DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAPH —rEII ritESS ASSOCIATION.] A STUPID HOAX. WELLINGTON, March 24. Someone started the rumour last night that the -Maori had run aground near the Heads and for hours telephones were kept busy to the Pencarrow Lighthouse. The • police were informed, but it was some time before oven they found that a hoax liad been played. speeding auto. sec. fixed. WELLINGTON, .March 21. The Secretary of the Wellington Automobile Association was before the Court charged with exceeding .10 miles per hour on the Hutt Hoad. The constable who followed him said the defendant was doing 43 miles. Defendant said that according to his speedometer lie was doing just under 30 miles. A few days before lie had Ihe instrument tested and found that it was registering five or six miles less than it should. Counsel said it was a serious charge lieeau.se defendant with other members of the committee, was always advising motorists not to exceed the speed limits. Defendant liad never broken the laws.

The -Magistrate said he was prepared to accept the evidence that the speedometer was not registering properly, but lie believed the constable and it was hard to understand that a man in defendant’s position did not know the difference between 30 and 40 miles. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs.

A POWER COAX. GISBORNE, March 24. By a majority of five to one, the ratepayers of the Poverty Bay Power Board’s district, comprising Gisborne Borough and Cook and Waikoliu Counties sanctioned the raising of a loan of £280,000 for the electrification of t'ne district from the Government station at Waikaremoana-. The voting to-dav was: For 120 G Against 242 The Power Board can now sign the agreement with the Government, which provides that Waikaremoana current, will he available within three years. The Board will also assume control of the Borough Council's electricity plant, probably from March 31st. BOSS SEA AYHALKRS. INVERCARGILL, March 24. Mr Wug, the Norwegian Consul at Bluff, advises that it is a new whaling company that- is starting in Hobart. Tt is the Polar Whaling Company, of Lnrvik, Norway, controlled by Air Afelsom N. Mclsom. They will work in opposition to the Sir .Tames Clark Ross fleet, which will continue to use the Stewart Island base. Apparently the two companies have been confused.