DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by tixechawi —run rims a association.] DETERMINED SUICIDE. DUNEDIN. February ID. Frederick AVifßam Hughes, aged on. a blacksmith, married, with a wife living in Dunedin, committed suicide determinedly at Alexandra this morning. I He was employed by the Public AVorks i ’v pertinent at C hatto Creek and went to Alexander yesterday for medical advice. He set out for Dunedin by the express ami u ’••en crossing the bridge he jumped nil the train, being unhurt. AVliilc proceeding hack to Alexandra by motor-ear lie jumped, falling GO feet and although terribly injured, lie was so determined to end his life that he cut his throat with a pocket knife, before help arrived. Hughes dving in a few minutes. I

A PLAGUE OF SHARKS. _ IIIAMES. February 18. i- Countless numbers of ravenous Inilf- - grown sharks are reported at low I water olf the Tarartt coast, near - Thames. No fewer (ban forty-nine were killed yesterday by three fishing ' boats. The fishermen have had their . nets ripped to ribbons and will be out of nciion for several days. Air AV. Penno. a net fisherman, says ; that never in thirty years has lie encountered such an experience. I t is, customary for shark's to infest Ibis part of the coast about the end of November and December, when they usually di.-.appear and are not again seen. Tills year, however, they have I unexpectedly returned in larger numbers, and have been killed in three feel of water at low tide. They average five or six feet in length, and bite and fight viciously when attacked. .Air Penno says he lias never had occasion to kill a shark before, hut yesterday lie killed nine. Another fishing unity killed seven, whilst still another boat accounted for t-llirty-I three. The Tarnru coast is a popular! bathing venire, and warnings have been issued. MX II IBITIOX TRIP. ( II I! ISTCfI URGII, February ID. Air I). G. Sullivan. M.P.. has been I advised by Mr Coates that the representations ol the Canterbury members of Parliament regarding their request lor a subsidy ol L'2.()!)0 for the purpose of sending primary school children of the loiirth standard and upwards to I the Exhibition, has been received, and would he placed before Cabinet upon I bis return to AA'ellingloii. The Canterbury Education Board today adopted a resolution that, in view of the altered circumstances, and under

the conditions of supervision as outlined by the Headmasters’ Association

and -Si hool Commit tee's Association, the Board endorses and supports the application for a grant of L'2.001) for the purpose ol assisting in the transport. ol school children to the Dunedin Exhibit ion.

VOTER ACQUITTED. ( lIRISTC HDIK 11. February ID. A ballot palter is the property ol the voter until it is deposited in the ballot box. tin taose grounds Messrs B. B. Davies and 11. IN Herbert. J.i’.’s dismissed in the .Magistrate’s Court to-day the charge of fraudeutly destroying a ballot paner at last general election. Defendant was a widow. Evidence in lhe ease was heard earlier In the week, when the Bench reserved its decision until to-day. In dismissing lhe information. Mr Davies stated the ease 'had had the j most careful consideration. The lireneh I had come to the conclusion that the ballot paper was the property of the voter until the time that it was deposited in i lie ballot, box. On (hal ground, it was the opinion of lhe bench that the ease should lie dismissed. However, if die authorities deemed the ease to he of such importance that I '’ey thought il should he tested by a. Stipeudiarv Magistrate, the charge would be dismissed without prejudice to any further action. THE DISMISSED NURSES. WELLINGTON. Kebruarv ID. The Hospital Board discussed the lefusal of the Matron and .Medical Superintendent of the Wellington Hospital to reinstate several nurses who were recently dismissed for overstaying their leave am! getting in their home late at night bv way of the fire-escape. A clause in the committee's report reeomenmding the confirmation of the

.Matron's and Superintendent’s action was challenged bv .Afr Chapman who contended that, the Matron was seriously at limit, having taken upon herself the action that should have been left to the hoard. The f Imirmaii (Mr C. Af. I.uke) said that the Aledical Superintendent had stated the Afatron’s action was taken under his direction. There had been a misunderstanding, and the Superintendent had no intentions of flouting the Boaid. The report wu - adopted. Air Chapman dissenting.

alleged conspiracy. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 20. At Rangiora. yesterday, detectives arrested, on a warrant from London, a woman, aged b2, on a charge of conspiring to defraud the Prudential Insurance Company of .London of £'2883. The alleged conspiracy centred about the life insurance policy taken out by a woman on a morning in 192-1. She went for hath at a Devon watering place,, hut she was not seen there again, and all that was found was a pile of clothes oil the beach. After inquiries had been made it was decided she had been, drowr(?d and £2883. the amount, of the insurance policy was paid out to relatives. About Iwo months ago the Christchurch police begun to make inquiries which yesterday led up to yesterday's arrest.

ytce regal YTsrr. GISBORNE, Feb. 19. Tho Vice Regal party spent a busy day in Gisborne to-day. visiting five fowii schools and high schools, where the Governor-General delivered addresses. Alter lunch the party iiisnectcd Kaiti Freezing Works, where His Excellency delivered a brief address to the men. Later the party motored to Manutuke, where thev were accorded a Maori welcome, and His Excellency spoke to the Teari School children. The Vice-Regal party leaves for Main in the morning.

GOLD NUGGETS. WELLINGTON. February 20. Hon R. F. Bollard (Minister of Internal Affairs) referred yesterday to the recent resolution moved by Rev. .). .1. North, at the Christchurch Council of Churches' meeting urging the Government to secure legal opinion on the relation of the term art to gold nuggets in connection with “ artunions ’’ which tho Council declared (on Urn authoritv of various Magisterial decisions) were barely distinguishable from illegal lotteries. Mr Bollard said Rev. North could nut have read section 42 of the Gaming Art. 1908. Gold nuggets clearly came within scope of the clause.

FIR E SUPERTNTENDENT. WELLINGTON. February 20. ,T. Creeke, of Sydney, has been appointed superintendent of Wellington Fire Brigade, vice Tait retired. Creeke is a New Zealander with considerable experience in t’he Sydney fire service. He was lately in charge of Circular Quay Division of the Metropolitan Brigade.