostly Scotch and Irish girls, and 22 of the volunteer crew that took the Arawa Home during the seamen’s strike, return on the ship.

JAVELIN THROW RECORD. HAWERA, Jan. 21. At a sports meeting conducted by the local club last evening, 8. Lay broke the Dominion record Javelin, throwing it 178 feet 11,l 1 , inches, and beating Sutherland's record by four feet, three and three quarter inches.

SHOT WITH RIFLE. CARTERTON. Jan. 21. Word lias been received in Carterton this morning that a young man named Squires of Nelson, a member of a shooting party at White Rock, was cleaning his rifle when it exploded, the bullet entering his breast and coming out behind the shoulder. A doctor and ambulance were wired for to Mnrtiiiborougb and the injured youth is now being brought in.