DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[ny TKt.r.oKArri —rEn ritESS association.]

AUCKLAND FATALITIES. AUCKLAND, Feb. 15. Gordon Louis Ansenne, aged 34, second engineer on the cable steamer Iris, was drowned at AAiuwera on Sunday. He was on a cruise in a launch with three other men and attended a dance and left about 12.30 to board the launch. Ansenne went down the steps to untie the painter, when he slipped and fell into the water, probably striking bis bead on the steps. AA'lieu be was recovered life was extinct. The body of David Alurgrntroyd. aged 03. was found on the edge of Lake Takapuna on Sunday morning. He bad been employed by the Lister Company, silk spinners of Bradford, for fifty years but retired 12 months ago and was visiting his daughter at Takapuna. .’Willi am O. Enis who was injured in a motor smash on the Manakau Road died in a private hospital on Saturday afternoon.

1304V1JNG TOURXAAI EXT. HAMILTON, Feb. 15. The North Island champion rinks bowling tournament opened this morning in glorious weather, with fortyfive teams from Auckland, South Auckland, AA’airarapa and AA'ellington centres competing. D. G. Meredith (president of South Auckland centre) regretted the absence of Taranaki and Maiiawatn rinks and the small support, from South Auckland Cltihs. T FIRE. HASTINGS, Feb. 15. This morning a seven roomed bouse owned bv C. AY. Tipping and occupied by Mrs Lawton as a boardinghouse in. the commercial centre ol the town was burned to a shell. The flames had a good bold when discovered and the occupants escaped in what they stood in AA'lieu the brigade arrived Die flames were in full charge, bid the outbreak was confined to the area ol the origin, the firemen making a nun save of Poll’s photographic shop amt Lamberts. engineers on. cither side. Insurance on i'urmturo and bunding £750.

destroying a ballot paper CHRISTCHURCH, February 15.

In the Magistrate’s Court this morning. a woman whose name was suppressed was charged with tniudulenUy destroying a ballot paper. The Electoral Officer for Avon gave evidence that the woman said she bad made a mistake in casting her vote and sho tore up the ballot paper and refused to give it up. Further hearing was adjourned to have certain points cleared. FINED FOR- ASSAULT. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 15. At the Supreme Court James Sviniiiids was lined £2O or in default three months gaol lor assaulting a newspaper runner. A FIRE. t DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 15. A lire at- Norsewood on Sunday morning destroyed J. Mathias’s drafter v shop also the branch office of Knight and Dunn, solicitors and the branch office of tlie Bank of New South AYales. Details of insurance are unavailable.

CUM LANDS. AUCKLAND. Feb. 15. The* lion. A. I). McLeod (Minister of Bauds) said to-day that he had stressed upon his colleagues the necessity of takiio' in hand more than one area of from 1000 to 5000 acres of typical pumice and gum lands for a thorough tesi. under up-to-date farming conditions. of the economic possibilities Pf such land to bo in a position to eonfidcntlv invite the taking up of holdings by settlers from other parts of the Dominion or overseas, lie was seeking for possible legislative authority to n-ive priority to local applicants. " The Aliuister expressed tlie hope teat private owners of large areas ol this lass of laud in the North would endeavour to develop them profitably. Tile daily press might turn the outsteps of'young men and women biu.» towards the laud. THE CENSES.

WELLINGTON, February 15. Tim Census will be taken on the „i-d,t of Tuesday, 20th April. The reason for the alteration from ruimlay i, that so many people spend the weekend away from borne, and by Tuesday bave rein rued. Several new features in returns include a call for returns of income of persons over sixteen years of age. This is being asked for in view ol the Government’s proposal to provide assistance to householders with large families.