DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by telegraph— unit press association-.]

SELLING TICKETS. AUCKLAND, March 17

“Wo have spent a lot of time discussing a very little thing,’ said the chairman of the Auckland Education Board. Mr A. Burns, at: to-day’s meeting. when it was decided to retusc a request- from the Auckland City Schools Committees that children he permitted to sell tickets for a concert in aid of the Hot Cocoa Emu!. The discussion disclosed a marked divergence of opinion.

Mr H. N. W. King said Ejected very strongly to children being aliowed to run the streets selling tickets. They laid theniseuvos open to all soils of danger, ospocmllv when thee vent iiom door to door.

Mrs X. E. Ferner thought- permission might- he granted in this case, since she”know that the children of the Nelson street. Napier street, and Boresfonl street schools appreciated groatly tho daily cup of cocoa in the cold winter months.

On a vote being taken, it was iound that five members of the Board were in favour of permission being granted, and five against, the chairman being among the former. As the vote was level, the chairman gave his casting vote against the application, since the policy of allowing children to sell tickets did lint ill general circumstances commend itsoll to the Board.

naval vtsttors. AUCKLAND, March 17

'file Australian and New Zealand Divisions of the Royal Navy arrived this morning,'after carrying out naval exercises in the Tfauraki Gull. The Australian visitors will be granted the free, use of the tramways and the baths, and free admission to the Zoo bv the City Council, which has also voted' £2OO to Ihe Navy League lor the entertainment of the men. Commodore. AA ardle and ntanv ot his Officers will go to "Rotorua on Saturday as the guests of the Government. In this connexion it, may he mentioned that so anxious are some of the Australian officers to visit the : hernial melons that several of them Wrded the Dunedin in the Gulf last night and came up with her in advance of their own ships this morning, in order to catch the express to Rotorua. This evening a party Imm t-lie Fleei gave a concert in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall in aid o' the building fund of the Jubilee Institute- for the Blind- . Commodore Wavcllc- and his onicers dined at Government House- to-nigm as guests of the Governor-General Sir Charles Fergussou. who was paid an official call to-day by the Commodore.

M I NIST I'll? OF .MINES . NELSON. Mareli IS.

(;. J. Anderson, Minister ot Mines, opened the Murchison Show yesterday, congratulating the district o„ the exhibits. In the afternoon lavisit cal the M.urichsoii Oil Company's boring plant at Mangles \ alley, where the phenomenon ot oil and gas exudations have interested people for many years. Boring operations commence there almost immediately. The Minister said lie trusted tile elforts would be success!ul, and he assured the directors of the Goverui,.,.ill's desire to assist in every way

possible. In the course of his remarks at the Murchison Show. Mr Anderson made a strong appeal I lor the purchase ul British goods, instancing particularly the extent of the money sent abroad for motor ears, lie sttid : “If you have, to )lit v these blessed ears, buy them from Britain!" Every pound that, went to America, lAs of it had to he ill taslt, for they did not waul our produce. and they put up a barrier against it. Inn if the money went, to England it came hark, because they would buy mir produce. WESTPORT. March ]«. Hon. Mr Anderson. Minister of Mines and Marine, arrived from Murchison and Heel ton to-day. and this evening met deputations regarding the Buller Gorge railway. West Coast freeholding and the colliery reserves. To-morrow the Minister officially opens a bridge at Karamea.

ftTOR GOLD FIL'D TN OTAGO. DUNEDIN. March 18

The St. Bat ban’s Hold Mining Com, puny struck u lead shewing rich colour at ils works yesterday.

A report from the mine says flint although the true values or the tliickur’ss of the lead cannot yet he ascertained. the samples are taken to indicate overtw o ounces of gold per cubic yard.

This in 1 ws has brought about a sharp rise l in the price of the shares on (die Stock Exchange, and. whereas both issues could have been bought at 2s premium yesterday morning, they rose to S-s t!d and TVs to 8s 7d this aftcr-

TRAGEDY AVERTED. AUCKLAND. March 1R

Wlien the steamer ’Wnimana was en route from Southampton to Auckland, .Tames Douglas Ttovoll, a. young man. wlm went home as a volunteer seaman, mi thio Taintti. fell overboard. As he disappeared, T. IT. Barry, of the stewards’ department, plunged in fully riot bed. to his assistance. Lifebuoys were thrown overboard, and the "Walmantt was turned in her tracks as quickly as possible. Then a life boat was launched, ami it picked up both men. who were nearly exhausted. They were clinging to the lifebuoys. This was no less than 5G minutes after Rcvol 1 went* (overboard. It was quick work under the circumstances. The passengers made Barry a presentation in recognition of his brave act. TRAFFIC REVENUE. NELSON. March 18. A conference of the local bodies discussed to-day the allocation of the heavy traffic license fees, and eventually it was agreed that, alter deducting five per cent, in accordance with the regulations, that 15 per cent*, he deducted front the balance and retained for distribution among the city, the boroughs and the town hoards on tho arterial road, on a mileage ha.sis; and that the remainder be divided proportionately among the counties, boroughs and town boards, according to the main highways mileage in the* counties, and the mileage of the main arterial roads in the boroughs. SWAMP LAND DEVELOPMENT HAMILTON. March 18. The Ministers of Lands, Agriculture, Health, and Infernal Affairs were in Hamilton to-day, when they participated in a tour, arranged by the Swamp Development League, of waste lands bordering on Hamilton. The League has reported on the scheme and a commission was asked for to-day to advise upon its practicability. TW request is to have the consideration of the Government.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. DUNEDIN, March 18. Tlie Commercial Travellers’ Conference concluded to-day, the business being general. In the afternoon the dele-

nates were entertained by The E. vhibition Directors and in tho evening a smoke concert was tendered then a by the Dunedin Association. Mr A. Thompson (Auckland) was elected an President for the forthcoming year, the Prime Minister as Patron, Air W. H. Wauehop as Hon. Treasurer, and Air 11. Buclcncll as Auditor.

CITY COUNCIL DECISIONS. WELLINGTON, March 19.

The City Council decided that lenses of corporation leaseholds having perpetual rights of renewal for terms, of fourteen years, could extend them to twenty-one years, on payment of rent equal to -l.j' per cent on the unimproved values. It was stated that the short term prevented good buildings beingerected and the City Solicitor and Valuer were both in favour of the alteration. Labour members opposed variation of the contracts, on the ground that it was giving away the unearned increment, which belonged to the citv. hut wore defeated by 11 to 5.

Au agitation was recently started against kerbside petrol pumps and there was an Inclination to .abolish i hem. but the City Engineer reported in their favour, under strict conditions. to prevent the blocking of Ira Hie.