DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

(by TELEGRAPH—PEIt press association.]

AA’O MAN’S SUDDEN DEATH. GISBORNE, February 4

The opening of the Gisborne Racing Club’s meeting to-day was marred by a sad happening. AAliile alighting from a private car in the paddock Noline Jessie Crnwshaw, daughter of Mr G. Crawshaw, dropped dead.

ATTACK BY SHARK. DUNEDIN, February 1

Mneraki fishermen have had a rough time during the past week or two. heavy seas buffeting the boats and sometimes preventing them from getting out. One day the whole catch of the boats that went to sea was a solitary groper. The ocean disturbance is not, however, the only cause of the occasional scarcity of fish that the boatmen report. .Afr .T. A. Edmonston. agent for Air AY. Stewart, the Dunedin fishmonger, writes that a shark about 20ft long is living on one of the host groper reefs. This monster recently attacked Mr AY. Cormarek’s boat as soon as it stopepd to fish and left part of three of its teeth in her bilges. Thereupon the Mneraki men prepared for an endeavour to catch the enemy or frighten him away. Adequate gear was prepared and an expedition set forth, but the latest news about the matter is not at all encouraging. Tndeed. tbe big shark seems to have so far got the hotter of the encounter, for in a later letter, written yesterday, Afr Edmondston states that several of the boats are supposed to he miles away to the east and north-east in the hope of finding one of the casks to which a hook was attached, it having been carried away on Sunday night.

Tn the meantime, the monster has completely spoiled the groper fishing on one of the best summer grounds. .ATr Stewart has part of one tooth in his possession. Tt is forty years since

i shark was known to tackle a boat If .Afoeraki.

INCREASE OF GOITRE. AUCKLAND, February 1. Increase of goitre amongst, girl scholars at schools under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Education Board was brought up to-day by Mr Snell. He stated that the position was becoming alarming. “What is the reason?” he was asked. “ Is it that girls have to work too hard in our schools, both mentally and physically f” Mr Snell wa.s of opinion that the physical exercises which the girls have to undergo nowadays might have .something to do with it. Anyway, the disease was on the increase. Something .should he done in the matter. Mrs Ferner strongly supported the previous speaker, and gave specific instances of cases which had occurred to girls who were studying for exami-

nations. Mr Burns, chairman of the hoard, explained that the Health Department had gone into the subject very thoroughly, ami had made a special •study of the matter. The Department was now treating the disease. He thought, however, that a resolution would .strengthen the hands of the doctors and the Health Department. It was decided that, whilst the board recognised what has been done, and that which is being accomplished in the matter, the Education Department bo asked to urge the Health Department lo take additional precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. It was suggested I hat officers nf the Health Department should visit schools specially, and inspect, and make a report on the whole subject. LIVED ABOVE HIS INCOME. AYKLLIXGTOX. February 1. A nieoling of creditors was held today in the estate of Thomas George Scot t-Smilh. formerly a clerk for fourteen years in the Motueka branch of Ihe Bank of New Zealand, who is now undergoing a term of reformtive detention as the result of thefts from the hank amounting lo C9ll Is sd. Bankrupt, in n written statement, said that lie lived above his income, trying to keep up appearances, lie borrowed money all round, including £2OO from his mother. AA’heii lie heard that the hank had obtained judgment for CM2 against him, with the object of securing a charge against his interest in the estate of his grandparents (deceased). lie filed a petition to protect his other creditors. The meeting lapsed for want of a quorum.

FRENCH WAD SCOOT. ATCAROA. February 3. 'flic French war sloop Cassiopee. Commander Dceoux. arrived here from Dunedin at six o’clock Ibis morning. At 1.30 o’clock the Deputy-Mayor, Mr C‘. W. Lecte, with (.he Town Clerk and Messrs E. X. Leliovre and L. Broelicrio, two old French settlers, paid an official visit to the ship, and on behalf of the residents of the borough extended a licartv welcome to the ship and spoke of Ihe town’s early association with tTTo French nation. The Cassiopee leaves here early tomorrow for Lyttelton. MOA FGOS. FI? ACfMEXTS OF SHELL FOUND. AUCKLAND. Feb. 3. Well-preserved fragments of the egg of a mon wore found at Whananaki on the East Coast of North Auckland by Mr AV. Af. Eraser, engineer to the AVhangarei Harbour Board, when he was exploring among the sand dimes. The pieces were carefully collected, and from the number gathered, it is evident that tlie reconstruction of the shell would show the egg to have been about the sir.e and shape of a Rugby football. Mr Fraser, who has in his possession mail’- moa bones which lie has found in different'parts of North Auckland. has never before found any egg shells, and he does not know of any having been previously picked up in the North Auckland district, although specimens have been found in the South Island. and are in some museums.

The peculiar significance of the discovery at AA'hananaki is that it hears out a theory that the moa. like the ostrich, laid its eggs in the sand. A toe joint of a medium-sized moa was found in the sand, not far from the egg shells, but Air Fraser’s experience leads him to the belief that it is not in such places that finds of bones are generally likely to be made. BADIO AATATETTR MARRIED. TTMARU. Feb. 3. Afr Frank Bell, of Palmerston South, known to Tadio enthusiast the world over as N.Z. 4 '.A., and the first Nev, Zealand am at o-, to establish, two-way communication wk?i Great Britain and America, was married in Dunedin yesterday. Last night mesages conveying congratulations and good wishes were received from amateurs and radio bodies in the Old Country, America, Australia. and New Zealand. These were subsequentlv re-broadcasted from the station VX.D.X., at the Dunedin Exhibition.

A prominent Timaru amateur who was listening in, in the early part oi the evening picked up a message from a South American amateur, congratulating Mr Bell on his marriage. The signal was exceptionally clear and nas read by several other amateurs who were present.

KIRKPATRICK’S BOUGHT OUT, NELSON, Feb. 4.

Important develpments have taken place in connection with the old-es-tablished firm of Kirkpatrick and Coy. The controlling interests have been purchased bv Henry Jones, 00-operatiie Ltd., of Australia. This powerful eonern intends embarking on an extensive develqjnent of the business. It is felt this will mean a big increase in the area devoted to growing fruits suitable for canning The personnel of the K. Factory will he kept together, but the business will be conducted on a much enlarged scale, and Hie export trade will be catered for. The Company is considering further important developments in the North Island, involving the erection of a large modern factory. The developments will mean linking up New Zealand in a powerful chain of Empire production.

ESCAPED PRISONERS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 4

The two prisoners, Charles AVahle and Samuel Rattray, who escaped from Rangitoto in a dinghy early on Tuesday morning, remained still at large to-dav. A strong posse of detectives and police and making an exhaustive search but so far their efforts have failed to reveal the whereabouts of the escapees.

FLOUR. DUTY PROTEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 4

On Monday a telegram was despatched to the Prime Minister, signed by the Christchurch Labour M.P.’s and representatives of various Labour bodies, protesting against any arrangement with wheatgrowers or millers that would have the effect of increasing the price of bread. Last evening Mr D. G. Sullivan, AI.P., received the following telegram from the Prime Minister:

“I have received the telegram .signed by yourself and other members of committees of Labour bodies in Christchurch, regarding wheat, and I have carefully noted the representation contained therein. The question is at present receiving the most earnest consideration of the Government, and I have communicated its contents to the Minister of Agriculture.”

BURGLARS FOILED. AUCKLAND, Fob. 4. Thieves have the liahit of visiting the office of Roxenfekll and Co. ltd.. Timber Merchants in The Strand, Parnell. The premises were burglariously entered last evening for the fourth time in the last two years. The intruders gained entrance by smashing a window at the rear of the office. One safe was then dynamited, and the door was blown open, but it was empty. A second safe was fitted with a combination lock, and, as'there was no place for tiie insertion of explosives, if wa.s left intact. The. management of the firm is lsecotiling so used to these unofficial visits that they are seriously considering the putting of a notice on the safe informing the intruders that it is empty, and telling them where the key may be found.

FREEZING DISPUTE. AYELLINGTOX, Feb. 3. A temporary outbreak of “go-slow” sceiuTed at Bortluviek’s freezing works at, Belfast yesterday, the reason for which has not been divulged. Following on a stop-work meeting the slaughterman indulged in "go-slow” tactics for something over an hour during the morning, but resumed normal killings at one o’clock, and continued I ill the end ot the day. Tl is possible that yesterday's nutbreak was without much significance.

V SERIOUS CHARGE. AUCKLAND. Feb. 4. Arising out of flic death of Mrs Emma Thorbourn. aged G 8 years, who was knocked down by a motor car in Newmarket on January Btli., Margaret Esther Rogers was charged at the Police Court with negligent driving, and with causing the death of Mrs I hornburn. The deceased left the footpath to hoard what the accused said she thought was a. moving tram-car or to pass behind it. Just as defendant was about to reach her, she stepped hack, and one wheel passed over her. She was not going at more than six miles ail hour. The accused was committed for trial hail being fixed at £IOO.

MINING CONFERENCE. DUNEDIN, Fob. 4

The Dominion Mining Conference was continued to-day. The following papers were brought forward and discussed : ‘ ‘Present Position of the Shale Oil Industry,” by Professor Park; “Some Essentials for Successful Oil Development,” by E. G. Clarke (New York); “History of the Search for Oil in Egypt,” l>y T. Ferrar; “New Zealauds Coal Measures' - (three papers), by Dr Henderson. Air Ongley, Mr Langford and Air Mosley; “Protection of Underground Roadways,” by Air K. S. Weight ; “Electrification of the Denuiston Coal ATine,” by Air J. C. Brown; “Spontaneous Combustion and Fires in Coal Alines—Cause and Prevention.” by Messrs AY. and F. Carson; “New Zealand Legislation Dealing with Petroleum and Natural Gas Production,” by A. H. Kinibell.

The following remits were also discussed and adopted: “That the recent regulations in regard to alluvial minemanagers’ certificates, are unfair to the holders of first-class metal mine managers’ cerlifieates, and are. not in the best interest of alluvial mining.” That in giving aids for prospecting, the aim should be to concentrate on larger work carried out under expert guidance. GOVERNMENT PURCHASES TIAfBER. BLOCK. HASTINGS. Feb. 5. A transaction involving tbe acquisition of block, at Pukititini. of 509 acres covered with valuable milling timber, was concluded between the native owners and the Government at a meeting of tho owners yesterday afternoon. After lengthy negotiations which hung fire a long time the owners accepted the Government's offer of £35 an acre, this amounting to £17,815. The property has been acquired In- the Government on behalf of the State Forestry Department.