DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT.

CUTTING UP OF ROADS. INVERCARGILL. March 17. A. judgment of importance to local bodies was deli cored by Mr CruickVhank, S.M. iu tho case in which the WaSlaoe Comity Council proceeded against a. contractor,' Frank Christie, for £3OO for extraordinary expenses in repairing the Earan road, due to the heavy traffic: used by the defendant in conveying material for an hotel for the Tourist Department-. His Worship said that as a result of the traffic a fairly good material road find li'cn cut to pieces amT contracts had Ik?cii let for repairs totalling £OOS, so the Department had no ground of complaint, regarding tho amount claimed. Judgment would be for plaintiff for £3OO and costs.

SPECIAL COAST TRAIN. 'By Telegraph.—Special to Gr.inmAx). DUNEDIN, March 18. The special train from the West Coast arived at eleven Inst, night, half an hour late. There were about 120 passengers Tho trippers had a good journey and a pleasant time, the weather being fine all through, with plenty of refreshments by the way. The Canterbury plains wore looking well bathed in bright sunshine and altogether the trip was a delightful experience. /Many Cnosters and friends were on the platform to meet tho arrivals, who were soon swallowed up in the city. Nominations for further schools excursions are now closing owing to tho rush of country schools 'and with Easter 'holidays intervening blocking train traffic for children, it is not possible to handle the .number now offering and many centres will he disappointed by being shut out. IN CORRECT [ON. WELLINGTON, March 18. A message from TTmtirii last month stak'd that the plan of the Harbour improvement submitted by Holmes and Son. civil engineers, of Wellington was unanimously rejected. Actually, however. a letter received from the Harbour Board Secretary, notified that it was field in abeyance ill tho meantime.

CONOR EG A TIO NA L UN ION PROTEST.

AUCKLAND, March IS. The subversive influence of immoral literature upon the youth of the Dominion was a subject which provoked outspoken comment at the session of the New Zealand Congregational Union. The conference decided:— “To draw the attention of the Minister to the tad that there is in circulation throughout New Zealand, at the present time, an enormous amount of so-called literature of a particularly immoral and suggestive nature. This class of novel being published in the cheap edition form is readily ac(essible to the youth of our Dominion.” It is urged that drastic steps be taken by tins Government to have sla b a class of reading banned. ISLAND FRUIT TRADE. AUCKLAND. March 18. The steamer Flora, which maintained the Cook Island servioP last year, will Ik' replaced by the Ngakuta. which is expected to leave Auckland about April 7th for llarutouga. I'lie fruit importers say that by replacing the Flora with the Ngakuta tho Union Coy is in no way attempting to meet the desires of the limit importers.

TWO CENTENARIANS. AUCKLAND, March 18

Mis Ann Watson, horn at. Shoreditch on March 18th. I82(i, and Adam Mct'ullagli, horn at Armagh on Manli loth. 18211. celebrated their hundredth birthdays, the funner to-day and the lasi named oil Monday. Bulb are I airly active. OUR HOSPITALS. DR Mag EACH ERX’S RECOMMENDATIONS. CHRISTCHURCH. March 18. At least, three important recommendations will be made to the Dominion hospital authorities by Dr MaeKaehern. They are:— . (1} That the number of hospital districts lie decreased through the consolidation ol certain existing disliicts. (2) The retention of the honorary system of stalling and the elimination of the present policy in some districts of employing full-time medical officers with dual functions. (3) Addition of paying wards at the existing public hospital*-. FINED 10(1. WELLINGTON, March 18. . Louis Alfred Tate, a second-hand dealer, pleaded guilty at the*Court today, to being in possession ol opium. Tin? evidence by the Customs Officer was to the effect that he had been dealing fairly extensively in opium with Chinese all over New Zealand. Tlie Magistrate, Mr Page, said that Tate hairalready been penalised by the Minister of Customs for smuggling. He would be fined £IOO. Tate was given fourteen days to pay.